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  • About UNESCO UNITWIN Networks/Chairs Programme

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme was launched in 1992 in accordance with the resolution of the 26th UNESCO General Conference. The main task of the Chairs Program is to combine the strengths of UNESCO in the fields of education, culture, environment, engineering, basic sciences, and media, and to make full use of the teaching, research, and radiation capabilities of key disciplines in universities and research institutions to carry out research, training, and academic exchange activities. Through inter-institutional exchange programs, we promote the dissemination and transformation of knowledge and technology, the development of higher education in developing countries, especially the least developed countries, and the internationalization of higher education.

The establishment of a Chair is usually based on an agreement between UNESCO and the relevant national institution or research institute, which identifies a strong disciplinary area where the training activities or achievements can be shared and disseminated, and designates an academic leader as the Chair Holder responsible for the organization and implementation of specific activities. To date, UNESCO has established more than 864 Chairs worldwide, including 22 UNITWIN Networks/Chairs in China.

UNITWIN Network units in China and their areas of responsibility

1 UNITWIN Network in Distance and Open Learning (337), established in 1997 at Shanghai Open University
2 UNITWIN Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts (1148), Shanghai Theatre Academy, The International Theatre Institute (ITI), and Georgetown University, established in 2016

UNESCO Chairs in China and their areas of responsibility.

1 UNESCO Chair in Plant Biotechnology (1992), Peking University, Beijing (62)
2 UNESCO Chair in Cultural Management (1998), Southeast University (S.E.U.), Nanjing (411)
3 UNESCO Chair in Continuing Engineering Education (1999), Tsinghua University, Beijing (429)
4 UNESCO Chair in Higher Education (1999), Peking University, Beijing (461) 5 UNESCO Chair in Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (2001), The Renmin University of China, Beijing (552)
6 UNESCO/ EOLSS Chair in Science and Technology Policies (2001), Zhongshan (Sun Yat- Sen) University, Guangzhou (633)
7 UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education (2004), The East China Normal University, Shanghai (664)
8 UNESCO Chair on Cooperation Between Higher Engineering Education and Industries (2005), Beijing Jiao-Tong University, Beijing (672)
9 UNESCO Chair in Media and Gender (2005), Communication University of China, Beijing (690)
10 UNESCO/COUSTEAU Ecotechnie Chair (2005), Yunnan University (709)
11 UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurial Education (2010), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (892)
12 UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning (2011), The Hong Kong Institute of Education (915)
13 UNESCO Chair in South-South Cooperation on Science and Technology to Address Climate Change (2012), Beijing Institute of Technology, China Science and Technology Exchange Center (963)
14 UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education (2012), University of Hong Kong (976)
15 UNESCO Chair on Ceramic Culture: Preservation and Creativity (2017), Jingdezhen University (1219)
16 UNESCO Chair on Industrial Heritage (2017), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (1241)
17 UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies (2017), Nanjing University (1242)
18 UNESCO Chair on Heritage Conservation Planning and Sustainable Social Development (2019), Tsinghua University (1371)
19 UNESCO Chair on Cultural Heritage Law (2020), Renmin University of China (1399)
20 UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites (2020), Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou (1400)

Visit the UNESCO website for more information on the UNITWIN Networks/Chairs Programme