UNAI: A Journey of Engaging Youth

UN Academic Impact: A Journey of Engaging Youth and Rethinking Education with Ramu Damodaran

Ramu Damodaran, Former Chief of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), is our guest on today’s episode. He discusses the UNAI and his role in creating this branch of the United Nations and updates us on the impact that it is making. Ramu shares how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting students of various age ranges and how it has also provided opportunities for further growth. Ramu concludes with an anecdote by sharing a “Trade Win” that occurred during his career and the power of communication and pragmatism in global trade.

Topics in this conversation include:

• Ramu describes the UNAI and how it works to unite students toward making an impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).1:33
• The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to build a more solid family foundation with parents taking more responsibility for their children’s education while, at the same time, it widened the inequality gap, particularly in developing countries. 6:53
• Ramu discusses what he calls the “CC and BCC culture” and how it affects the ability to think and plan for long-term strategies. 18:15
• Ramu shares his career path, from being a disc jockey for a radio station created by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to a creator and Chief of the UNAI. 24:13
• The UN’s focus on SDGs has provided stability for the world during the last 6 years since the SDGs were created. 31:00

For the full episode, visit: https://podcast.wtca.org/podcast/12-un-academic-impact-a-journey-of-engaging-youth-and-rethinking-education/

Trade Wins is a podcast designed specifically to be thought-provoking and to provide insights from leading experts to help us navigate today’s changing environment. We aim to contribute to the empowerment of our global membership and their business networks in the world of global trade and investment.