Professor Ksenia Chmutina’s Welcome Speech at the UNESCO Day event.
Loughborough University held a UNESCO Day on July 2nd 2025, celebrating its unique position in the UK with three UNESCO Chairs based on campus. The occasion marked the appointment of Professor Mike Wilson as UNESCO’s first Chair in Storytelling Education for Sustainability, joining Professor Qiuhua Liang (Informatics and Multi-Hazard Risk Research) and Professor Richard Giulianotti (Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development).
Professor Ksenia Chmutina presenting the three UNESCO Chairs from Loughborough University. From left to right: Professor Ksenia Chmutina; Professor Qiuhua Liang; Professor Mike Wilson; Professor Richard Giulianotti.
The event, organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, brought together researchers, students, UNESCO-UK officials, HM Government representatives, and global leaders to reflect on the University’s role in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
One of the international panel discussions, titled “UNESCO in the World,” was chaired by Professor Dan Parsons. This discussion explored the global reach of UNESCO’s mission, featuring six panel members, including Dr Robert Harland, who contributed valuable perspectives to the panel questions.
Panel discussion titled UNESCO in the World featuring Dr Robert Harland as one of the panel members. From left to right: Professor Carmen Péez Gonzalez; Ms Ananya Bhattachaya; Dr Hulli Chen; Dr Robert Harland; Dr Monia Del Pinto; Dr Rachel Sandford.
Above (read left to right, top to bottom): (1) Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings opening the UNESCO Day Event; (2) Professor Ksenia Chmutina introducing the event proceedings; (3) Professor Mike Wilson as UNESCO’s first Chair in Storytelling for Sustainability; (4) Professor Mike Wilson presenting the team; (5) Professor Richard Giulianotti, UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development; (6) Professor Qiuhua Liang, UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-Hazard Risk Research; (7) Audience of the event; (8) Dr Robert Harland and James Ömer Bridge (Chief Executive and Secretary-General of UK UNESCO).
Furthermore, throughout the day, participants engaged with the work of the three UNESCO Chairs, visited exhibitions, and exchanged ideas with policymakers and academics.