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<\/a><\/p>\nInvited guests included Hans d\u2019Orville, 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s core missions is to cultivate management talents committed to sustainable social development. He encouraged students to leverage the school\u2019s international platforms, engage actively in global exchanges, and explore practical approaches to participate in sustainability governance.<\/p>\n
During keynote sharing, the four speakers drew on their UN work experience to discuss institutional operations, youth career paths and competency building. Hans d\u2019Orville outlined the UN system\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n