ISSUE47: SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2007
network of research and training centres/programmes
End of an era as Hans van Ginkel makes way for Konrad Osterwalder
United Nations University entered a new era with the retirement of Rector Hans van Ginkel and the installation of his successor Konrad Osterwalder.
Prof. Osterwalder, of Switzerland, was formerly Rector and President
pro
tempore of the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology in Zurich, becomes the fifth rector of UNU.
The handover ceremony occured in U Thant Hall at UN House in Tokyo before
a capacity crowd of visiting dignitaries, diplomats, academics, and
friends of the university.
Present was Koïchiro Matsuura,
Director-General of UNESCO, who delivered remarks praising the decade-long
tenure of Professor van Ginkel. Mr. Matsuura noted that Professor
Osterwalder was uniquely qualified to take over the helm of the university
due to his considerable scientific accomplishments and extensive
administrative experience.
Mr. Matsuura's speech was followed by remarks from Tadamichi Yamamoto
(Director-General, Public Diplomacy Department , Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan), Takeshi Hosaka (Vice-Minister, Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan), Toshiro Kojima
(Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the
Environment of Japan), Salah Hannachi (Ambassador of Tunisia and Dean of
the Diplomatic Corps), Hebe Vessuri (Senior Researcher and Head of the
Department of Science Studies, IVIC, Venezuela and Vice-Chair of UNU
Council), and Hiroyuki Yoshikawa (President of the National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology).
© 2007 United Nations University