GEEF

The Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum (GEEF), hosted by Yonsei University’s IGEE on March 13-14, 2025, will bring together global leaders, youth activists, and experts to explore effective strategies for achieving the SDGs and re-examine our common future under the theme “Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future”. In particular, GEEF 2025 emphasizes the urgent need to bridge divides and take collective action to address pressing global challenges such as extreme poverty, hunger, global emissions, and social/political divides.

The opening session will feature welcoming remarks from Ban Ki-moon, the 8^th Secretary-General of the UN, Dong-Sup Yoon, the President of Yonsei University, and Heinz Fischer, the 11^th Federal President of Austria. In addition, Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, will deliver congratulatory remarks that reinforce the UN’s commitment to sustainability.

Key themes in GEEF 2025 include:

• The Gender Divide – Addressing systematic barriers to women’s and children’s rights
• Youth Leadership & Advocacy – Advocating for educational reform and fostering eco-consciousness in fellow students
• AI for Empowerment – Revolutionizing ways to address global challenges through technology

Ultimately, GEEF 2025 strives to inspire innovative solutions and partnerships that unite different sectors and generations to bridge divides for a sustainable future.

Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940. He is a Bangladeshi economist, the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank. In 2006, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work to “create economic and social development from below”. On August 6, 2024, Yunus was appointed to lead an interim government in Bangladesh. 

Grameen Bank's objective since its establishment in 1983 has been to grant poor people small loans on easy terms. Grameen Bank is an institution that pioneered microcredit, a method of banking where small loans are given to the poor possessing no collateral, mostly to women, for income-generating activities. It has helped them get out of poverty, establishing creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. 

In 1972, following studies in Bangladesh and the USA, Yunus was appointed professor of economics at the University of Chittagong. When Bangladesh suffered a famine in 1974, he felt that he had to do something more for the poor beyond simply teaching. He decided to give long-term loans to people who wanted to start their own small enterprises. This initiative was extended on a larger scale through Grameen Bank.

According to Yunus, poverty means being deprived of all human value. He regards micro-credit both as a human right and as an effective means of emerging from poverty: “Lend the poor money in amounts which suit them, teach them a few basic financial principles, and they generally manage on their own”, Yunus claims. 

Denis Mukwege is a Congolese (D.R.C.) gynecologist, born on March 1, 1955 in Bukavu. He studied medicine and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology in France. He holds a doctorate degree (PhD) in medical sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles where he is a Professor. For over 20 years, Dr. Mukwege has been treating survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynecological problems at the Panzi Hospital, which he founded in 1999.  

The Hospital and Panzi Foundation are renowned for their pioneering work in specialized responses to sexual gender based violence, and their work in advocating for the rights and empowerment of Congolese women. Doctor Mukwege is an outspoken advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence. He co-presides over the Global Survivors’ Fund, which he co-founded in 2019. His action and dedication have been recognized worldwide with various awards among which the United Nations Human Rights Prize (2008), the Sakharov Prize (2014) and the Nobel Peace Prize (2018) as well as honorary degrees from different Universities.

Drawing on Yonsei’s past, particularly its history of the founding fathers, and producing leaders like Han Kang, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, this session will discuss the continuing role of Yonsei as a training ground for global citizens who will shape the future of their communities, countries, and the world.

Key themes of the session for potential discussion will include: Yonsei University’s founding history, Empowering students to become global leaders, Philanthropy & vision of the Yonsei Alumni Association, Yonsei’s future direction & how Yonsei University can continue to empower students to become future Nobel prize winners and global leaders, like Han Kang.

The Quantum Technology for SDGs session at the upcoming forum aims to explore the transformative potential of quantum technologies in addressing global challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session will provide a forward-looking perspective on how fully operational, commercially-viable quantum computers could revolutionize research and business operations in critical areas such as healthcare and drug development. 

The Institute for Engagement and Empowerment at Yonsei University (IGEE)  and Yonsei Graduate School are proud to host an award ceremony to honor the outstanding graduate students selected for the prestigious Ban Ki-moon International Fellowship for Sustainable Development. This award recognizes individuals passionate about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and committed to making a global impact. The award ceremony will take place during the 7th Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) on March 13, 2025. This annual event is a collaborative effort with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future and the Ban Ki-moon Center for Global Citizens in Vienna.

At the ceremony, the Ban Ki-moon International Fellows will receive a certificate directly from H.E. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th UN Secretary-General. These fellows will be recognized for their academic dedication to the SDGs and their potential to become future global leaders who will champion a sustainable future for humanity. Selected fellows will also have the unique opportunity to meet with H.E. Ban Ki-moon once or twice a year, engaging in enriching discussions and building a global network. Fellows will also meet with the leadership of IGEE, further strengthening their commitment to sustainability and global citizenship.

This session will examine how universities can collaborate more effectively to advance the SDGs. It will showcase successful partnerships, including the SDG2 Consortium, the EARTH-UC Davis collaboration, and Georgia Tech’s student exchange initiatives. The discussion will focus on how institutions can integrate the SDGs into strategy, curriculum, and research while actively engaging faculty and students in sustainability initiatives.

By sharing insights and experiences, the session will provide practical strategies for universities to enhance their global engagement. It will encourage discussion on fostering interdisciplinary cooperation, embedding sustainability in academic programs, and promoting faculty-led research that directly contributes to global challenges. Through an interactive format, participants will explore ways to turn institutional commitment into tangible impact.

The Arctic, a region often perceived as remote and inhospitable, plays a pivotal role in global climate systems. With the Arctic warming nearly four times faster than the global average, its environmental changes have cascading effects on weather patterns, sea level rise, and ecosystems worldwide. The region’s transformations are not only environmental but also socio-economic, impacting Arctic communities, global industries, and geopolitical dynamics.

Aligned with the GEEF 2025 theme, "Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future," this session seeks to address the urgent challenges posed by Arctic climate change. This session brings together experts to explore opportunities for sustainable development and innovative collaborations in this critical region. By bridging the gap between scientific research, policy initiatives, and industrial advancements, we aim to inspire actionable solutions that promote resilience and sustainability.

This session, in collaboration with the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), underscores the importance of the Arctic as a global nexus for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a combination of scientific insights, policy recommendations, and technological innovation, this session aims to provide a roadmap for international stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to Arctic sustainability, transforming challenges into actionable opportunities.

As climate change intensifies, education is one of the most powerful tools to drive behavioral change, build resilience, and empower future generations. However, despite global commitments, a significant gap remains between climate education policies and their real-world implementation—especially at the local level.

This session will explore innovative, localized approaches to climate education, highlighting grassroots initiatives and best practices that engage youth and communities in meaningful climate action. Experts will discuss how cross-sector collaboration—between governments, educators, international organizations, and civil society—can bridge this divide and integrate climate literacy into formal and informal learning systems.

Youth, the largest and most influential demographic cohort in numerous parts of the world, have a pivotal role in achieving a sustainable future. Each young individual possesses energy, potential, creativity, and adaptability, making them key drivers of change. These properties make them vital agents of change in sectors such as environmental sustainability, social actions, and social inclusivity.

This session aligns with the GEEF 2025 theme, “Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future,” by implying Divides as a rigid educational system in South Korea, suggesting the true needs and desires of students stemming from climate anxiety and making people realize that modern system is not sustainable. Discussing the solutions and the plans for the student’s engagement in achieving the SDGs, this session will hold a dynamic panel discussion and highlight the voices and leadership of the passionate young leaders who have perceived imperative global issues vividly and transformed themselves into a more cognizant individual by engaging in diverse social actions.