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Mainstreaming Environment & Sustainability
into African Universities (MESA) Programme
During 2007, UNU-GVU, in collaboration with UNEP
and other UN Institutions and partners, continued to
support the MESA Programme, a partnership designed
to mainstream environment and sustainability concerns
into the teaching, research community engagement and
management of universities in Africa. The partnership
offers a wide range of activities that include: an Edu-
cation for Sustainable Development (ESD) Innovations
short course developed and implemented by partners
to strengthen capacity to establish ESD innovations in
universities; seminars for university leaders; a biennial
conference providing an opportunity for universities to
report on ESD innovations associated with the universi-
ty’s triple mission of research, teaching and community
engagement, and to engage in North-South dialogue;
and pilot programmes linking universities, communities
with business and industry in sustainable development
partnerships. The MESA Programme, which strengthens
UNEP’s special focus on Africa, is considered a major
contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education
for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).
MESA workshop.
The MESA network consists of 64 uni-
versities all over Africa.
UNU-GVU delegation together
with Professor Abdel Kadir, met
with HE Professor Hany Hilal, Min-
ister of Higher Education and Sci-
entific Research, in Cairo.