UNESCO Chairs Programme

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme: Background, Objectives, and Pakistan Chairs

Background

The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme was launched in 1992 as UNESCO’s flagship initiative to promote international inter-university cooperation in higher education Over three decades, it has grown to encompass around 1000 UNESCO Chairs and some 45 UNITWIN Networks across 125 countries. These Chairs and networks form a global alliance of universities supporting UNESCO’s work in education, the natural and social sciences, culture, and communication, helping address pressing challenges and contributing to societal development. In essence, the programme mobilizes the expertise of higher education and research institutions worldwide to tackle today’s complex, interdependent challenges. It was established with the vision to advance an integrated system of research, training, and activities in diverse fields by building university networks and encouraging cross-border knowledge exchange. 

Objectives

The UNESCO Chairs Programme aims to strengthen higher education systems and foster collaborative research, training, and knowledge-sharing in UNESCO’s priority areas. Through an integrated approach that combines research, teaching and training, and community engagement, UNESCO Chairs have proven effective in advancing UNESCO’s interdisciplinary knowledge creation and its role as a “laboratory of ideas”. The Chairs serve as think tanks and bridge-builders between academia, civil society, local communities, and policymakers, thereby reinforcing the link between research, policy, and society. Activities undertaken by UNESCO Chairs aspire to inspire public intellectual debate, ethical reflection, standard-setting, scientific research, open knowledge, and educational innovation in a spirit of international cooperation. In short, they align academic work with UNESCO’s mission – for example, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals – and help translate UNESCO’s ideals into practice at the local and global levels.

Application Cycle and Guidelines

Application Cycle: UNESCO periodically invites proposals to establish new UNESCO Chairs or UNITWIN Networks, typically on an annual cycle. For example, the 2025 application cycle was open until 30 April 2025. Applications must be completed in English or French via UNESCO’s dedicated online submission platform, and critically, each proposal must be endorsed (validated) by the relevant country’s National Commission for UNESCO before submission. UNESCO limits each Member State to at most two new Chair/Network applications per cycle, so national pre-selection is often conducted months in advance . Interested institutions are therefore encouraged to coordinate early with their National Commission. Once submitted, applications undergo evaluation by UNESCO based on established criteria (outlined in Annex B of the guidelines) and alignment with UNESCO’s program priorities.

Guidelines: Detailed procedures, selection criteria, and requirements are published in the official UNESCO “UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme: Guidelines and Procedures” (most recently revised in March 2022). This document provides comprehensive information on how to prepare a proposal (including the required application form and evaluation criteria) and the process for approval, implementation, and renewal of UNESCO Chairs. (The official UNESCO guidelines for the programme can be accessed via UNESCO’s website unesco.org.) Additionally, existing Chairs are generally established through renewable agreements (often for an initial 4-year term), and host institutions must apply for renewal about six months before an agreement expires. Overall, the process ensures that new Chairs strongly contribute to UNESCO’s strategic priorities and maintain high academic and collaborative standards.

Active UNESCO Chairs in Pakistan

According to UNESCO’s latest listings (updated June 2025), Pakistan currently hosts eight active UNESCO Chairs, each based at a recognized higher education institution and working on a thematic focus aligned with UNESCO’s goals:

  • UNESCO Chair on Inclusion through Art – Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore. Established 2024, focusing on leveraging arts and creativity for social inclusion, cultural diversity, and innovation in education.

  • UNESCO Chair on Knowledge Systems for Integrated Water Resources Management – COMSATS University Islamabad. Established 2019, concentrating on integrated water resource management, climate change adaptation, and environmental conservation strategies.

  • UNESCO Chair on Information and Communication Technology for Development – Information Technology University (ITU), Lahore. Established 2018, aiming to harness ICT for development (ICT4D), including digital transformation, inclusive education, and empowerment through technology.

  • UNESCO Chair on Low Carbon and Sustainable Agriculture in Biosphere Reserves – MNS University of Agriculture, Multan. Established 2024, focusing on sustainable agriculture and biosphere reserve management – for example, promoting low-carbon farming practices, biodiversity conservation, and the use of AI/innovation with attention to gender and cultural inclusion.

  • UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Urban Regions – NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. Established 2022, dedicated to sustainable urban development and urban ecology, addressing city planning, resilience, and environmental sustainability in urban regions.

  • UNESCO Chair in the Conservation and Management of Historic Towns and Urban Centers – National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore. Established 2009, centered on cultural heritage preservation and management of historic towns, including safeguarding urban heritage sites and engaging indigenous communities through intercultural dialogue and skills development.

  • UNESCO Chair “Light for Health” – Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad. Established 2011, exploring the applications of photonics and light-based technologies for health. The chair’s work spans health sciences and optical physics (photonanomedicine), while also promoting open science and STEM education (teacher training in science/technology)

  • UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-organic Natural Product Chemistry – University of Karachi. Established 2020, focusing on natural products and medicinal chemistry. The chair integrates indigenous knowledge and innovation in drug discovery, and emphasizes education for sustainable development in chemistry and health sciences.

Each of these UNESCO Chairs in Pakistan works within its specialty to advance research, develop curricula and training, and build partnerships that align with UNESCO’s global priorities – from cultural diversity and education to environmental sustainability and technological innovation. They also serve as hubs of expertise that connect Pakistani academia with international networks in their respective fields.

Active ICESCO Chairs in Pakistan

In addition to UNESCO Chairs, Pakistan has recently established academic chairs under ICESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, affiliated with the OIC). These ICESCO Chairs similarly aim to foster research and capacity-building, but within the Islamic world’s educational and scientific cooperation framework. As of 2023-2024, the following ICESCO Chairs are active in Pakistan:

  • ICESCO Chair of Data Analytics and Edge Computing – Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. Launched in 2023 with ICESCO’s support, this chair focuses on advanced data analytics and edge computing technologies. It was established through an agreement handed over by ICESCO’s Director-General, and is led by faculty at QAU in collaboration with ICESCO experts. The chair aims to boost research in big data and edge computing applications, building capacity in these cutting-edge domains.

  • ICESCO Chair of Data Science and Analytics for Business – National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad. Announced in late 2023, this chair is a partnership between NUST and ICESCO to promote artificial intelligence and data science solutions for business and finance. Led by a professor at NUST’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the chair’s objective is to drive innovation in business analytics and prepare talent to leverage AI and data-driven insights in the corporate sector nust.edu.pk.

These ICESCO Chairs signify Pakistan’s commitment to engaging with the Islamic world’s scientific and educational initiatives. They complement the UNESCO Chairs by addressing specialized areas (such as AI, data analytics, and emerging technologies) and fostering international collaboration through ICESCO’s network. Both UNESCO and ICESCO Chairs in Pakistan serve to strengthen academic research, innovation, and knowledge exchange, while aligning with national and international development priorities.

For more details, consult the UNESCO Chairs Programme guidelines unesco.org and the UNESCO Chairs Programme webpage unesco.org.