News
In 2023, the UN General Assembly declared the first-ever Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026–2035. Mobility is one of the foundations of the modern world. It means not only the ability to move people and goods, but also access to education, jobs, services, and participation in social life.
The sustainable development goals for transport are reflected in several SDGs. The initiative emphasizes the role of transport as an important tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building more accessible, safe, and inclusive communities.
UNESCO is an important part of these efforts. The UNESCO AGH Chair also contributes through its activities to sustainable transport and promotes good practices.
On November 11, 2025, Kiswahili was officially recognized as the seventh language of the UNESCO General Conference. This declaration was made during the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Kiswahili becomes the seventh official language of the UNESCO General Conference, joining Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. During its 41st Session in November 2021, the General Conference adopted a resolution establishing World Kiswahili Language Day, celebrated annually on 7 July, a date later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2024. Kiswahili’s endorsement contributes directly to the objectives of the UNESCO Operational Strategy for Priority Africa (2022–2029).
The adoption of Kiswahili as a language during the General Conference marks a historic first for an African-origin language within UNESCO, underscoring the Organization’s continued commitment to linguistic diversity, cultural inclusion, and the advancement of African languages in international cooperation. Originating along the East African coast and shaped through centuries of cross-cultural exchange, Kiswahili has become a language of unity and communication for millions of people across Africa and beyond. It is currently spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide and serves as an official language of the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the African Union (AU).
For the UNESCO AGH Chair, this is an opportunity to recall its long-standing collaboration with scholarship holders from Africa and demonstrate that academic mobility enables the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and cultures. The participation of scholarship holders the UNESCO/ Poland Co-sponsored Fellowship Program in Engineering, among others from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and other countries in the region, exemplifies the building of a common platform for cooperation in the field of technology and engineering sciences.
June 5th was established by the United Nations in 1972 as World Environment Day. The goal was to emphasize that environmental protection and health are a crucial issue that impacts human well-being and economic development worldwide. The first official celebration took place in 1973.
World Environment Day 2026 focuses on climate change. The theme for 2026 emphasizes that climate action is not just about reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but about rethinking the systems that power our economies and repairing our relationship with the climate. World Environment Day reflects on the human impact on the environment by taking action to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.
UNESCO is an important part of these efforts. The UNESCO AGH Chair also contributes through its activities to environmental protection and promotes good practices.
UNESCO AGH Chair
Organiser: UNESCO AGH Chair;
Date and place: 2026.03.26; AGH University of Krakow;
Organiser: UNESCO AGH Chair;
Date and place: 2026.03.23; AGH University of Krakow;