The University of Auckland in Partnership with UN-HABITAT
In 2009, The University of Auckland officially became part of the Habitat Partner University Network (HPU) of the United Nations Human Settlements Program UN-HABITAT.
UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities throughout the world, focusing on the "three pillars of sustainability" - equity, ecology, and economy.
The University is committed to supporting UN-HABITAT's mandate of promoting sustainable urban development, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
What is the Habitat Partner University (HPU) Network?
- A group of international universities with a focus on urban sustainability
- Partner universities are key stakeholders in their own communities to: "promote socially and environmentally sustainable development of towns and cities in accordance with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals."
- Opportunity for collaboration, cooperation and exchange between universities in developed and developing nations based on reciprocity and mutual benefit
Principles of the HPU Network
- Systematic approach to sustainable urban development
- Focus on urban poverty reduction
- Inter-disciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity
- Practice orientated to influence policy and practice
- Linking levels (local, regional, national and global)
- Commitments from partner universities to the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable urbanisation
Benefits of collaboration with UN-HABITAT
Through this partnership, the University aims to attract talented postgraduate students to the University, enhance the postgraduate experience, boost teaching and learning, increase ability to attract offshore research funding, and promote the University's research and international connections. In addition, this partnership will support the University's engagement and opportunities for research collaboration with other HPU institutions around the world.
Future components of the UN-HABITAT Partnership
- Development and sharing best practice in teaching, research, policy and practice on targeted themes of urban sustainability
- Research collaboration, particularly PhD and Post Doc'
- Internship of students at UN-HABITAT Headquarters (Nairobi) and Regional Offices
- Development of targeted courses in fields linked to urban sustainability
- Academic collaboration in the form of joint courses and collaborative curriculum development
- Joint seminars and other events, such as visiting seminar series
- Collaborative student work in the field and in studio-related disciplines
- Higher educational policy development
- Supporting inter-university networking
UN-HABITAT Steering Group
Membership of the UN-HABITAT Steering Group has been confirmed as follows:
- Alexandra JaYeun Lee, UN-HABITAT Partnership Project Administrator
- Analeise Murahidy, Business Manager Science, UniServices
- Anita Lacey, Department of Political Science
- Anna Yallop, Business Manager, UniServices
- Carol Boyle, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
- Charlotte Sunde, Auckland a Sustainable City TRI, NICAI
- Chris Berry, Deputy Director (International Mobility), International Office
- David Grinlinton, Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Law
- David Saunders, Fund Specialist (International), Research Office
- Dory Reeves, Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, NICAI (Focal Point)
- Hugh Byrd, School of Architecture and Planning, NICAI
- Ian Roy, International Development Manager, Faculty of Engineering
- Judith McCool, School of Population Health, FMHS
- Julie Park, Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
- July Rea, NICAI
- Kareem Ismail, PhD Candidate, NICAI
- Kathryn Scott, PhD Candidate, Anthropology
- Lesley Stone, Sustainability and Environmental Coordinator, VCO and Property Services
- Matthew O'Meagher, Senior Adviser (International Relations)
- Merata Kawharu, James Henare Research Centre
- Mohsen Mohammadzadeh, PhD Candidate, Planning, NICAI
- Natalie Morgan, PhD Candidate, Architecture, NICAI
- Rachel Wolfgramm, Management and International Business, Business School
- Saeid Adli, PhD Candidate, Architecture, NICAI
- Sally Birdsall, Faculty of Education
- Stephen Penk, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Law
- Ward Friesen, School for the Environment, Faculty of Science
- Yvonne Underhill-Sem, Centre for Development Studies, Faculty of Arts
World Urban Forum 6 (WUF6) will be in Naples, Italy , from 1-7 September 2012. The University of Auckland will be represented by Professor Dory Reeves, Dr Yvonne Underhill-Sem and Professor Tom Fookes. The main theme is 'The Urban Future'. For more details, see the WUF6 newsletter below.
At the World Urban Forum in Rio in 2010 The University of Auckland had a significant presence. The University co-chaired the Universities Round Table whose objectives were:
- To discuss the opportunities and challenges for universities in advancing sustainable urban development through teaching, research and fieldwork, and bridging research, policy and implementation gaps
- To establish a broad set of ideas, propositions and principles that underpin the efforts and strategies universities use in their role in advancing sustainable urban development
A total of 209 participants from 109 Universities attended the round table from Africa (10), Asia (8), the Caribbean (1), Europe (25), Latin America (including Mexico) (45, 38 of which were from Brazil), 17 from the United States and Canada and from the Pacific (3). During the Roundtable session 38 oral contributions were made from 34 Universities including representatives from South and North America, the Caribbean, Pacific, Australasia, Asia and Europe.
WUF University Roundtable Report (2010) (383 KB PDF)
WUF6 Newsletter (2012) (300 KB PDF)
World Habitat Day at The University of Auckland
Photo competition will be one of the key events for World Habitat Day in October 2012. Watch the World Habitat Day on campus web page for details.
The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. World Habitat Day provides us with an opportunity to think about the state of urban settlements at home and around the world. The day aims to increase collective awareness of the human habitat and encourage greater responsibility for its sustainable future. As the world’s population living in urban areas steadily increases, issues of climate change, poverty, resource depletion, social exclusion, food insecurity and economic instability become more pressing and have the potential to significantly impact on our urban settlements well into the future. For more information, visit World Habitat Day website.
In conjunction with the University’s partnership with UN-Habitat, the University runs a programme of events during the week of World Habitat Day each year. Find out more about World Habitat Day on campus or join us on facebook.
Professor Stuart McCutcheon and Professor Anna Tibaijuka sign the partnership agreement
Partnership with UN-HABITAT
On June 19, 2009, The University of Auckland became the first New Zealand partner in the Habitat Partner University Network (HPU) of the UN Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT with the official exchange of letters between Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Professor Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka.
