Dr. Konrad Osterwalder, former Rector of the United Nations University (UNU), was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Government of Japan at the 2025 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. Dr. Osterwalder received the award, the highest decoration given by the Government of Japan, for his outstanding contribution to strengthening the relationship between Japan and UNU and for advancing academic research.
Dr. Osterwalder joined UNU as Rector on 1 September 2007 for a term of five and a half years. During his tenure, Dr. Osterwalder led UNU through a period of significant institutional transition. He successfully advocated for the UN General Assembly to amend the University’s Charter in December 2009, enabling UNU to grant and confer master's and doctorate degrees. Under Dr. Osterwalder’s leadership, several MSc and PhD programmes were launched, culminating in the presentation of degrees to the University's first graduates in July 2012. Dr. Osterwalder also advanced the "twin institutes" concept, pairing UNU institutes with educational institutions in developing countries.
Additional achievements during his tenure included implementing quality assurance policies, improving communications and fundraising efforts, and transitioning the University from a confederation of institutes to a more cohesive federal structure that facilitates system-wide collaboration.
For further information, please contact:
Kyra Bowman, Head of Communications, UNU
Yukiko Nakahari, Japan Communications Specialist, UNU
