- UNITAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of California, Davis, through the Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE), on 19 August 2025
- The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing human capital, fostering cultural and academic exchange, and empowering leaders in sustainability, innovation, and governance.
- Through this collaboration, UNITAR and UC Davis aim to leverage their combined expertise to create transformative learning opportunities for faculty, students, and professionals worldwide.
6 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of California, Davis, through the Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE), on 19 August 2025. The agreement was signed in Davis, California, by Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of the UNITAR Division for Prosperity, and Mr. Michael Lazzara, Associate Vice Provost of UC Davis Global Affairs, together with Dean Julie Greenwood of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing human capital, fostering cultural and academic exchange, and empowering leaders in sustainability, innovation, and governance. Through this collaboration, UNITAR and UC Davis aim to leverage their combined expertise to create transformative learning opportunities for faculty, students, and professionals worldwide.
This MOU marks an important step towards advancing our mission to provide high-quality, impactful training that supports sustainable development and global prosperity,
said Ms. Kumamoto.
By working together with UC Davis, we can enhance capacity-building efforts and provide practical learning solutions that equip individuals and institutions to address complex global challenges.
Associate Vice Provost Lazzara added:
Our collaboration with UNITAR will allow UC Davis to expand its global learning initiatives and connect our students and faculty with opportunities that have real-world impact. Together, we can prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle pressing global challenges with knowledge, innovation and cross-cultural understanding.
Under the MOU framework, UNITAR and UC Davis will jointly implement initiatives, including:
- Capacity-building and technical training: Development and delivery of training programmes for professionals and students, particularly in tropical regions, to promote climate resilience, sustainable development, and economic growth.
- Leadership development and youth empowerment: Launch of student exchanges, summer schools, scholarships, and fellowship programmes to cultivate future leaders.
- Cultural, academic, and international exchange: Co-hosting of summits, forums, study visits, and cultural events to strengthen global collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
- Global communication and strategic partnership: Leveraging UNITAR's extensive network, including the UNITAR Prosperity Alliances , to promote multi-stakeholder collaboration and scalable solutions for sustainable development.
Dean Greenwood emphasized the value of the partnership:
CPE is dedicated to bridging academic excellence with real-world impact. Partnering with UNITAR allows us to extend our reach, share expertise and support global learners in tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges.
