◆A delegation led by Chitizi Marwara, Rector of the United Nations University, paid a courtesy call on President Uketani
Release Date:
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, a delegation led by Chitizi Marwara, Rector of the United Nations University, paid a visit to President Ujita.
The United Nations University is the only UN agency headquartered in Japan, having begun operations in Tokyo in 1975. Serving as a think tank for the entire UN system, it conducts research aimed at solving global challenges, including the achievement of the SDGs, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
This visit took place because Kochi Prefecture was selected as the 21st stop on UNU Rector Marwala’s tour of all 47 prefectures—a goal he set upon taking office in 2023 to raise the university’s profile.
During the visit, UNU Rector Marwala stated that the UNU’s mission is to contribute to solving the serious global challenges facing the world, and that the university places great importance on promoting collaboration with Japanese universities. As a concrete initiative, he mentioned the creation of the “UNU SDG University Partnership Platform,” a forum for Japanese universities to collaborate toward achieving the SDGs.
Next, President Uchida introduced our university, noting that as a core regional institution, we conduct research that leverages the strengths of the Kochi Prefecture region. He highlighted that our university is characterized by a high volume of research activities related to SDG 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources,” compared to the global average.
Following the courtesy visit, President Marwala delivered a special lecture titled “UNU and its Role in Advancing SDGs,” which was attended by approximately 20 students and faculty members. In his lecture, he discussed the origins of the United Nations University, noted that a total of 218 SDG-related research projects were conducted at the university in 2024, and emphasized the usefulness of artificial intelligence (AI) in achieving the goals.Students asked questions regarding the ethical use of AI, to which President Marwala responded that it is crucial for institutions, including universities, to focus on how to educate young people.
This served as a valuable opportunity to convey the role of the university in the local community and for students and faculty to deepen their reflection on future international development.
