The Interuniversity Network Supporting the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPUnivNet)

As one of the partners of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), ASPUnivNet, a network of universities in Japan, offers varying forms of support for UNESCO ASPnet activities.
More specifically, in utilising the area(s) of academic and professional expertise of member universities, ASPUnivNet assists schools in the UNESCO ASPnet membership application process, organises and facilitates UNESCO ASPnet activities at schools, collaborates with local communities, as well as establishes and develops domestic and international networks.

For the latest updates and information about ASPUnivNet member universities, visit the following website:

▶ ASPUnivNet Member Universities

History of ASPUnivNet

Sendai is the birthplace of the world’s earliest non-governmental UNESCO activities. This partially accounts for why the Education for International Understanding Symposium, hosted by the Miyagi University of Education, was held in Sendai in 2007. The aforementioned factors, alongside the integral role of universities in contributing to the formal education system, as well as their assistance with the ASPnet membership application process, gave rise to a sudden increase in membership applications in the Kesennuma region in the late 2000s.

In November 2008, an official UNESCO ASPnet meeting attended by university officers providing support for matters related to UNESCO ASPnet was held at the Miyagi University of Education. The establishment of an inter-university network was proposed at this meeting.

In early December (2nd-5th) of the same year, the 2008 International Forum on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was held at United Nations University in Tokyo. This forum, primarily organised by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO, in collaboration with United Nations University, the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), and Miyagi University of Education, marked the official establishment and announcement of ASPUnivNet.

At its inception, ASPUnivNet comprised eight member universities. This number currently stands at 23.