Transcript for UN University: What is it?

[♪theme jingle] P&B Productions

[onscreen] United Nations University Office in New York

[whooo]

[♪upbeat music♪] [helicopter whirring]

[♪upbeat music♪] [helicopter whirring]

[onscreen] United Nations University

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the United Nations University.

Over the next few minutes, please join me and my colleagues

as we help you better understand what the United Nations University is,

what it does, and why it's important.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, UNU began operations in 1975 --

[onscreen] Hans Von Ginkel - Former Rector of the UNU

-- after a resolution by the UN General Assembly calling for its creation.

UNU is one of the members of the United Nations family --

[onscreen] Ban Ki Moon - UN Secretary General

-- and does research and capacity development.

It's a think tank for the UN system and a builder of capacities

particularly in developing countries.

UNU is a network,

similar to the New York City subway system.

[♪] [onscreen] New York, NY - Grand Central Station

During an average weekday, New York City transit system

transports over a million passengers all through metro New York.

As a passenger, you only see a small portion of this large network at any one time.

Like New York City's network of trains,

UN University is also a network.

[onscreen] United Nations - New York

Unlike a traditional University, UNU has no main campus

but it's made up of a global network of sites

which do research in capacity development.

UNU's faculty is its worldwide network of scholars and scientists.

[onscreen] UNU, Office in New York - Young Scholars

>> UNU students are young scientists and scholars

who receive advanced instruction for project based training.

UNU is comprised on UNU headquarters in Tokyo --

[onscreen] UNU Center, Tokyo

-- 3 research and training centers and programs throughout the world,

10 associated institutions,

100s of cooperating institutions, and individual scholars and researchers.

The head of the UN University holds dual titles --

[onscreen] Konrad Osterwalder - Rector of the UNU

-- of Rector and Undersecretary General, is appointed by the UN Secretary General

for a 5-year term.

UNU has 211 staff from 30 countries --

[onscreen] Kofi Annan - Former UN Secretary General

-- a budget of $40 million and is governed by a 24-member council.

We receive no funds from the regular UN budget,

and our activities are supported by voluntary contributions.

UNU's funding comes from

Governments

Agencies

International Orgaizations

Foundations

Private Companies and Individuals

UNU's basic annual income comes from investment income

derived from the UNU Endowment Fund and other contributions.

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We're now in the General Assembly Hall inside the United Nations.

[onscreen] United Nations - General Assembly Hall

This is the room where heads of state, presidents, and other world leaders

gather once a year to discuss issues of global concern.

UNU's research helps policy makers and practitioners.

And it's focused on 2 broad areas:

Peace and Governance

Environment and Development

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Within these 2 areas there are 5 main themes:

Peace and Security

Good Governance - from local to global

Development and Poverty Reduction

Environmental Sustainable Development

and Science, Technology, and Society.

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A UN delagate can have words spoken from the podium translated

into any one of the 6 official languages spoken at the UN.

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Communication is Key to the UN General Assembly

and it's also very important to the UNU.

To communicate to our audience, the UNU uses printed information,

digital media, public forums,

and any outreach to the media made possible.

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[onscreen] United Nations University

As an academic institution, UNU is uniquely positioned

as a bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community.

Within this context it serves as platform for dialogue

and new and creative ideas.

[♪] [inaudible dialogue]

[onscreen] The information provided in this video has been updated by the following:

The UNU budget is $50 million (2008)

The UNU International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IGH) established.

[♪]

[onscreen] United Nations University - A selection of books from UNU Press

[♪]

"Challenges to Peacebuilding"

"After Mass Crime"

"Diaxporas in Conflict"

"Democratization in the Middle East"

"Thesis of Global Governance"

"Trade, Environment, and the Millennium"

"The Iraq Crisis and World Order"

"Multiculturalism Under Challenge"

"International Commissions and the Power of Ideas"

"Humanitarian Diplomacy - Practitioners and Their Craft"

"Revolutionizing Asia's Security Discourse and Agenda"

"Regulating Globalization"

[onscreen] To make a donation or for more information contact our New York Office

(1)212-963-6387 . (1)212-371-9454 or email unuony@ony.unu.edu

[onscreen] Feel free to check out our website at http://www.ony.unu.edu

[onscreen] P&B Productions www.pandbproductions.com

Created by Paul Gennaro & Ken Anderson

Color Correction by Brandon Somers

UN Media Accreditation and Liason - Paulina Kubiak