York University's UNESCO Chair, together with the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens will hold a virtual dialogue on educating future generations. The event will be hosted by the Austrian Cultural Forum at the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa on May 5 at 12 p.m.

Five years ago, the United Nations introduced a series of Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. This “call to action” addresses poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.

Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability at York University, and Katrin Kohl, executive coordinator to the UNESCO Chair

Panelists will respond to central questions on the role of transformative education for all in achieving the UN SDGs. Hannes Machor, deputy head of mission at the Austrian Embassy Ottawa and director of the Austrian Cultural Forum will chair the discussion between Monika Froehler, CEO at the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability. The event will be moderated by Andreas Strebinger, associate professor of marketing at York’s School of Administrative Studies, and Katrin Kohl, UNESCO Chair coordinator at York’s Faculty of Education. The event will include special guest, Austrian graphic recording artist, Lana Lauren, who will capture spoken content in real time and translate it into engaging visuals.

The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna was established in 2018 and is co-chaired by Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and Heinz Fischer, former president of Austria. The centre strives for a global respect for human rights, where sustainable development is achieved through global citizenship, shared responsibility, understanding and empathy.

Established in 1999, the UNESCO Chair at York University was the first UNESCO Chair to be created to support education for sustainable development (ESD). It now serves the UN SDGs through research and the coordination of the International Network of Teacher Education Institutions (INTEI) and the Indigenous ESD research network focusing on the education of Indigenous youth.

The event aligns with York’s commitment to the UN SDGs. The Academic Plan 2020-2025 positions York with distinctive capabilities to create positive change in a world facing an unprecedented convergence of complex issues such as climate change, a global pandemic, racism and xenophobia, poverty and inequality.

To join in for this important event, register here.