My name is Nanae Obata (Junior at The University of Tokyo). I was the interviewer for the “Together with the UN” campaign interview of the Rector of the United Nations University (UNU). The interview took place at the UNU Rector’s office at the 12th floor of the UNU Headquarters Building. Prof. Dr. Osterwalder talked to us about the UNU’s current research directions and goals. He also told us about how the UNU and the Japanese government are closely tied together in their works. Through this, I felt that the connections between the UN and governments are very important. In the second half of the interview, I asked the Rector about his current career; I was very moved by his explanation about the connection between his major, theoretical physics and his current career at the UNU.

Japanese version/日本語版はこちら

Table of Contents

• Part I: About UNU/Focus of the UNU/Relationship with other University and Japan
• Part II: About your Career/Relationship with physics and tasks of the UNU rector

Part I: About the UNU/Focus of the UNU/Relationship with other University and Japan

Could you explain UNU’s current research directions? What field in particular does UNU most focus on and attach importance to?

UNU’s main focus is on everything that has to do with sustainable development. This ranges from subjects such as peace and governance, all the way to practical engineering and scientific research on topics such as infectious diseases, energy, biodiversity, and water management. These are all very crucial issues, and we have 13 Institutes all over the world that do research on these topics.

What is the relationship between UNU and other universities?

We collaborate with many of the leading universities in the world. These collaborations will continue to intensify as we build up our graduate degree programmes. Our aim is to have Masters and PhD programmes in all of our Institutes. However, most of our Institutes are too small to do this all by themselves and will have to collaborate with local universities. Here in Tokyo, for instance, we are trying to launch a programme on peace, development and sustainability. Also, some university institutes are associated institutions of the UNU. For a university to become associated with the UNU, it has to have interest in our core topics and mobilize a group of researchers who are willing to collaborate with our network of researchers. As soon as we have joint collaborative projects, the way is open for the association.

What are the special and distinct features of UNU?

There are several unique aspects to the UNU, which is what makes it an interesting partner for local universities. For example, we place special focus on problems in the field of sustainability, as we are embedded in the United Nations system. This means that the students are very close to where the actual work is being done.

One of the long term goals of the UNU is to have a situation where 60~70% of the leading people in United Nations organizations have a degree from the UNU. Our courses and programmes will all be very international. So even if we offer a programme in Japan, more than 50% of the students will come from abroad. The teaching will be conducted in English which means that it will be a university that is open to the world.

The students could possibly have an internship with one of the UN agencies or international organizations and come in contact with teaching personnel that come directly from UN agencies, the diplomatic service, civil society or government.

In what way has the Japanese government supported the UNU and its research projects?

Without the Japanese government, the UNU would not be what it is. When the UNU was founded, the Japanese government made a very generous pledge; to give us an endowment of 100 million dollars. It also promised a contribution to the running costs and to give us a building. All of these promises have been fulfilled. We depend on the continuing support and goodwill of the Japanese government, the Diet, and the people.

As we build up twin Institutes in developing countries, it is always good to know that we have a strong government that supports us. Also, I think one of the major reasons we are an institution of interest to the governments is that by having connections with us, it makes it possible for more young people from this country to prepare for a career with the United Nations or in the NGOs in developing countries where it wants to develop its activities.

About your Career/Relationship with physics and tasks of the UNU rector

In Japan, we tend to have the impression that UN related personnel have a humanities or social science background. However, you have a very impressive academic background in theoretical physics. In what way are physics and your current career related to one another? Has your knowledge in physics been useful to your career?

Firstly, as a natural scientist, you learn to think very analytically and in a framework of strict logic. I think this is the basis of dealing with various complex problems. However, the natural scientist has to realize that solving a problem like infectious disease or hunger involves other sociological and political aspects and he has to be open to them.

One of the amazing achievements of physics is that it has brought together phenomena, which at first sight seem to be completely independent of one another. The most famous example has to do with the motion of the planets, stars, the moon and the laws of gravitation of the earth. These are intuitively two completely different things. But the physicists have established mathematical laws that describe both of these phenomena. There are many similar examples in physics where different phenomena were found to be describable in one model. I think this way of thinking, bringing aspects from very different points together, is very important in the work I do at the UNU. My task here is to bring together different strands of research that come from different ways of thinking, this attempt at “systems thinking” is something that I learned through theoretical physics.

What tasks do you carry out as Rector of the UNU and as United Nations Under-Secretary-General?

During my first year as Rector of the UNU, I developed a new strategy for this institution. For example, one key activity is to make the UNU a true graduate institution that offers Masters and PhD programmes. We also want to strengthen our involvement in developing capacities in developing countries, a task that is mandated in our charter. Finally, all of our Institutes will be twin Institutes; each Institute in a developing country will partner with one in a developed country and the people from these two campuses will engage in collaborative research.

The Rector of the UNU is simultaneously an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations to ensure the UNU operates with a high degree of autonomy. The UNU is connected to the UN only through the Rector who reports directly to the Secretary-General. Since the Under-Secretary-General is a position directly under the Secretary-General, I don’t have to report to any other lower level institutions in the United Nations. An Under-Secretary-General can also participate in the high-level meetings of the Secretary-General with his heads of agencies. This is very important, because I am informed of what is going on in other organizations of the United Nations. This gives me the opportunity to push for collaborations and try to create synergy. It also gives the UNU direct access to the highest levels within the United Nations.

Another important role that I play is to build strong relationships with the government and the people of our host countries. I might also mention that I am the highest ranking United Nations representative in Japan and in most of Asia, meaning that I could be called upon to act on matters that go beyond the rectorship of the UNU.

What was the most memorable project that has been executed since you became Rector of the UNU?

The most memorable project that has taken place since I became Rector is our fruitful collaboration with Japanese authorities in the context of TICAD IV and the G8 Summit which took place here in Japan in 2008.

There are many young students in Japan who aspire to pursue a career in international organizations. Would you give those students advice on how to prepare for pursuing a career in this field?

If you were to ask me this question next year, I would recommend to young students they apply to one of our graduate courses at the UNU. I think this is the best advice that I can give. There are many practical things a student can do in the mean time; he or she can work as an intern in any of the UN agencies and within the UNU. We provide many jobs for interns.

I would encourage students to pursue their interests in international affairs by learning more about the United Nations and the multilateral system. At a practical level, I believe that students should learn to speak English or another foreign language which will definitely help them in pursuing an international career. I wish all such students a bright and interesting future.

(Fin)

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Global Model UN Japan Delegation detachment Programme supporting Together UN campagin of MOFA Japan by working on interviews for Mail Magazine.
You may find back number of the Mail Magazine of the campaign at the website of MOFA Japan.

As of 2009/07/08