Shape the future of education at the United Nations
A four-day executive programme in Geneva for academic leaders, deans, directors, and education decision-makers from around the world.
4
Immersive days
Oct 27
Next cohort starts
15+
Countries per cohort
UN
Certified
Delivered in partnership
UNITAR certificate
Official UN certificate upon completion
Palais des Nations
Sessions at the UN's Geneva headquarters
AI leadership
Governance, ethics & responsible adoption in higher education
Global network
A permanent cohort of international leaders
Global Educators Summit
Full access — October 2026 edition is bigger than ever
Why ALS
Built for the moment higher education is in
AI is reshaping curricula. Governance frameworks are under pressure. International collaboration has never mattered more. ALS gives academic leaders the language, the network, and the UN platform to lead through it.
01
Global career readiness
Understand how international organisations shape education policy and how your institution can align.
02
Diplomacy & governance
Lessons from multilateral diplomacy applied directly to academic leadership and decision-making.
03
SDG alignment
Position your institution as a credible, measurable contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
04
AI in education
Navigate the AI transformation of higher education with governance frameworks from UN policy experts.
05
Cross-cultural leadership
Build the cultural intelligence needed to lead diverse institutions and international partnerships.
06
Institutional impact
Leave Geneva with a concrete action plan and a global peer network to implement change alongside.
ALS legacy network
57 leaders · 2 cohorts · 20+ countries
27
July 2026
30
July 2025
20+
Countries
Oct 27
Next cohort
ALS is designed to become more than four days in Geneva. Past participant profiles are publicly visible to build the ALS legacy and showcase the calibre, diversity, and global reach of the network. Future applicants can see who attended before them.
"
ALS should not be remembered only as four days in Geneva. It should become a living network of academic leaders who continue to learn from each other, collaborate across borders, and shape the future of higher education together.
Ureka Education Group · Programme vision
Voices from the cohort
What July 2026 participants said
"I came home with a notebook full of ideas and an amazing network I did not have seven days ago. As a group, we really clicked."
Danny BuckleyDirector of Studies · Loughborough University
"This programme already exceeded my expectations. The connections you cannot plan for are the ones that matter — that is where the collaborations form that last decades."
Dr Anna ZeisDirector, Learning Innovation · WHU
"I came to Geneva to contribute, and you all made sure we left as family. The best cohort ever."
Dr. Yaw Amponsah AdooAssociate Professor & Chair · Morris Brown College
The cohort
Who joins ALS
ALS brings together a highly selective group of senior academic leaders. Each cohort is deliberately diverse — in geography, institution type, and leadership focus.
Faculty leaders close to curriculum, governance, and execution.
Senior administrators
Registrars, provosts, and academic affairs leaders.
Education policymakers
Public sector leaders involved in higher education reform.
Research leaders
Heads of research, innovation, and academic development.
Education innovators
Leaders working at the frontier of AI, EdTech, and global partnerships.
About the programme
The Academic Leadership Suite
A boutique, UN-certified executive programme delivered at the United Nations in Geneva in partnership with UNITAR and Ureka Education Group.
The programme
A four-day immersion at the UN
ALS is not a conference. It is a structured, cohort-based executive programme combining expert-led sessions, institutional visits, and peer dialogue — all inside the United Nations in Geneva.
Delivered as part of Global Education Week at UNITAR Geneva, ALS positions participants within a broader international platform for high-level dialogue, policy engagement, and innovation in education.
What you receive
I
UNITAR Certificate of Achievement
Official UN certificate issued by UNITAR upon successful completion.
II
Personalised recommendation letter
Co-signed by UNITAR and Ureka Education Group.
III
Named in the UNITAR Academic Leadership Framework
Participants are named in the UNITAR Academic Leadership Framework: A Roadmap for Future-Ready Education — a practical white paper on institutional transformation and responsible innovation.
IV
Ureka Fellow recognition
A professional title connected to the ALS leadership network and legacy.
V
Ureka Global Alumni Network
Lifetime access with ongoing mentorship and collaboration opportunities.
UNITAR
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
The training arm of the United Nations, founded in 1963. Provides innovative learning solutions to enhance global decision-making, fully focused on the SDGs.
Ureka
Education Group · Global implementation partner
Founded in London in 2014 by Sloan Fellows from London Business School. The largest provider of experiential learning programmes in the IMEA region. Network spans Oxford, LBS, University of London, and INSEAD.
Core themes
What you will learn
A
Global leadership & education strategy
Frameworks for leading institutions through transformation in a globally connected world.
B
AI-driven education & innovation
Responsible AI adoption, EdTech deployment, assessment integrity, ethics, and digital transformation.
C
SDGs & sustainability
Translating commitments into measurable outcomes and credible institutional accountability.
D
Diplomacy & multilateral governance
Lessons from international diplomacy applied to academic leadership and cross-border collaboration.
E
Crisis leadership & decision-making
Leading institutions through uncertainty, disruption, and complex governance challenges.
F
International accreditation & policy
Navigating global accreditation frameworks and aligning institutional strategy with international standards.
Programme details
The full programme
Four structured days combining expert sessions, institutional visits, peer dialogue, and high-level summits — all in Geneva.
July 2026 cohort — official agenda
Day-by-day schedule
All times Geneva (CEST). Business professional dress code for all UN sessions.
Day 1Tuesday 7 July · AI, leadership & Palais tourWHO Library Room, Bldg A 3F
09:00
Arrival & registration
World Health Organization — Library Room, Building A, 3rd Floor
Registration
09:30–10:30
Opening remarks & introduction
WHO Library Room
Session
10:30–13:00
Leading transformation in the age of AI: strategy, innovation and the future of work
WHO Library Room
Session
13:00–13:45
Lunch break
Break
14:00–15:00
Guided tour — Palais des Nations
Palais des Nations
Visit
15:00–15:15
Coffee break
Break
15:30–17:30
Engagement, governance and management within academia
WHO Library Room
Workshop
Day 2Wednesday 8 July · SDGs, diplomacy & cruise dinnerWHO Library Room · Lake Geneva
09:30–12:30
Sustainable Development Goals workshop
WHO Library Room · Facilitated by Alice Kate Richard
Workshop
12:30–13:30
Lunch break
Break
13:30–17:30
Strategic leadership in a multilateral world: lessons from diplomacy for academic leaders
WHO Library Room
Session
17:30–18:30
Refreshments
Break
18:30–21:30
Cruise dinner on Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Social
Day 3Thursday 9 July · AI for Good SummitRoute François-Peyrot 30
10:15–10:45
Leaders TalkX 6 — skills for the future: leading inclusive capacity building
WSIS
Summit
All day
AI for Good Summit — full programme access
Route François-Peyrot 30, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex
Summit
17:00–18:00
Partnerships and networking
WMO Cafeteria
Networking
Day 4Friday 10 July · Global Educators SummitPalais des Nations
09:00
Meeting point — Pregny Gate
Palais des Nations — 14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva
Meeting point
09:00–18:00
Global Educators Summit 2026 — full day
Palais des Nations
Summit
October 2026 cohort · 27–30 October
Global Educators Summit — bigger than ever
The October 2026 cohort includes full access to the Global Educators Summit — expected to be the largest edition to date, bringing together academic leaders, Ministry of Education officials, and education policymakers from around the world. In place of AI for Good (a July-only event), the Global Educators Summit is the October cohort's signature platform moment. AI leadership, governance, and responsible adoption remain core curriculum themes for all cohorts.
Sessions
AI governance, SDGs, crisis leadership, institutional transformation
Summit access
Global Educators Summit 2026 — direct engagement with ministry officials
Networking
Cruise networking dinner on Lake Geneva + UN institutional visits
Preparation
Before you arrive
Dress code
Business professional for all UN sessions and the Palais des Nations tour. Smart casual for the cruise dinner and informal networking.
Your badge
Issued at registration on Day 1. Bring your passport or national ID. Required for all UN access.
Pre-reading
Pre-programme materials emailed 2–3 weeks before arrival. Review the ALS background document and the AI for Good and GES programmes.
What to bring
Notebook or laptop for sessions. Business cards. A genuine question about your institution's biggest challenge.
Geneva, Switzerland
Your Geneva experience
The diplomatic capital of the world. Here is everything you need to navigate it comfortably.
July in Geneva
Warm (22–27°C), long evenings, the lake is beautiful. Occasional summer storms — bring a compact umbrella. The city is very walkable and the UN area is a 15-minute tram ride from the centre.
Getting around
Transport in Geneva
From the airport (GVA)
Airport transfers are not included in the ALS fee. From Geneva Airport: free 80-min transit ticket at baggage claim. Train R to Gare Cornavin: 7 min, every 10 min. Taxi: ~20 min, CHF 35–45. Participants arrange their own transfer.
Tram & bus
Lines 15 and F serve the UN area. Hotels in the canton of Geneva include a complimentary public transport pass.
Walking
City centre to Palais des Nations: ~25 min along the lake. Highly recommended in July.
Taxi & Uber
Uber operates in Geneva. City centre to UN: CHF 15–25. TaxiPhone for metered taxis. A car is not necessary.
Accommodation — not included
Accommodation is always excluded from the ALS fee because participants have different budgets, hotel standards, room preferences, and lengths of stay. There is no official ALS hotel. Stay anywhere in Geneva with convenient public transport access to the UN, WMO, and WHO areas. Hotels in the canton of Geneva typically include a complimentary Geneva public transport pass for the duration of your stay — making daily travel to programme venues easy and free. Book as soon as your participation is confirmed.
Practicalities
Day-to-day in Geneva
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Switzerland uses CHF, not euros. Card payments widely accepted. Budget CHF 25–40 for a restaurant lunch. 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF.
July weather
22–27°C daytime, 15–17°C evenings. Occasional summer storms. Light layers for the cruise. Sunscreen recommended.
Power & connectivity
Switzerland uses Type J plugs (230V). Bring an adapter. Hotel WiFi is reliable. Swiss SIM cards at the airport CHF 10–20.
Language
Geneva is French-speaking, but English is widely spoken in all professional and hospitality settings.
Recommended apps
Google MapsSBB Mobile (Swiss rail)PublibikeTaxiPhoneUberTwint (payments)MeteoSwissGoogle Translate (offline French)
Places are limited and selection is competitive. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Standard programme fee · per participant
USD 6,000
Reduced to USD 4,000 with grant + early bird discount
UNITAR Certificate of Achievement
Personalised recommendation letter
UN expert-led training sessions
Exclusive institutional visits
Daily lunch and refreshments
Cruise networking dinner
Global Educators Summit access
AI for Good Summit (July cohorts only)
Named in UNITAR white paper
Ureka Fellow recognition
Visa support documentation
Alumni network access
Not included: Flights · Accommodation (always excluded — participants choose based on budget and length of stay) · Airport transfers · Personal expenses. Note: hotels in the canton of Geneva typically include a complimentary local public transport pass.
Financial grant
The Ureka Financial Grant
Grant amount
USD 1,500 reduction applied to the programme fee. October 2026 also offers a USD 500 early bird discount for payment by 31 July 2026. Combined, the total can be as low as USD 4,000.
The grant is merit-based — not available to everyone. To be considered, submit a Statement of Purpose (max 600 words):
"How will your participation in the Academic Leadership Suite enable you to drive institutional transformation, influence education policy, and create measurable, long-term impact within your academic ecosystem and beyond?"
Refund policy
Cancellation & refunds
Situation
Refund
Visa rejection
Full refund
Cancellation 21+ days before programme
Full refund
Cancellation 8–14 days before programme
50% refund
Cancellation within 7 days of programme
No refund
Seat transfers and deferrals to future cohorts may be considered by the ALS team. Contact malak.j@ureka.co.uk as early as possible.
Selection process
How to apply
I
Submit your CV and Statement of Purpose
Prepare your academic or professional CV and a Statement of Purpose (~400 words for the programme; 600 words if also applying for the Financial Grant).
II
Online selection interview
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 20–30 minute online interview to discuss your leadership background and programme objectives.
III
Offer & enrolment
Successful candidates receive an offer letter and programme acceptance pack. Full payment confirms your place. Visa support letter issued upon payment.
IV
Pre-departure briefing
All participants receive pre-programme materials and a pre-departure briefing 2–3 weeks before the programme.
Express interest
Submit your details and our team will be in touch within 2 business days.
Your details are used only to contact you about ALS. We do not share your information with third parties.
Thank you — our team will be in touch within 2 business days. You may also email malak.j@ureka.co.uk directly.
