Geneva Trialogue 2016
Knowledge and the SDGs
The first Geneva Trialogue was hosted by the University of Geneva and was part of a recent partnership with China’s Tsinghua University to trigger an effort at different levels – local, regional and international – to develop practical solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
This Sino-Swiss partnership between the best Chinese technological university and one of the best European research universities provides a unique opportunity to develop practical solutions to achieve the SDGs.
This collaboration brought together the global governance skills and experience gathered in Geneva, and Tsinghua University’s unique innovation centre in Shenzhen, where the jump from scientific conception to technological production will be feasible in record time.
The Geneva Trialogue was made possible thanks to the generous support offered by the University of Geneva, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, a local Foundation and Upwelling Limited, as well as to the close cooperation of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Programme
08:30
Breakfast and registration
09:15
Opening remarks
09:45
Plenary 1: Knowledge and the SDGs, a 3-fold approach
Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Provost (Education), Imperial College London
Nadine Hack, CEO, beCause Global Consulting
Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UNITAR
10:45
Parallel session 1.1: Partnering to strengthen sustainability competencies
Ioana Creitaru, Capacity building specialist, CADRI-UNDP
Ruth Förster, Board Member, Swiss Academic Society for Environmental Research and Ecology (SAGUF)
Elena Proden, Specialist, The 2030 Agenda Orientation and Training, UNITAR
Gitanjali Sah, Coordinator, World Summit on the Information Society, ITU
Otto Simonett, Director, Zoi Network
10:45
Parallel session 1.2: Innovative learning approaches for the SDGs
Einar Bjørgo, Manager, UNITAR’s Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT)
Isabelle Finger, Head of Global Partnerships, Coursera
Daniele Gerundino, Acting director ISO Academy
Gaëll Mainguy, Director of development, CRI, University Paris Descartes
Sameer Pujari, Manager and CoFounder Be Healthy Be Mobile Initiative, WHO
Luping Xu, Professor, Tsinghua University
12:00
Networking Lunch
13:30
Plenary 2: Knowledge for the SDGs: engaging with the world
Atish Gonsalves, Global Learning Director, Humanitarian Leadership Academy
Marc Lepage, Innovation Team Leader for Africa, UNDP
Gideon Shimshon, Director Centre for innovation / HumanityX, Leiden University
14:30
Parallel Session 2.1: Access to knowledge and the adoption of innovation
Miren Bengoa, Executive Director, Chanel Foundation & President, UN Women France
Raphaël Dard, E-learning Programme Coordinator, ITC
Mark Lester, Director of Partnerships Development, FutureLearn
Daniel Schneider, Professor, University of Geneva
Susan Teltscher, Acting Head, ICT Data & Statistics Head, Human Capacity Building Division, ITU
14:30
Parallel Session 2.2: Engagement and lifelong learning: knowledge sharing and brokering for the SDGs
Moderator: Stefano Cutillo, Journalist
Florence Baudry, Head, FerMUN, Model United Nations
Jérôme Berthier, Head of Big data and business intelligence, ELCA
Murray Bunton, Executive Director, Agency
John Crowley, Chief of Section, Research, Policy and Foresight, UNESCO
Petra Klassen, Scientific Advisor, Nutrition, Health & Wellness & Sustainability, Nestlé
Benoît Lecomte, President, GRAD-s
Francesco Pisano, Director, UN Library at Geneva
16:00-16:30
Plenary 3: Knowledge to achieve the SDGs: quality, relevance and legitimacy
Bakary Traoré, Economist, OECD
Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Learning Advisor, Center for Curriculum Redesign
16:30-17:00
Parallel Session 3.1: Quality content, authority and impact
John Crowley, Chief of Section, Research, Policy and Foresight, UNESCO
Mark Halle, Executive Director, IISD Europe
Hernan Manson, Senior Officer Sector Competitiveness, ITC
*Sharada Mohanty, Lead Developer, Geotag-X, EPFL
Natacha Rault, Member, Pedagogical Team WikiMOOC
Roberto Vega, Head, Smallholder policy and food chain engagement, Syngenta
17:00-17:30
Parallel Session 3.2: Projects presentation
Moderator: Fred Ballenegger, UNIGE / Upwelling Ltd.
Bernard Debarbieux, Professor, UNIGE (slides)
François Grey, Professor, Tsinghua University (slides)
Paul Nieuwenburg, Vice-Dean & Professor of political philosophy, Leiden University (slides)
Nadia Isler, Head, SDG Lab, UNOG
Jan-Anno Schuur, Information Specialist, OECD (slides)
Anne Roulin, VP, Nutrition, Health & Wellness & Sustainability, Nestlé (slides)
Dimitrios Noukakis, Director, MOOCS4Africa, EPFL (slides)
David Schweighofer, Conversation strategist, Dell Inc. (slides)
Luping Xu, Professor, Tsinghua University (slides)
17:45
Closing remarks and official Launch of GVADATA
Olivier Coutau, Delegate to the International Geneva, Canton of Geneva
Denis Hochstrasser, Vice-Rector, University of Geneva
Michael Møller, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva
Carolina Rodriguez, Head, Perception Change Project, United Nations Office at Geneva
18:15
Wrapup session – The way forward
Moderator: Fred Ballenegger, UNIGE / Upwelling Ltd.
Bernard Debarbieux, Professor, UNIGE
François Grey, Professor, Tsinghua University
Paul Nieuwenburg, Vice-Dean & Professor of political philosophy, Leiden University
Nadia Isler, Head, SDG Lab, UNOG
Jan-Anno Schuur, Information Specialist, OECD
Anne Roulin, VP, Nutrition, Health & Wellness & Sustainability, Nestlé
Dimitrios Noukakis, Director, MOOCS4Africa, EPFL
David Schweighofer, Conversation strategist, Dell Inc.
Luping Xu, Professor, Tsinghua University
18:30