2020 Regional Academy on the United Nations
'Partnership and Cooperation for the Future: 75 Years of UN Action'
Date and place: June – December 2020, ONLINE

Background
To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is igniting a people’s debate. At a time of great unparalleled global challenges as highlighted by the current pandemic, emerging economic and social crises, and climate change among others., the United Nations has launched the largest and farthest-reaching global conversation on building the future we want. Through UN75, the United Nations is encouraging people to come together to define how enhanced international cooperation can help realize a better world by 2045, the UN’s 100th birthday.
This year, RAUN will organize its programme around UN 75, combining expert lectures and presentations with focus group work which will take place online to engage young academics in discussing some of today’s most complex global challenges. Based on the UN75 toolkit to be found, the dialogues will focus on the role of partnership and international cooperation in times of crisis such as the coronavirus-induced social and economic crises. Participants will have the option to select from the list of themes listed below.
Why participate in this year’s RAUN programme?
Dates and duration
June – December 2020. The final session will take place online, due to the pandemic situations in Vienna, Austria.
About the 2020 Regional Academy on the United Nations
The programme will consist of five regular virtual sessions once every one and a half months. By the end of the programme, participants are expected to prepare a policy paper, based on the umbrella themes as defined in the UN75 Toolkit:
Participants will have the possibility to work on specific topics related to the above-mentioned themes, from a list suggested by the UN or partner organizations.
Once topics have been selected, participants will be matched in small groups of 3 to work on their chosen topic.
As a final outcome, participants will be required to submit a policy brief/paper of 10 to 15 pages based on desk research of the issues and discussions with experts from the UN and other organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens. The policy brief/paper should include background information about the issue, ideas about the kind of future we want to create and common goals, an evaluation of the progress made towards achieving the goals (including milestones and challenges), and effective measures to support the process.
Expert mentors
Participants will exchange with experts from the United Nations or partner organizations on a regular basis for consultations and discussions. These meetings shall help participants to better understand the issues and provide expert guidance during the drafting of the recommendations.
PEER+
Each group of participants will be assigned a PEER+, someone who has participated in the RAUN programme before, to provide additional support. PEER+ give advice based on their experience with RAUN and help participants by providing feedback on their work.
Sessions (online)
Session one: 10 June 2020
Session two: 8 July 2020
Session three: 4 August 2020
Session four: 3 September 2020
Session five: 19 October 2020
Session six: 16 November 2020
Final session: 10-11 December 2020
Participation fee
One time, non-refundable 50€.
Certificates
At the end of the programme, participants will receive certificates of successful completion.
Contact
For more information please contact us at raun-communications@ra-un.org.
To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is igniting a people’s debate. At a time of great unparalleled global challenges as highlighted by the current pandemic, emerging economic and social crises, and climate change among others., the United Nations has launched the largest and farthest-reaching global conversation on building the future we want. Through UN75, the United Nations is encouraging people to come together to define how enhanced international cooperation can help realize a better world by 2045, the UN’s 100th birthday.
This year, RAUN will organize its programme around UN 75, combining expert lectures and presentations with focus group work which will take place online to engage young academics in discussing some of today’s most complex global challenges. Based on the UN75 toolkit to be found, the dialogues will focus on the role of partnership and international cooperation in times of crisis such as the coronavirus-induced social and economic crises. Participants will have the option to select from the list of themes listed below.
Why participate in this year’s RAUN programme?
- At a time when our world is at a critical juncture, participants will have the opportunity to participate in one of the most ambitious discussions about our future.
- They have the unique opportunity to convey their ideas, including critical opinions to world leaders, the United Nations, the academic community and civil society at large.
- The outcome will be submitted to the United Nations through the UN75 platform. A final report of all the inputs gathered from the global consultations will be presented to the international community.
Dates and duration
June – December 2020. The final session will take place online, due to the pandemic situations in Vienna, Austria.
About the 2020 Regional Academy on the United Nations
The programme will consist of five regular virtual sessions once every one and a half months. By the end of the programme, participants are expected to prepare a policy paper, based on the umbrella themes as defined in the UN75 Toolkit:
- The impact of digital technology
- A new era of conflicts and violence
- Inequity - bridging the divide
- The climate crisis - a race we can win
- Shifting demographics
- Investing in health for an equitable future
- Women and girls - closing the gender gap
Participants will have the possibility to work on specific topics related to the above-mentioned themes, from a list suggested by the UN or partner organizations.
Once topics have been selected, participants will be matched in small groups of 3 to work on their chosen topic.
As a final outcome, participants will be required to submit a policy brief/paper of 10 to 15 pages based on desk research of the issues and discussions with experts from the UN and other organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens. The policy brief/paper should include background information about the issue, ideas about the kind of future we want to create and common goals, an evaluation of the progress made towards achieving the goals (including milestones and challenges), and effective measures to support the process.
Expert mentors
Participants will exchange with experts from the United Nations or partner organizations on a regular basis for consultations and discussions. These meetings shall help participants to better understand the issues and provide expert guidance during the drafting of the recommendations.
PEER+
Each group of participants will be assigned a PEER+, someone who has participated in the RAUN programme before, to provide additional support. PEER+ give advice based on their experience with RAUN and help participants by providing feedback on their work.
Sessions (online)
Session one: 10 June 2020
Session two: 8 July 2020
Session three: 4 August 2020
Session four: 3 September 2020
Session five: 19 October 2020
Session six: 16 November 2020
Final session: 10-11 December 2020
Participation fee
One time, non-refundable 50€.
Certificates
At the end of the programme, participants will receive certificates of successful completion.
Contact
For more information please contact us at raun-communications@ra-un.org.