Through universities, UNESCO Chairs promote the core principles of the organisation through networks of the institutions, participate in knowledge production, research and dissemination as well as engage in valuable research in today’s societies.
Professor of Religious Education, Arto Kallioniemi, at the University of Helsinki was granted the UNESCO Chair on Values, Dialogue, and Human Rights in January 2018.
Professor Kallioniemi’s research focuses on promoting human rights and increasing peaceful interactions between people through education.
“We want to instill among teachers an optimistic view of development – a belief that humans can develop and that humanity will do better in the future. As global citizens, we can build a world in which people work peacefully, respecting sustainable development,” Kallioniemi said.
On top of his duties at the University of Helsinki, Professor Kallioniemi is a member of the Finnish Human Rights Delegation and collaborates with the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Peace Education Institute, as well as UNICEF.
He is also launching international-focused cooperation with the Indian Institute of Teacher Education in Gujarat, India, and the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa.