2025-2026 Regional Academy on the United Nations
Global transformation for future generations
October 2025 – May 2026
Background
We live in an era of rapid change. On one hand, technological and scientific growth has provided unprecedented levels of access to knowledge, global communication, and interconnectedness. On the other hand, we are confronted with an overwhelming amount of dangerous misinformation, imminent threats to our safety and livelihood, and risks of economic, environmental, social and political instability for our future.
At the Summit of the Future in September 2024, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future and its annexes: the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. These frameworks reaffirm the international community’s commitment to reducing global inequalities and strive for safety, peace, equality, and sustainability. Importantly, this commitment extends beyond governments, it calls on all stakeholders, including academia and civil society, to take part in shaping a more resilient, inclusive, and equitable future for all.
To achieve this goal and protect future generations, a global transformation of economic, sociopolitical, and technological systems is needed. Only through such a transformation will it be possible to effectively address and respond to the pressing challenges of our time that are placing increasing pressure on international cooperation, social cohesion, economic stability, and the resilience of communities worldwide. These challenges include ongoing trends and recent crises, such as persistent conflict and sociopolitical instability, high population growth and demographic pressure in some regions, rising inequalities, rapid and unregulated technological change, and accelerating environmental degradation driven by climate change.
While the vertiginous pace of technology brings about new possibilities, it also provides new and unique risks to our safety and well-being. Inequality is growing substantially across many areas, including in the realm of technology, leading to new and widening digital divides. Certain population groups are disproportionately affected by these inequalities—among them migrants, who in many countries are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of discrimination and deprivation. The sociopolitical and economic crises the world is facing today are further exacerbated by environmental degradation and climate change with global policy responses still lagging behind to what is needed to securing a sustaining a sustainable future for all.
As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the 2025–2026 RAUN theme - Global Transformation for Future Generations - calls on us to examine how today’s actions can shape a more just, resilient, and sustainable world. This theme invites participants to explore the major transitions of our time, and to contribute with ideas and collaborative solutions that put future generations at the heart of decision-making.
Only by working together - across borders, sectors, and generations - can we turn today’s global challenges into opportunities for long-term, positive change.
Why participate?
At a time when our world is at a critical juncture, participants will have a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most consequential discussions about our future. Participants will:
Learn from experienced UN officials and get to experience the system from a unique vantage point.
Make an important contribution to the work of the United Nations and the international community through hand-on research.
Present policy recommendations to the international community at the UN headquarters in Vienna.
Gain invaluable experience and skills to prepare them for a career in an international organization, expand professional network, and gain new like-minded friends.
Konrad Gertz, Consultant at UNODC in Vienna, RAUN 2021 participant
"Taking part in the Regional Academy of the United Nations was an invaluable experience that not only broadened my academic horizons but also offered important insights into launching a career within the United Nations system.
Through mentorship and collaboration with UN experts, RAUN provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of different International Organizations and connected me with other young professionals from different academic fields."
94% of participants say
that the RAUN project was a valuable experience for pursuing a career in an international organization
88% of participants confirm
that taking part in the RAUN project brings the opportunity of extending your professional network
81% agree
that over the course of the project they learned new soft skills
88% of the students
found new friends through participation in the RAUN project
Things that RAUN participants of the past years enjoyed the most
(anonymous feedback)
About RAUN 2025-2026
The seven-month long program consists of two in-person session and two online sessions that include several lectures and workshops linked to the RAUN theme of this year.
Participants will have the possibility to work on specific topics from a list suggested by the UN or partner organizations. Once topics have been selected, participants will be matched in small groups of 3 (maximum 4) to work on their chosen topic.
As a final outcome, participants will be required to submit a policy brief/paper of 12 to 15 pages based on desk research of the issues and discussions with experts from the UN and other organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens. The policy brief/paper should include background information about the issue, ideas about the kind of future we want to create and common goals, an evaluation of the progress made towards achieving the goals (including milestones and challenges), and effective measures to support the process.
Structure of the Academy
The Academy follows a unique format combining lectures and interactive workshops with practical hands-on experience. The program consists of two sessions in person and two online sessions per academic year (October until May). All courses are given by high-ranking experts and practitioners who share their rich experience with participants in an informal setting.
Apart from coursework during the sessions, participants work on research projects in close cooperation with UN organizations and other international organizations on topics related to the RAUN theme. Through their group work, participants are able to develop their research skills and form strong networks with like-minded peers, academics, and experts from various fields in an environment that fosters diversity, cultural learning, and understanding.
During the program, participants get the opportunity to visit UN institutions in Vienna. The results of the research projects will be presented during the final RAUN session at the UN Headquarters in Vienna in May 2026. At the end of the program, participants receive certificates of successful completion of the Academy.
Expert mentors
Participants will exchange with experts from the United Nations or partner organizations on a regular basis for consultations and discussions. These meetings shall help participants to better understand the issues and provide expert guidance during the drafting of the recommendations.
PEER+
Each group of participants will be assigned a PEER+, someone who has participated in the RAUN programme before, to provide additional support. PEER+ give advice based on their experience with RAUN and help participants by providing feedback on their work.
Sessions
• 2 in-person sessions (2-3 days each): October 2025 (Barcelona) and May 2026 (Vienna)
• 2 online sessions (half a day each): dates to be announced
NOTE: For successful completion of the Academy participants are strictly required to participate in all sessions and to fully contribute to the final research outcome.
Participation fee
One time, non-refundable 200€. Limited number of scholarships is available on a merit basis. See Current Admission for more information.
Certificates
At the end of the programme, participants will receive certificates of successful completion.
Contact
For more information please contact us at raun-communications@ra-un.org.