On 10 August 2026, nine students graduated with degrees from UNU-IAS, six from the MSc in Sustainability programme and three in the PhD in Sustainability Science programme. Four students were awarded the Specialization on the Paris Agreement diploma. This year’s graduates come from seven different countries.
The special occasion was celebrated with a ceremony at UNU-IAS in Tokyo, which was attended by students and their family members, faculty, donors and guests. Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, UNU), Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS), and Yuriko Kawakubo (Deputy Director, International Affairs Division, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan) delivered congratulatory remarks. Nobuko Kayashima (Board Member, UNU-IAS; Executive Director, Sasakawa Peace Foundation; Senior Research Advisor, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development) delivered a special lecture in which she highlighted the importance of empathy and trust in shaping a more sustainable and cooperative future.
The degrees were awarded by Prof. Marwala and Prof. Yamaguchi, following a brief introduction of the postgraduate programmes by Yasushi Katsuma (Academic Programme Advisor, UNU-IAS). Graduates received celebratory gifts from Katsuhisa Sagisaka (Senior Managing Director and Secretary-General, The Japan Foundation for the United Nations University (JFUNU)). PhD graduate Muhammad Saad Moeen and MSc graduate Yu Jian Liew gave speeches on behalf of their graduating classes.
The UNU-IAS postgraduate degree programmes are designed for future global leaders who will make important contributions to the international community by advancing innovative solutions to issues of sustainability.
UNU-IAS congratulates the graduates on reaching this milestone and wishes them success in all their future endeavors.
