united nations university advancing knowledge for human security, peace and development towards a...

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Towards A Shared Future: On Knowledge, Innovation and

Sustainable Development

Hans van Ginkel

Rector of United Nations University, Tokyo

Under-Secretary-General of United Nations

World Information ForumKuala Lumpur, Malaysia

10 August 2007

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Our Shared Future

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Our Shared Future

Shortening “Business Cost Distance” in Asia

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Knowledge, Innovation and Sustainable Development (1)

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Dimensions of Disaster

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Land Degradation (1)

Affects 23% of the landscape under human use, including about 60% of the area of Africa and Asia

Each year an additional 20 million hectares of agricultural land becomes too degraded for crop production or is lost to other uses

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Human-induced land degradation adversely affects the livelihoods of close to one billion of the poorest people and disrupts the structural and functional integrity of ecosystems; leading to loss of bio-diversity and carbon sinks of global value

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Prevention and reversal of land degradation fosters the achievement of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the objectives of major global environment conventions

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The ‘Knowledge Triangle’

Knowledge

Education Innovation

N.B.‘Knowledge’ = all scientific knowledge, incl. from social sciences and humanities‘Innovation’ includes technological and social innovations

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In general: Development, transfer and preservation of knowledge

In particular: Training teachers/developing curricula Training doctors, etc/provision of health care Training experts/support of: the legal system/the administration,

business, industry, etc

Crucial role Sustaining and developing the intellectual and cultural base of

society; Promoting knowledge, innovation and sustainable development Giving inspiration and justified pride to citizens in the achievements

over time of their own society and helping to preserve cultural identity;

Promoting dialogue to appreciate and respect cultural diversity!

Roles of Higher Education

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Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Environmental / ecological

Economic

Social, incl. Cultural and political

Scientific knowledge includes knowledge from social sciences and humanities

Innovation includes technological and social innovations

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The ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and Sustainable Development

All education (formal and non-formal) at all levels and all sectors must be reconsidered and transformed as to prepare the next generations to better contribute to the sustainable development of their societies: EfA and EfSD are two sides of the same coin; EfSD cannot just be a different subject next to all already existing subjects, but all existing subjects must be transformed to reflect EfSD.

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EfA can only be achieved when all levels and all sectors of education are developed in a balanced way: education is a pyramid and when only the base is broadened continuously, without paying attention to the other levels, ultimately the top will fall flat on the bottom, harming everyone.

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When we want to focus successfully on the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ and their mutual relations, with particular attention to developing countries and sustainable development, we must understand both knowledge and innovation in a broad sense, including economic, social, cultural and political aspects, not in a narrow technological sense.

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All three elements of the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ must be developed in harmony with each other and the specific natural/social/political/ economic/cultural environment in question.

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The development of the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ is an inseparable part of sustainable development and therefore all Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and other plans focusing on sustainable development, which try to promote ‘self help’ solutions, should include proposals to strengthen education, knowledge and innovation capacities in the region in question.

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It is recommendable to create a kind of “home-grown” human and institutional capacities for education, knowledge development, preservation and transfer as well as the strengthening of specific innovation systems; ‘twining’ with relevant institutions abroad and targeted ‘sandwich’ programmes should be fostered in order to increase the pace of development and in some cases open-up the opportunities for ‘leap-frogging.’

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It is crucial to incorporate all stakeholders, including government/political leaders, business and other representatives of civil society in an early stage in the planning and implementation of programmes and projects aiming to strengthen the ‘Knowledge Triangle’ in the country to promote its sustainable development.

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On Innovation, the University and Society

Our Society Needs

Technological innovations

Economic/financial innovations

Social innovations

Observations

The three types are related.

There may be more social innovations than technological or economic/financial.

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On Innovation, the University and Society

What to do in universities?

Strengthen fundamental research

Strengthen links with society in all its aspects

Prepare students in more entrepreneurial ways: in theory and practice

Create a holding in and of the university

Reward creativity and innovation

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Regional Centres of Expertise on EfSD

RCEs provide an excellent opportunity to stimulate a sense of:

Respect for diversity and complexity

Engagement in society

Practical issues at stake

Creativity and innovation

How to improve our situation from where we are, here and now

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PrimarySchools

SecondarySchools

Universities

PrimarySchools

SecondarySchools

Universities

Community leadersLocal Governments

Botanical gardensZoos

(Science) museums

(Research centers)

Laterallinks

Horizontal links

Ver

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l lin

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Regional Centres of Expertise on EfSD

Formal education Non-formal education

Local businesses

Knowledge-relatedinstitutions

Local NGOs

Natural parks

Media

Local NGOs

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35 RCEs in 2007

Toronto

Pacific Island Countries

Greater SendaiYokohama

Okayama

Tongyeong

Cebu

Penang

Jordan

Ghana

Barcelona

Rhine-MeuseGreater Sudbury

Grand Rapids

Curitiba-Parana

Saskatchewan

GreaterNairobi

Kwa-Zuku Natal

Makana & Rural Eastern Cape

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+ RCEs

RCE Pacific

RCE TorontoRCE Barcelona

RCE Greater Sendai

RCE Okayama

RCE Rhine Meuse

RCE Penang

RCE Jordan

RCE Tongyeong

Water Virtual Learning Centre

REDMESOBiological Conservation

+ Online Learning Projects

Global Virtual University

Asia Pacific Initiative

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Thank you very much

united nations university advancing knowledge for human security, peace and development towards a...

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