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UN Summer Academy
The UN Summer Academy (UNSA) fosters rich interactions on issues relevant to the work of the United Nations and its partners in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The theme for this year is 'Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development'.
We are pleased to offer a limited number of full scholarships funded by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. The criteria and the application process are described at the end of this page.
The UN Summer Academy is a dynamic and engaging global forum for advancing sustainable development. For over a decade, the academy has convened exceptional groups of changemakers annually to address global challenges that the UN system and its partners from multiple sectors and regions across the world are addressing. The academy combines academic rigour with cutting-edge thinking, providing participants with innovative learning and networking opportunities.
In September 2025, the academy will once again welcome participants to engage in robust discussions and knowledge exchanges on Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development.
Upon successfully participating in the UN Summer Academy 2025, participants will:
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of how digital transformation can be an enabler for sustainable development;
- Be able to critically examine governance and ethical considerations in the realm of data-sharing ecosystems and artificial intelligence; and
- Cultivate awareness of the cultural shifts needed to foster collaboration and build trust to unlock the full potential of digital transformation as a driver of sustainable development.
This 5th virtual edition of academy is designed using experiential online learning methodologies that combine panel discussions featuring high-level speakers with interactive opportunities for knowledge exchange, experience sharing, and hands-on practice sessions.
Most of the virtual academy is synchronous with limited mandatory pre-readings. Participants will engage with a wide range of expert inputs during live webinars, reflect in small-groups during breakout activities, prepare for learner-led and peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges, and apply the knowledge and skills they have during co-creation activities.
This academy places a premium on fun and relationship-building. During networking sessions, participants showcase their work, play games, and engage in other social activities.
In this year's summer academy, participants will explore key topics in-depth through plenary sessions, applied use cases, hands-on practice sessions, and side events on trending topics. Participants will have an opportunity to present their solution to a real-world sustainable development challenge by participating in a hackathon.
An agenda detailing the session themes is presented below.
Up to 100 applicants who sign up will be selected based on their professional/academic profile and motivation statements, with scholarships available for a select few. When signing up, make sure you dedicate enough time to fill in all the required information, especially at the question: “Tell us a bit more about why you are applying for this course”.
The cohort will comprise of UN professionals; representatives from national and local government bodies; members of civil society, academia; and sustainability intrapreneurs from the private sector. More specifically, successful applicants to UNSA will be mid-level professionals with 8-15 years of experience working on digital transformation for sustainable development.
The selection board will make sure geographic regions, gender, and sectors – including UN and non-UN - are well represented in the cohort.
IMPORTANT
- Attendance requirements: Participants must commit to attending all three days of the Academy. Certificates from the United Nations System Staff College will be awarded to participants who meet the attendance rate criteria for the UN Summer Academy.
- Technical requirements: Participants will need to access the academy through a desktop PC or laptop with an internet connection, as well as a functioning webcam, microphone, and speakers. Internet speed and volume should be sufficient for four to five hours of video-conferencing each day. Due to the interactive and co-creative format of the Academy, it is not possible to participate using a smartphone.
The course fee of USD 800 for individual participants covers the following:
- Three days of online training, including a technical orientation session on how to navigate the virtual platform and use the collaborative tools for the course.
- Exclusive access to the UNSSC online social learning environment with asynchronous learning activities, background materials, and the opportunity to connect with and learn from peers.
- All course materials, references, and contacts.
Participants are expected to cover all costs related to their participation in UNSA (computer, Internet access, any other IT equipment, etc.) .
Scholarships
How to apply for a UNSA 2025 Scholarship?
Please read the instructions carefully before you begin.
- Step 1: Please first register for the UN Summer Academy by clicking on the “Sign up” button at the top of this page. Once your course registration is complete, and pending approval, you should receive an automatically generated email. Your scholarship application will not be taken into consideration if you have not registered on this page first.
- Step 2: After you have completed your registration on this page, please apply via this Scholarship Application Form using the same email address.
IMPORTANT
- There are a limited number of scholarships available, and the application process is highly competitive. We encourage you to finance your participation through other means if possible.
- We will get in touch with shortlisted candidates via the email address provided in the application. Kindly refrain from sending follow-up emails regarding application status.
The deadline for scholarship applications is Friday, 1 August 2025.
