On the morning of November 2, the Roundtable Dialogue for Global Youth and International Organizations on Sustainable Development was held at Tongji SEM as part of the 2026 Global Conference on Urban Sustainable Development for World Cities Day.

Invited guests included Hans d’Orville, former Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning of UNESCO; LIU Jian, former Director of the Science Division of UNEP; Mehri Madarshahi, former Senior Economist and Diplomatic Affairs Officer of the UN Secretariat; and Philippe De Lombaerde, Director of the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies. They exchanged views with faculty and students from Tongji University and youth delegates from multiple countries on pressing global sustainability challenges, pathways for youth engagement in global governance, and talent training for international organizations.

In his opening remarks, LIANG Jian, Deputy Dean of Tongji SEM, noted that World Cities Day serves as a vital platform for advancing sustainable urbanization and mutual learning among cities worldwide. One of Tongji SEM’s core missions is to cultivate management talents committed to sustainable social development. He encouraged students to leverage the school’s international platforms, engage actively in global exchanges, and explore practical approaches to participate in sustainability governance.

During keynote sharing, the four speakers drew on their UN work experience to discuss institutional operations, youth career paths and competency building. Hans d’Orville outlined the UN system’s structure and operation, advising young people to tap into available international resources, align their expertise with job requirements, and clarify career goals. LIU Jian pointed out that UN professional posts are globally competitive. He recommended students set realistic expectations, start with internships or entry-level projects to build work experience, and lay solid groundwork for future applications. Mehri Madarshahi remarked that despite fierce competition, the UN offers a precious window for youth to understand the world, where professionals from over 190 countries collaborate across languages and cultures. Philippe De Lombaerde shared his experience in Thailand and Colombia, noting that regional organizations and development banks are viable alternatives to UN bodies. He emphasized that career trajectories are not fixed, and continuous learning and curiosity are essential.

Twelve youth delegates from China, Germany, India, France, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan and other countries presented insights on topics including hidden environmental costs of digital technology, urban heat mitigation, inter-city collaboration, inclusive urban development, plastic pollution control and cross-cultural innovation. In the interactive session, youth participants raised questions about tokenistic youth engagement, accessible youth channels within international organizations and ways to amplify project impact. The guests introduced youth programmes across agencies and encouraged students to develop solid project proposals and seize opportunities through university international partnerships.

Hosted by Tongji SEM, the Laboratory for High-Quality Urban Development and Planning Decision-Making, and Tongji’s Institute of International Organizations for Environment and Sustainable Development, the event received guidance from the Student Affairs Office, Foreign Affairs Office and Office of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tongji University. Co-supporters included UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, the School of Foreign Languages, the School of Environmental Science and Engineering and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. ZHANG Nanhua, Director of the Student Career Development Center, and ZHU Jingfan, coordinator for international organization internships, attended. The dialogue was moderated by PEI Pei, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of Tongji SEM.

Tongji University prioritizes global competency and international organization talent development, integrating it into its overall talent framework with a progressive “major + micro-major + minor” pathway. It runs a high-calibre multilingual talent programme and offers courses such as UN document writing, global governance and intercultural communication. As of October 2026, 171 Tongji students have interned or worked in international organizations. The university’s talent training model was honoured as one of the Ministry of Education’s Top 100 Ideological and Political Work Cases in 2025.