1. The UNESCO Chair is: “a project and a team in a university, higher education institution or research institution partnering with UNESCO in order to advance knowledge and practice in an area that is a priority for both the Foundation and UNESCO. Complete formalization of the partnership through an agreement signed between the Director-General of UNESCO and the President of the Foundation which hosts the UNESCO Chair (University President).
2. The UNESCO Chairs Network relies on cooperation to promote training, research and program development in higher education as well it aims to build links between universities, civil society, local communities, researchers and policy makers.
3. The UNESCO/UNITWIN University Chairs Program was launched in 1992, which includes more than 850 institutions in 117 countries, and promotes international cooperation between universities and networks to strengthen institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work. The program supports the creation of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in the main priority areas related to UNESCO's areas of competence, i.e. in education, natural and social sciences, culture and communication.
4. Through this network, higher education and research institutions around the world pool their human resources, and material resources, to meet urgent challenges and contribute to the development of their societies. In many cases, networks work and chairs as research centers and bridge builders between academia, civil society and local communities research and policy makers. They have proven useful in informing policy decisions, creating new educational initiatives, generate innovation through research and contribute to the enrichment of existing university programs while promoting cultural diversity.
5. In areas that lack experience, chairs and networks have developed into poles of excellence and innovation at the regional or global levels, and they also contribute to strengthening cooperation between countries.