Join for a dialogue on how universities, governments, and NGOs can collaborate to support the post-2015 agenda through capacity building and research.

Highlights include:

• Interview with Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat
• Keynote addresses on the Current and Future Challenges of Urbanization
• Panel discussion on the Role of Universities Supporting the Post-2015 Agenda

Dialogue will address:

• Examples of best practices involving collaborative efforts amongst universities, governments, and civil society to shape resilient and inclusive cities
• Skills and mindsets needed by the next generation of urban practitioners and leaders to effectively deliver on the SDGs and Habitat III new urban agenda
• How to foster greater emphasis on demand-led research to maximize the impact on practice and policy to ensure delivery of the SDGs and Habitat III new urban agenda

Working Together to Achieve Sustainable Urbanization, will focus on best practices in urban planning, infrastructure delivery and community participation by bringing together university-based experts, government officials, and civil society leaders to collectively advance the post-2015 sustainable development goals and the Habitat III new urban agenda. Through an interactive dialogue, participants will discuss the current capacity of the educational and research sectors to support inclusive and resilient development strategies in urban areas around the world while informing urban policy at the national, regional, and local levels.

Welcome and Introduction

Introduction to the Habitat University Network Initative

• Claudio Acioly, Head of the Capacity Development Unit, UN-Habitat

The Urban World: Opportunities and Challenges and how to Meet Them

Global Challenges for the City of the Future: Integrating Water, Energy, and Transport

• Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida

Knowledge and Policy: Connecting Academia and Practice

• Eugenie Birch, Penn Design, University of Pennsylvania

Capacity Building for SDGs: University Resources

• Bruce Stiftel, School of City and Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology

Interview with Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Executive Director

Collaboration is the Name of the Game: Developing the Post-215 Agenda

• Moderator: Clara Irazabal, Columbia University (invited)

Panel Discussion

The Role of Universities Supporting the Post-2015 Agenda

• Sahar Attia, Cairo University, Egypt
• Jonathan Barton, Pontifical Catholic University of Santiago, Chile
• Ellen Hamilton, Lead Urban Specialist, World Bank, USA
• Walter Hook, CEO, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, USA (invited)
• Mary Rowe, Vice President & Managing Director, MASNYC, USA
• Elliott Sclar, Columbia University, USA
• Moderator: Robert Buckley, The New School, USA

Closing Remarks

The Way Forward: WUF 7 and Habitat III

• Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, University of South Florida, Chari of Habitat UNI Steering Committee
• Bruce Stiftel, Georgia Institute of Technology, Member of Habitat UNI Steering Committee

Sponsored by:

• UN-Habitat
• University of South Florida
• University of Pennsylvania
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• World Urban Campaign