The UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs Program, launched in 1992, promotes international inter-university collaboration and networked organization to relaunch institutional capabilities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work. Universities, through the Network, pool their human and material resources to face the most pressing challenges and contribute to the development of society. Often the Network of Chairs is able to provide experts and mediators between the academic world, civil society, local communities, research and politics, demonstrating its usefulness in informing policy makers, establishing new educational initiatives, generating innovation through research and contribute to the enrichment of existing university programs while promoting cultural diversity.
Currently, there are 32 UNESCO Chairs in Italy, including:
- Chair "Human Rights, Democracy and Peace" (1999) of the University of Padua
- Chair for Peace, Development and Cultural Policies (1999) Jacques Maritain International Institute, Rome
- Chair of Human Rights and Ethics of International Cooperation (2003) University of Bergamo
- Chair of Human Development and Culture of Peace (2006) University of Florence
- Chair Urban and regional planning for sustainable local development (2008) University of Ferrara
- Chair of Sustainable Development and Land Management (2010) University of Turin
- Chair of Sustainable Urban Quality and Urban Culture Chair, Notably in Africa (2013) La Sapienza University of Rome
- Chair in "Education for human development and solidarity between peoples", (2017) Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan
- Chair on "Gender equality and women's rights" (2019), University of Insubria, Como
- Chair "Education, Growth and Equality" (2020) University of Ferrara
Currently, there are 32 UNESCO Chairs in Italy, including:
- Chair "Human Rights, Democracy and Peace" (1999) of the University of Padua
- Chair for Peace, Development and Cultural Policies (1999) Jacques Maritain International Institute, Rome
- Chair of Human Rights and Ethics of International Cooperation (2003) University of Bergamo
- Chair of Human Development and Culture of Peace (2006) University of Florence
- Chair Urban and regional planning for sustainable local development (2008) University of Ferrara
- Chair of Sustainable Development and Land Management (2010) University of Turin
- Chair of Sustainable Urban Quality and Urban Culture Chair, Notably in Africa (2013) La Sapienza University of Rome
- Chair in "Education for human development and solidarity between peoples", (2017) Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan
- Chair on "Gender equality and women's rights" (2019), University of Insubria, Como
- Chair "Education, Growth and Equality" (2020) University of Ferrara
Monitoring activity is periodic: every two years the Chairs must produce and send to UNESCO National Commission and the Secretariat a report on the activities carried out, while at the end of the four-year period they must submit a report including the budget for any refinancing.