​​​The Universidad del Pacífico has been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to host a new UNESCO Chair on Knowledge and Innovation for Social Transformations, focusing on the formulation of policies and strategic management. This international distinction recognizes the university's academic excellence and its commitment to creating knowledge of relevance to addressing the most pressing development challenges. UNESCO Chairs are part of the UNITWIN program—a global network of higher education institutions that promotes international cooperation and the creation of knowledge with a social impact. Through this designation, the Universidad del Pacífico joins an academic community of more than 900 universities and institutes in more than 120 countries, consolidating its role as a standard bearer of applied research, leadership training, and public policy design oriented toward collective wellbeing. 

Chair at the service of knowledge and social transformation 

Under the leadership of UP professor Francisco Sagasti, renowned academic and former president of Peru, the Chair will promote research, teaching, and dissemination initiatives in two key areas: science, technology and innovation (STI) policies, and the strengthening of strategic planning and decision-making capabilities in public, private, and civil society organizations. 

“Holding this Chair is a recognition for the Universidad del Pacífico, reaffirming its leadership in governance, planning, and management issues. For me, it is an honor and a privilege to take on this role, which brings together professors from various disciplines at the university. I am convinced that this initiative will further strengthen the position of the UP both nationally and internationally,” noted Professor Sagasti. 

Responding to the challenges of the 21st century 

The Chair's program includes innovative projects such as the development of artificial intelligence models to anticipate climate risks in rural areas, interdisciplinary studies on urban mobility and citizen behavior, and research on business resilience in contexts of high uncertainty. There will also be an emphasis on the design of tools for public management and evidence-based policymaking, with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality and sustainability. 

“We have several projects underway, some already advanced and others about to start,” remarked Professor Sagasti. Explaining the aims of the new initiative, the Chairholder added: “For example, research in different fields related to science, technology and innovation. Our main objectives are: (a) to generate knowledge on how advances in these fields affect economic and social activities, with a view to improving general well-being; and (b) to develop and renew approaches to leadership, decision-making, public and private policy design, and governance, planning and strategic management.”

International collaboration and training for transformational leadership 

The Chair will also encompass the hosting of national and international seminars, academic publications, the creation of an interdisciplinary course open to diverse faculties, and leadership training activities in partnership with the university's Leadership Center. The UNESCO initiative is supported by prestigious international academic institutions such as the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, the Universidad de Valparaíso, the Institute of Economics of Polska Akademia Nauk, and the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, among others. 

“The UNESCO Chairs act as an international letter of introduction and constitute a recognition of the academic excellence of the Universidad del Pacífico and Peru. We have already been carrying out activities of international scope and, starting from the second half of 2025, we will expand our academic and professional horizons in Latin America and other regions. The fact that the holder of this Chair belongs to the Club de Madrid—composed of democratic and honest ex-president—also helps to raise the profile of our activities and to promote them globally,” added Sagasti. 

With this initiative, Universidad del Pacífico underlines its commitment to sustainable development, social equity, and academic excellence, consolidating its role as a key player in the creation of knowledge with impact. Distinctly Peruvian but international in scope, the Chair will actively contribute to the great global debates of the 21st century, strengthening the link between research, innovation, and decisions that transform societies.