About UNU-IAS
United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is a research and training institute within the UNU system, based at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. Its mission is to serve the international community through policy-relevant research and capacity development focused on sustainability, including its social, economic and environmental dimensions. UNU-IAS develops future international leaders with interdisciplinary understanding and skills needed to advance creative solutions to problems of sustainability.
About the IVE Programme
The Innovation and Education (IVE) Programme aims to promote research and practices on innovative and inclusive education and lifelong learning for sustainable development at all ages. It reinforces evidence-based policy advice to translate global goals into local actions through education, in close alignment with the UN's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 Roadmap and Greening Education Partnership.
About the Project
The internship supports the newly established UN HESI Action Group, "Futures of Higher Education and AI." The Action Group, comprising AI experts from higher education institutions across all regions, seeks to advance a shared knowledge base on the role of AI in accelerating progress toward sustainable development, focusing on four core domains: (i) AI in research and development; (ii) AI in teaching and learning; (iii) AI in university management and administration; and (iv) AI ethics, safety, and inclusivity. The project also enhances synergies with ProSPER.Net (a regional Asia-Pacific higher education network) and SDG-UP (a national higher education platform in Japan advancing the SDGs through education).
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Academic Programme Officer of the Innovation and Education Programme, the Intern will:
1. Support the inter-network taskforce for three major networks of higher education (HESI, ProSPER.Net, and SDG-UP):
- Support coordination of activities, including scheduling and attending regular meetings, recording minutes and following up on action items.
- Assist in the organization of events (webinars, workshops, conferences), including preparation of materials, participant coordination, and drafting activity reports.
2. Support the production of knowledge products:
- Contribute to the production of podcast episodes and webinars on AI, sustainability and higher education, including identifying speakers, promoting, recording, editing and disseminating.
3. Support reporting and project documentation:
- Assist in drafting project reports capturing key activities, outputs, and achievements.
- Archive and maintain project records in a well-organized filing system.
Qualifications
- University studies in artificial intelligence, information technology, education, sustainable development, international development, or a related field.
- Be in final year of undergraduate study, currently enrolled in a graduate degree programme, or within two years post-graduation from a bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree programme.
- Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Organizational and coordination skills, including ability to support in-person and online meetings and multi-stakeholder engagement in an international setting.
- Experience drafting communication materials such as newsletters, event summaries, and social media content.
- Familiarity with digital tools for design and content-creation (e.g. Canva, Adobe Suite).
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English; knowledge of Japanese or another UN language is an advantage.
Duration: 15 September 2026 – 15 March 2027 (tentative). Full-time on-site internship (35 hours per week). A stipend is provided for interns not receiving financial support from other sources.
Closing date: 2026-09-07
Application link: https://careers.unu.edu/o/innovation-and-education-programme-intern