Tag: UNESCO

UNESCO designates 14 new biosphere reserves on World Environment Day

Stuart Mitchell

On World Environment Day, UNESCO designates 14 new biosphere reserves across 14 countries, bringing the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 797 sites in 145 countries. Three countries welcome their first biosphere reserves: Montenegro, Timor-Leste, and Aruba which sees its entire territory designated as such. Marking the Day, UNESCO is also launching today a practical guide for journalists to report on the environment, drawing on case studies, and offering safeguards journalists can use in their daily work. New biosphere reserves have been designated in Albania, Algeria, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Canada, Islamic…

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Number of students in higher education more than doubled in 20 years, but inequalities remain

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report shows that the number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has more than doubled over the past two decades, reaching 269 million in 2024. International mobility has tripled over the same period, with nearly 7.3 million students studying abroad, half of them hosted in European and North American countries. Women now outnumber men in higher education but lag behind at doctoral level. Serious geographical inequalities remain with lower enrolment and completion rates in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. This new report shows…

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Marking 28 years of impact, the 2026 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards honor five pioneering researchers

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO and The Fondation L’Oréal are proud to announce the names of the five international Laureates of the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. On 11 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, these researchers will be recognized for their pioneering contributions to life and environmental sciences. This year’s selection highlights their major roles in tackling global health and environmental challenges, from revolutionary tissue engineering and genomic research to agricultural innovation and the impact of nutrition on mental health. For this 28th edition, the programme has reached an unprecedented…

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UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2026 awarded to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO has announced the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate as the laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, in recognition of the role the collective has played in condemning the deliberate targeting of journalists in the ongoing conflict in the country. Since fighting broke out in 2023, the Syndicate has documented 32 journalists’ deaths; 556 violations against media workers, and the cessation of numerous newspapers and radio stations, making Sudan one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist. The members of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate have demonstrated extraordinary…

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UNESCO and University of Oxford launch a free global course on AI and Rule of Law

Stuart Mitchell

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future challenge for justice systems. It is already being used in courtrooms, shaping evidence, decision-making, and access to justice. Yet many judicial professionals lack the guidance and tools to assess these systems in line with fundamental rights and the rule of law. To address this gap, UNESCO and the University of Oxford have launched AI, Justice and Rule of Law. This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is designed to help justice professionals navigate the ethical, legal and human rights challenges of AI. Developed by…

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