UNESCO Chairs

A UNESCO Chair is a team led by a higher education or research institution that partners with UNESCO on a project to advance knowledge and practice in an area of common priority. The partnership is formalized through an agreement between the Director-General of UNESCO and the head of the institution hosting the UNESCO Chair (Rector, President). 

Established within a teaching or research unit/department/faculty of the higher education or research institution, the UNESCO Chair is led by an academic head referred to as the Chairholder. The Chairholder is supported by a team of faculty members, lecturers, researchers and students from the host institution(s) and personnel from other partner organizations (e.g. other institutions, NGOs, public and private sector, authorities) in the host country and in other countries who are associated with the activities of the Chair.

The UNESCO Chairs Programme was established in 1992 with the aim of advancing the development of education and research institutions. It mobilizes expertise of higher education and research institutions to address the interdependent challenges of today’s increasingly complex world, advances an integrated system of research, training and activities in diverse fields by building university networks, and encourages inter-university communication and cooperation.

By May 2023, 945 chairs had been created in over 120 countries and regions. The 31 chairs in China are hosted by higher education institutions including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Jinan University (see the appendix for the list). Thanks to UNESCO’s competence and resources, the UNESCO chairs have become an important international academic network. 

The chairs serve as think tanks and bridge builders between academia, civil society, local communities, research and policy-making. With their objectives aligned with UNESCO priorities as set out in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2022-2029, they play an active role in promoting North-South, South-South, and North-South-South cooperation. They evolve into poles of excellence and innovation at regional or sub-regional levels, and work to strengthen the vitality of their networks and partnerships.