The 10th regular session of the UNU International Courses commenced on 11 May with an opening ceremony held at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. Fifty-one postgraduate students and young professionals from 40 countries were selected to take part in the six-week-long courses.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from 35 embassies, including 23 ambassadors.

The UNU International Courses are an integral part of the training and capacity development activities of the University and form a core part of its primary goal: finding sustainable solutions for the global problems of today and tomorrow.

The programme is designed for postgraduate students and young professionals in various occupations in Japan and abroad who wish to pursue careers in international fields in public-service or private organizations, including the United Nations, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations. and national foreign service organizations. The courses are designed to provide analyses of global issues from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.

The 2009 courses introduce one core course (The UN System: Pressing Issues and Sustainable Solutions) and three optional modules: Peace and Human Rights; Global Change and Sustainability; and International Development and Cooperation.

Students, their professors, UNU-IC organizers and UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder at the opening ceremony of the 2009 UNU International Courses. Photo: DNP/UNU.