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University of Santiago joins UNAI, a network of universities linked to the United Nations

Rector Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi Cid commented that "one of the strategic benefits of participating in UNAI is to be part of a platform where students, academics and researchers can connect to share ideas, research and resources to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other United Nations mandates".
From 2022, the University of Santiago of Chile becomes part of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), an initiative of the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communication that seeks to align higher education institutions with the organization, to support and contribute to the realization of its goals and mandates, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability and conflict resolution.
 
"This type of initiative (UNAI), contributes to enhance and make visible the work carried out by USACH, linked to the fulfillment of the SDGs and in tune with our Internationalization Policy. Therefore, as a University of excellence we are pleased to belong to UNAI and to be able to contribute from our work, with concrete results to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals," said the rector, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi Cid.
 
The UNAI initiative is linked, among other things, to the fulfillment and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, since they serve as incubators of new ideas and solutions to the numerous global challenges. This is aligned with the Internationalization Policy of the USACH, as it will allow to enhance and make visible the work done by the University in terms of internationalization and compliance with the SDGs.
 
The Academic Impact of the United Nations initiative is based on the commitment to support and promote ten basic principles: 1. Fight against poverty; 2. Capacity building; 3. Education for all; 4. Global Citizenship; 5. Access to Higher Education; 6. Human Rights; 7. Intercultural dialogue; 8. Peace and conflict resolution; 9. Sustainability; and 10. The United Nations Charter.
 
Each theme and discipline can have an impact on the work of the United Nations and it is intended that relevant institutions will recognize this linkage and, in many cases, without the need for increased effort or expense, undertake activities that directly support the goals and mandates of the UN.
 
To achieve this, UNAI assists stakeholders by disseminating information on UN initiatives and activities, providing ideas on how to implement these activities locally on campuses, in classrooms and communities, and through a platform where university students, faculty and researchers can connect and share ideas, research and resources to promote the Sustainable Development Goals and other mandates.
 
The incorporation to the UNAI initiative was managed by the Department of International and Interuniversity Relations (DRII), within the framework of the Internationalization Policy and the Institutional Strategic Plan, which aims to strengthen the Usach as an international reference actor of excellence.
 
For the director of the Department of International and Interuniversity Relations, Fernando Olmos Galleguillos, integrating this new strategic network allows us to connect with new institutions and, at the same time, put the seal and social responsibility characteristic of the University of Santiago de Chile, in an expanded international context. "As USACH we are part of key networks in South America, Latin America and the world. However, actively integrating the UNAI network distinguishes us in terms of compliance and promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals, key in the development of today's global society," he said.