Appendix 7: Background to the United Nations University / International Leadership Academy (UNU/ILA)

The UNU/ILA trains potential leaders through direct interaction with present leaders, and through a series of seminars and training related to pressing global issues. The idea for the academy came from Dr Abdulsalam Majali, former Prime Minister of Jordan, who advocated the need for an innovative form of experiential leadership training at a global level. The UNU council endorsed Dr Majali's proposal at its 43rd session, in December 1994, in Accra, Ghana. Then United Nations Secretary-General Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan officially launched the UNU/ILA in October 1995, at the United Nations' 50th anniversary celebrations.

UNU/ILA aims

The UNU/ILA aims to:

Train young adults, particularly from the developing world, who have demonstrated leadership potential, and mid-career professionals who have already had some experience in leadership

Foster awareness of the need for, and knowledge about, enlightened leadership at the global level, and

Better understand the nature of leadership, and the challenge of leadership issues, in various sectors (political, economic and social) and fields of endeavour (governmental, corporate, civic, and professional).

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UNU/ILA methodology

Leadership studies and training is a young and undeveloped discipline. Understanding the requirements and challenges of leadership has not, in the past, been a recognised academic discipline. To the extent that it does exist, it focuses almost exclusively on business and military leadership, and expertise is overwhelmingly concentrated in the United States. The UNU/ILA is therefore a unique body and is still developing a methodology to support its work. The curriculum of the UNU/ILA course derives from the university's constitution, which calls for research into the global problems of human survival, development and welfare.

UNU/ILA structure

The UNU/ILA is operated by a secretariat staffed by a Director, an Assistant Director, two research/programme officers, two administrative-finance personnel and a secretary. The Director is responsible to the Rector of the UNU, Professor Hans van Ginkel, and is subject to direction by the UNU council. An advisory committee, chaired by Her Majesty Queen Noor al Hussein of Jordan, offers guidance. The Vice-Chairman is His Excellency Mr Hishashi Owada, former Japanese ambassador to the United Nations and current President of the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

New Zealand connection at the ILA

The current Director of the Academy is New Zealander Dr Kennedy Graham. Dr Graham has been a diplomat, author and teacher, and international civil servant. Prior to his appointment in March 1999, he was Director of Planning and Co-ordination in the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm, Sweden.

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