UNSSC: A centre of excellence.
The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is a centre of excellence that offers learning to further a basic, yet fundamental goal: fostering a world where everyone thrives in peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.
A place where creative problem-solving thrives.
UNSSC has played an integral role in putting learning and training at the service of UN system mandates to create a more sustainable, just and equitable world.
Our learning methodologies combine academic research with UN practical experience, a combination that fosters deep critical thinking and creative problem solving.
UNSSC spurs learning participants to collaborate across the UN system to break down organizational and functional silos. Participants from civil society, academia, the private sector, and other actors learn alongside UN personnel – leading to a vibrant crafting of new solutions.
UNSSC provides learning through residential courses, online, and through a combination of both. Knowledge-sharing and networking are hard-wired into our learning programmes, which we regularly evaluate for their quality.
UNSSC provides learning through residential courses, online, and through a combination of both. Knowledge-sharing and networking are hard-wired into our learning programmes, which we regularly evaluate for their quality.
Focus Areas.
In 2019, UNSSC was guided by its Strategic Plan 2018–2021. The plan calls for UNSSC to deliver state-of-the-art learning solutions so that the UN System and its wide array of partners are well-equipped to:
Advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda is the most ambitious anti-poverty, pro-planet agenda ever adopted by UN Member States. It requires the UN system and partners – civil society, academia, the private sector and others – to work across sectors, strengthening and expanding partnerships in which collaboration and synergy are key. Indeed, the 2030 Agenda is the boldest agenda for humanity.
Build and Sustain Peace
Connected to the 2030 Agenda are the twin resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and Security Council on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which call for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to enhancing the skills and capacities of societies not only to address the root causes of conflict, but also to build and sustain peace through non-violent means.
Pursue Management Reform
Both the 2030 Agenda and the twin resolutions on peacebuilding and sustaining peace require changes in how the United Nations responds to these mandates as an organization. UN personnel need a new set of knowledge and competencies to manage for results in order to meet today’s complex and interlinked challenges.
Academic Partnerships.
UNSSC is committed not only to empowering UN staff and partners through learning but also to building the capacity of new generations around UN values and vision. With this in mind, UNSSC has forged partnerships with two leading academic institutions to support them in developing world-class programmes that serve the United Nations and beyond.
To ensure that a new generation of leaders understands the integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals and their mutual benefits and trade-offs, UNSSC forged a partnership with Spain’s IE School of Global and Public Affairs to develop a world-class Master in International Development. Designed through the lens of the “5Ps” of the 2030 Agenda (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships), the Master will equip students with a mindset that values innovation, co-creation and collaboration. The first class matriculated in 2019.
To provide professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to manage and lead for the future, UNSSC partnered with the University of Stellenbosch Business School, which is offering a business degree in the management of international organizations. UNSSC contributes critical public-sector leadership and management expertise as well as a network of senior UN practitioners who serve as faculty and research supervisors. The University of Stellenbosch Business School emphasizes values-driven personal development, training leaders to be proponents of responsible change.
Learning
Snapshot.
Increased beneficiaries
The number of people who benefited from UNSSC learning products grew by 6% in 2019.
62% of learning programmes were delivered outside of UNSSC campuses in Turin and Bonn.
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Côte D'ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Germany, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Increased users of knowledge sharing services
The number of users who benefited from UNSSC webinars, communities of practice, web-based learning platforms and other online serviced increased by 20% in 2019.
Course quality, relevance and facilitation
In 2019, participants rated learning programmes highly in terms of overall quality, job relevance, facilitation and teaching methodology.
Expanded direct training
The number of learners who directly benefited from UNSSC courses and learning events delivered face-to-face or online increased by 25%, while the number of activities grew by 9%.
Indirect Training
Learners trained by UNSSC-certified trainers in the area of UN staff safety and security.
Learners by Gender
Recommendation rate
96% of participants in 2019 said they would recommend the learning programme they took to others.
A look
at 2020.
A note from the Director
Published in the summer of 2020, this report describes UNSSC’s work in 2019. However, given the immense global impact of COVID-19, one cannot review the past year in isolation without contextualizing the work of the College in the midst of the pandemic. While this report allows readers to glance at our work during the past year, I would like to take a moment to update you on how the College is responding to COVID-19 in 2020. Our first priority has been the health and well-being of our staff and our learning community. Accordingly, until conditions permit us to return to residential offerings, we have been delivering our learning online, redesigning many residential offerings as e-learning courses, and rolling out new offerings to meet the needs of UN personnel.
A leader in online instructional design
We have been recognized as an online learning leader. UN entities have been asking us to support them in developing online courses. For example, we have created and delivered the course, From in-classroom training to e-learning: A hands-on workshop. This innovative offering seeks to replicate in-class training in an online environment, where participants are able to complete activities designed for face-to-face interaction in a virtual environment, using web-based tools to achieve similar interaction, collaboration and engagement.
Tailored learning to respond to the pandemic
The College is also serving the UN system in its inter-agency response to the pandemic. We have launched new offerings such as how to deal with uncertainty and manage teams remotely. Online courses on sustainable development are being delivered free of charge, thanks to a generous contribution from the Federal Government of Germany and sponsorships from UN Agencies. The College is also offering “Coffee Hours”, a free webinar series that brings together leading thinkers to discuss issues ranging from the impact of COVID-19 on humanitarian coordination and refugee response, to the future of multilateralism in the wake of the pandemic.
Residential offerings will be back when safe
Looking ahead, the UN system can support the world to “build back better” not only by working together but also by learning together. We are well aware that people appreciate our residential learning opportunities. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will relaunch these offerings. Until then, UNSSC is focused on serving the learning needs of UN personnel and partners through our wide array of online learning solutions.
Jafar Javan
DIRECTOR
United Nations System Staff College
