Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Special Event

Where Next? Redesigning Further Education for the Future
8 July 2020, 08.00-10.00 (NY time) // Location: Zoom Webinar – ​Register hereIntroduction
Higher Education plays a vital role in educating the current and next generation of leaders, driving theresearch agenda for both the public and private sectors and plays a critical role in shaping the direction ofnational economies.
In this era of uncertainty, the question for this year’s Higher Education Sustainability Initiative Annual
Conference at the High-level Political Forum is how can we redesign higher education in support ofsustainable development, a green recovery, and regenerative pathways for education. This agenda will
support the theme of this year’s High-level Political Forum which is ​“Accelerated action and transformative
pathways: realising the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”​.
The discussion will seek to provide insight on how Covid-19 will affect the sector and what new ideas arebeing considered that can enable higher education to enable radical change and regeneration. In addition tothis discussion, there will be a special HESI Members roundtable that will be held on Wednesday, 15 July toreflect on this discussion and encourage actionable next steps.
Event Objectives:
1. Reflect on where we are: ​Through the discussion, to u​ nderstand​ the impact of COVID-19 on Higher
Education so we know "where we are";
2. Explore where we want to get to:​ Explore new ideas as to how we can ​regenerate, renew andrevitalise ​ Higher Education and explore different pathway that would offer ideas on how to Redesign
Higher & Further Education for the Future;
3. Be inspired, while considering access and equity, to build collective intent: ​Be inspired by new,propositional fresh thinking as to what we can achieve collectively while also ensuring that weconsider inclusion and equity at all levels, everywhere.
Timeline

SessionOpening and welcoming remarks:
Her Excellency Mona Juul, President of the Economic and Social Council

08:00 AM
Mr. Elliott Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development and Chief
Economist, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

8:10 AM

Setting the Context: The Urgency of Where we are Now
Mr. Nathaniel Smith, Founder and Chief Equity Officer for Partnership for Southern
EquityCritical introduction to the present context facing higher education: a context which is
not unique to higher ed and hinges on connecting environmental issues and social
justice given the Black Lives Matter protests that have taken place across the world.

8:20 AM

Introduction: HESI and where we are now
Master of Ceremonies: Sam Barratt, Chair of HESI and Chief of Youth, Education andAdvocacy at UN Environment
Welcome and brief overview of the progress we have made over the past 12 months
and the aim of the discussion today.
Keynotes: Learning from our present context and creating regenerative pathways
for the future
Moderator: Dr Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, International Association ofUniversities; Executive Director, International Universities Bureau
Brief remarks with insights from those that are assessing how both (1) Higher
Education and (2) Agenda 2030 are being affected by Covid-19 and the long-term
implications.

8:25 AM
5 mins8 mins8 mins

Ms Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, President, SDSN; Columbia University Professor and Director,
Center for Sustainable Development

15

Moderated Discussion
Closing Remarks with Session Moderator summarizing 4-5 key points

9:00 AMFormat TBD

Moderated Session: Higher Education to Support Regenerative Pathways
Moderator: Satya Tripath​i, ​UN Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary of the UN
Environment Management Group
Short statements with insights from leading thinkers across the higher education
sphere, addressing major issues facing higher ed and suggesting future directions,challenges, and opportunities facing HEIs and educational leaders.
A view from youth: ​What do students want from their Higher Education experience● Ms. Zamzam Ibrahim - Teach the Future Youth Representative, SOS-UK● Mr. Rituraj Yadav - Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), Nepal/USA
A view from Government: ​How are governments supporting the redesign ofeducation● Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, India
A view from Education:● Prof​. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University
Moderated Discussion
Closing Remarks with Session Moderator summarizing 4-5 key points

9:55 AM

Summary and next steps

10:00 AMTechnology Transfer to Green Gown Awards

Connectivity
This will be the first time for the HESI meeting of the High-level Political Forum to be hosted virtually. In orderto engage as many different stakeholders as possible, you will be able to participate in the conference in two
different ways. First, you can register to attend the live event. Connection details to join the Zoom Webinar
as a participant will be circulated via email on Monday, 6 July. Alternatively, this broadcast will be shared on
YouTube and the link for free viewing will be distributed an hour before the event begins on Wednesday, 8July.
Following this event, the ​International Green Gown Awards winners will be announced. Connection details tojoin this special event will be shared during the HESI event. International ​Green Gown Awards recogniseleadership of higher education institutions in integrating sustainability across their programs. ​We invite
everyone in attendance to join the International Green Gown Awards special event!