Masterclass on Understanding the UN through the SDGs

Brought to you by UCL Global Engagement, UCL Public Policy, and UCL European Institute, this masterclass is designed for academics who want to build the knowledge and skills needed to work with the United Nations (UN), its institutional architecture, policy-making processes, and pathways for academic engagement, through an in-depth focus on Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11): Sustainable Cities and Communities. As the global agenda increasingly centres on urbanisation, inequality, climate resilience and governance, SDG 11 provides a powerful lens through which to explore how knowledge is translated into multilateral policy and action.

The masterclass brings together leading scholars and practitioner-experts from UCL, the University of Bristol, and the Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI). This mixed panel reflects the core premise of the session: that understanding the UN requires engaging both with critical academic perspectives and with the lived realities of science–policy interaction within UN and Geneva-based ecosystems. This masterclass will be particularly valuable for academics seeking to engage with global policy, urban sustainability, and the practical workings of the UN system, while remaining grounded in critical, interdisciplinary scholarship.

Outcomes

• Through an expert-led session, participants will be able to:
• Understand the institutional structure and policy processes of the UN, with a specific focus on the SDGs.
• Examine SDG 11 as a contested, negotiated, and evolving agenda shaped by multiple actors and forms of knowledge.
• Gain insight into how universities and researchers can engage with UN bodies through science–policy interfaces.
• Reflect critically on the opportunities and limitations of academic influence within multilateral governance

Panellists

• (chair) Dr. Pushpa Arabindoo, Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, UCL
• Prof. Michele Acuto, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), University of Bristol
• Prof. Jenny Robinson, Professor of Human Geography, UCL
• Dr. Frédérique Guérin, Deputy Director for Strategic Programmes, Geneva Science-Policy Interface
• Dr. Mialy Rann, Science-Policy Officer, Geneva Science-Policy Interface