Human and Social Development Programme of the United Nations University
'Human and Social Development' was one of the three themes given priority by the United Nations University (UNU), and embraced the two issues of 'world hunger' and the 'use and management of natural resources.' These issues were recommended as topics for the first research programmes and were approved at the time of the establishment of the university's temporary headquarters in Tokyo in 1975. In setting up a framework for the University's Programme, the need for flexibility in handling high priority areas was stressed, and continuing critical reviews and appraisals were adopted as essential procedures. The Human and Social Development Programme got under way in 1976 with the appointment of Prof. Kinhide Mushakoji, the university's Vice-Rector, who directed the Programme's activities. The Human and Social Development Programme was concerned with the broad structural problems of development as well as with the specific ways in which technology and society can interact to bring maximum benefit to poor people in rural communities in the developing countries. In 1977, the following three projects were established and became operational:
- 1. Project on Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development
- 2. Project on Sharing of Traditional Technology
- 3. Project on Socio-Cultural Development Alternatives in a Changing World
At the Second Advisory Committee Meeting of the Human and Social Development Programme held in April 1978 in Tokyo, the following three projects were proposed and added:
- 4. Project on Research and Development Systems in Rural Settings
- 5. Project on Human Rights in the Context of Development
- 6. Technology Transfer, Transformation and Development: The Japanese Experience
The objective of the Programme was to widen knowledge and specialist expertise in order to promote human and social development, and toward this end, the Programme sought to stimulate the world academic community into cooperation with other sectors of society. It also aimed to build networks coordinating the work of innovative researchers of the highest potential so as to contribute to this stimulation. These Programme activities were continued until 1982 in cooperation with various research institutions and universities throughout the world.
To achieve the objective of pursuing the multidisciplinary, multi-perspective approach that is a hallmark of the UNU, it was necessary to set up 'planning meetings', 'advisory committee meetings' and 'project meetings' under the Human and Social Development Programme, and these meetings were held from 1977 to 1980. The meetings brought together an international team of scholars and researchers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America who were studying in fields related to the Programme, and led to the formation of an academic network.
Proceeding from earlier stages in the university's Programme, areas related to the Human and Social Development Programme were further reviewed at the time of curriculum development for the 'UNU Medium-Term Plan 1982-1987.' A research network based in Tokyo formed a foundation and served as a bridge to establish the UNU Research and Training Institutions (UNU-RTCs), which included the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER, Helsinki) established in 1985, the UNU Institute for New Technologies (UNU-INTECH, Maastricht), the UNU Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, both founded in 1990, and the UNU International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST, Macau) established in 1992. UNU continues to foster intellectual cooperation among scholars, scientists and practitioners worldwide, especially those in the developing countries. The introduction of UNU and the UNU Strategic Directions 2005-2008 explain the university's current academic activities and policy issues.
The output of the Human and Social Development Programme includes approximately 330 publications, in the form of programme reports, project reports and monographs. Of these, 96 of the Japanese and 50 of the English publications present the results of the "Project on Technology Transfer, Transformation, and Development - The Japanese Experience." All of the published works are held in the UNU Library.
UNU Library, 27 November 2006