About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit

About Office/Institute

United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-IAS is a UNU institute based at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. The mission of UNU-IAS is to serve the international community through policy-relevant research and capacity development focused on sustainability, including its social, economic and environmental dimensions. Through its postgraduate education programmes UNU-IAS develops future international leaders with interdisciplinary understanding and skills needed to advance creative solutions to problems of sustainability. UNU-IAS builds on a strong tradition of UNU research and capacity development in Japan, undertaken in collaboration with a global network of professionals and scholars, particularly in Africa and Asia. For more information, please visit

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 a close alignment with UN’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 Roadmap and Greening Education Partnership.

About the project

The project provides support to 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. Its work will focus 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 is also designed to enhance synergies with two other UNU-IAS led higher education networks operating at regional, and national levels: a regional Asia-Pacific higher education network promoting sustainability in postgraduate education (), and a national higher education platform in Japan advancing the SDGs through education (SDG-UP). The Action Group will generate a suite of knowledge products across these domains, including podcast episodes, webinar sessions, publications, capacity building activities, and dialogues at key United Nations events. All activities will emphasize the nexus between AI, sustainable development, and higher education, with particular attention to human centred approaches to AI, leveraging perspectives from the Global South and pioneering women in AI innovation and building activities and dialogues at key United Nations events.

This is a full-time internship (35 hours per week), primarily based on site at UNU-IAS in Tokyo.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Academic Programme Officer of the Innovation and Education Programme, the Intern shall provide overall assistance to the project, with particular focus on coordination, communication, knowledge product development, and reporting, including the following:

1. Support the inter-network taskforce for three major networks of higher education: Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network (), and SDG-University Platform (SDG-UP)

  • Support the coordination of activities, including scheduling and attending regular meetings, recording meeting minutes and following up on the discussed matters, and facilitating and monitoring internal communication

  • Assist in the organization of various events (such as webinars, workshops and conferences), including preparation of materials, participant coordination, and drafting the activity reports.

2. Support the production of knowledge products from the project

  • Contribute to the production of podcast episodes and webinars on the topics of AI, sustainability and higher education, including identifying/communicating with speakers, promoting, recording, editing and disseminating

  • Support to ensure the participation of the three networks in the development of the project’s knowledge products.

3. Support reporting and project documentation

  • Assist in drafting the project reports capturing key activities, outputs, and achievements;

  • Archive and maintain the project records and documentation in a well-organized filing system

4. Performing other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

Values:

  • Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity

  • Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards

  • Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others

  • Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

  • Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN

  • Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action

  • Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves

  • Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others

  • Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways


1) Education and certification

  • University studies in one of the following disciplines: artificial intelligence, information technology, education, sustainable development, and international development, or a related field.

  • Be in their final year of undergraduate study or enrolled in a graduate degree programme or is within the two-year post-graduation (maximum) from either a bachelors’, masters’ or PhD degree programme.

2) Desired Skills and Experience:

  • Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize information clearly and accurately for different audiences.

  • Organizational and coordination skills, including the ability to support in-person and online meetings, events, communication processes, and multi-stakeholder engagement in an international setting.

  • Experience in drafting communication materials such as newsletters, event summaries, social media content, and other outreach documents.

  • Familiarity with digital tools for design and content-creation tools such as Canva, Adobe Suite tools, or similar platforms.

3) Language

  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required;

  • Working knowledge of another UN language, including Japanese, is an advantage.

Duration

15 September 2026 – 15 March 2027 (tentative). 

Stipend

Interns who are not in receipt of financial support from other sources such as universities or other institutions will receive a stipend from UNU to partially subsidize their basic living costs for the duration of the internship.

The monthly amount of the stipend will be determined for each duty station based on the stipend rates in effect. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis including online internship and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.

Expected start date.

September 2026 (tentative)

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

  • Apply via the apply link; 

  • fill out the  (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);

  • provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form);

  • answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the for more information.

*Candidates invited for an interview must submit the following documents prior to the interview:

  • Document(s) confirming your education status (e.g. transcript or proof of enrollment).

Application Deadline

7 September 2026 (JST 11.59pm)

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review and/or a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

UNU does not sponsor a working visa for this position. Interns do not hold international civil servant status, nor are they considered a “staff member” as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. If you have supervisory function you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU.


Scam warning

UNU does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.


At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.