On 9 August 2024, 12 students graduated with degrees from UNU-IAS, 8 from the MSc in Sustainability programme and 4 in the PhD in Sustainability Science programme. This year’s graduates come from 10 different countries: China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines and Uganda. This special occasion was celebrated with a ceremony at UNU-IAS in Tokyo, which was attended by students and their family members, faculty and guests.
Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, UNU), Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS), and Nozomi Haraguchi (Deputy Director, International Affairs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan) delivered congratulatory remarks. Smita Premchander (UNU-IAS Advisory Board Member; Secretary of Sampark; Visiting Faculty at the Indian Institute of Management) delivered a special lecture via video.
Following an introduction of the postgraduate programmes by Yasushi Katsuma (Academic Programme Advisor, UNU-IAS), the academic degrees were awarded by Prof. Marwala. Graduates received celebratory gifts from Toshikazu Ishino (Senior Managing Director and Secretary-General, The Japan Foundation for the United Nations University).
PhD graduate Alexander Wilhelm Brumm and MSc graduate Husna Chelangat Kipsoi gave speeches on behalf of their graduating classes.
The UNU-IAS postgraduate degree programmes are intended for future global leaders who will make important contributions to the international community by advancing creative solutions to issues of sustainability.
UNU-IAS extends congratulations to the graduates on their achievements and best wishes for their future endeavours.