CREGU programs, events, and international initiatives.

The “Global Conference on Education for a Sustainable Future” concluded successfully

“Transforming Education To Transform World — Global Conference on Education for a Sustainable Future” concluded successfully on February 11 and 12, 2026, at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok. More than 300 participants took part, including senior government representatives, regional youth representatives, and delegates from universities and research institutes around the world.

Through keynote speeches and expert discussions, the two-day conference explored innovative academic practices, transformative learning models, and emerging research that promote quality education and lifelong learning. It focused on building ethical, inclusive, and future-oriented education systems, with strong emphasis on academic research, policy dialogue, and practical solutions designed to help learners adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Government representatives, ambassadors, and international university faculty contributed to the discussions, helping advance dialogue on educational leadership, global partnerships, and education as a catalyst for a peaceful, just, and sustainable future.

The Global Conference on Education for a Sustainable Future awaits your participation

GCE 2026 is a two-day international conference to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 11 and 12, 2026. The conference will bring together educators, researchers, university leaders, young people, policymakers, international agencies, and civil society representatives from around the world, with more than 300 international delegates expected to participate.

The conference will showcase innovative academic practices, transformative pedagogies, and cutting-edge research aimed at promoting quality education and lifelong learning. With a strong focus on ethical, inclusive, and future-oriented education systems, GCE 2026 is positioned as a dynamic global platform for academic exchange, policy dialogue, and collaborative action.

This event is hosted by SDC with the support of CREGU. For more information about participation, email protocol@cregu.in.

"Arte per 2030" Cycle 17: Designing the Future: Cultural Diversity, Narrative, and Sustainable Practice

This four-day program explores culture and storytelling as foundations of design practice. Through lectures, case studies, individual analysis, and group work, students examine how culture and narrative shape design processes.

The course concludes with group presentations of visual timelines and posters, highlighting design as both a cultural witness and an innovator.

Format: 4 sessions of 2 hours each (lectures + workshops + presentations). Dates: Cycle 17: November 21, 22, 23, and 30, 2025.

The signing ceremony between CREGU and Sustainable Development Council-ECOSOC-UN was held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok

On the occasion of the Sustainable Health and Wellbeing Summit, held on November 3 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Sustainable Development Council-ECOSOC-UN and CREGU signed an agreement covering previously discussed areas of cooperation.

The event brought together government representatives, diplomats, university leaders, and young students. In addition to establishing several areas of cooperation, the agreement authorizes Sustainable Development Council-ECOSOC-UN to establish a CREGU branch in India, further expanding CREGU’s international network.

"Arte per il 2030" Cycle 15 (September 6-21) E-book: Designing Futures: Cultural Diversity, Narrative & Sustainable Practice

This publication, co-signed by CREGU as part of the “Arte per il 2030” initiative, documents Cycle 15: Designing Futures: Cultural Diversity, Narrative & Sustainable Practice (September 6-21, 2025), led by Dr. Tommaso Maggio.

The course emphasizes design as a tool for empathy, inclusion, and resilience, addressing challenges such as gender equality and climate action, and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The publication presents core principles, case studies, and replicable tools.

A CREGU expert spoke at IYF 2025 as Italy’s delegate

The 5th International Youth Forum (IYF 2025) was held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 21 to 22. Dr. Tommaso Maggio, a CREGU expert, was selected as Italy’s delegate and delivered a speech at the roundtable “Youth & AI for Good: Empowering the Next Generation to Drive Ethical Innovation for Human Rights and Sustainable Development.”

CREGU supports and welcomes the participation of more young experts in initiatives focused on the future of youth, while encouraging young people to propose their own ideas, promote collective responsibility, and strengthen their capacity to influence global governance and the development agenda.

"Arte per 2030" Cycles 15-16: Designing the Future: Cultural Diversity, Narrative, and Sustainable Practice

This four-day program explores culture and storytelling as foundations of design practice. Through lectures, case studies, individual analysis, and group work, students learn how culture and narrative shape design processes.

Format: 4 sessions of 2 hours each (lectures + workshops + presentations). Dates: Cycle 15: September 6, 7, 8, and 21, 2025 / Cycle 16: September 9, 10, 11, and 25, 2025.

14th cycle of “Arte per 2030”: Storytelling and sustainability in fashion design

This four-day workshop series explores sustainability, communication, and identity in contemporary fashion. Drawing on the ethnographic research of Dr. Tommaso Maggio, including the internationally exhibited YONOK capsule fashion collection, students engage in close observation, co-creation, and storytelling.

Each session combines theory and experiential practice, guiding participants to reflect on the evolving values of fashion and textile design. The final project invites students to translate these insights into a creative representation of identity and sustainability in fashion.

The series takes place on August 22, 23, 25, and 30. For more details, email protocol@cregu.in.

New courses for the 13th cycle of “Arte per 2030” with Dr. Tommaso Maggio

This workshop series explores how design thinking and creative mindfulness can be applied to urban sustainability. Through a balance of theory, experiential practice, and peer exchange, participants are guided in designing speculative interventions that respond to real-world urban challenges.

Activities include live sketching, rapid prototyping, scenario building, and reflective storytelling, culminating in a “postcard from the future” representing each participant’s vision for a mindful and inclusive city.

This cycle takes place on August 15, 16, 17, and 24. For more information, write to protocol@cregu.in.

Update on the ninth cycle of “Arte per 2030”

For details, click the “Arte per 2030” option in the “Projects” section. You can also learn more by contacting protocol@cregu.in.

Updated cycles seven and eight of “Arte per 2030”

For details, click the “Arte per 2030” option in the “Projects” section. You can also learn more by contacting protocol@cregu.in.

The director of the CREGU Shanghai representative office attended the SFK Design Art Education Exhibition

The SFK Art Education Exhibition on July 6 presented this year’s student work in fashion design and interior design. The theme of the exhibition was “Green Kinetic Energy,” using new eco-friendly and biodegradable materials to respond to environmental degradation and encourage collective protection of biodiversity.

Song Yuanjun, director of the CREGU Shanghai representative office, together with SFK President Hao Bin and SFK music department director Eric, all participated in the event.

Seminar with Dr. Jan Vandemoortele: the origins, design, and prospects of the SDGs

Jan Vandemoortele, PhD in Development Economics, held various positions within the United Nations system, including UNICEF, UNDP, and ILO, for more than 30 years. He is a co-architect of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and is now an independent researcher and lecturer who critically examines the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on inequality.

The seminar explored the context in which the SDGs emerged, examined their key characteristics, presented an updated picture of their status, and outlined major global challenges in projecting the likely outcome of the SDGs by 2030.

The seminar began at 10:00 on July 13 (Italy time). Participants were asked to contact protocol@cregu.in for participation information.

The geography of music in Europe as a landscape of diversity

This lecture illustrates the geography of the music industry in Europe, describing its prevailing characteristics through words and listening examples. While a full description is difficult in a single hour, the session aimed to outline the main cultural movements present in the European musical landscape.

The project was led by musician and professor Marco Mancini. For specific details, contact protocol@cregu.in.

The “Youth Empowerment & Decision-Making” tour

“Young people are a key force for achieving the SDGs, inspiring creativity, supporting healthy growth, and opening more opportunities.”

CREGU visited three schools that month — Royal Grammar School Guildford-Nanjing on April 10, and Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) and Beijing Aidi International School on April 26-27 — to share with teachers and students how young people can take part in social decision-making processes and understand the SDG process.

CREGU thanked all participants and organizers for their work.

CREGU and ACG reached a cooperation agreement on the following projects

CREGU and ACG joined forces with universities and educational research institutes to launch the “Arte Per 2030” artistic practice laboratory project, linking art goals with sustainable development, as well as an Art Therapy project. Full project details were to be announced in April.

The organizations also declared that all teaching resources involved in the project would be jointly owned by CREGU and ACG for exclusive use.

The meeting and award ceremony for interns of the 2023-2024 year

From January 23 to 26, CREGU held the award ceremony for the 2023-2024 internship year at the Conrad Hotel in Shanghai. Thirteen out of the ninety interns of that year received the “Outstanding Intern Award.”

All award winners were asked to pay attention to the confirmation email from the center and the arrangements for collecting prizes and scholarships.

CREGU signed a LoA with UNITAR to cooperate on the “Youth Leadership Development Forum Programme”

Participants can inquire about the programme and project details at protocol@cregu.in.

They may also request information via UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) at ccipe.cooperazione@unitar.org.

This project is open only to registered CREGU members.

CREGU signed a framework agreement with ILS LEDA to promote exchange and cooperation in multiple fields

On August 16, 2023, the center signed a framework agreement with ILS LEDA and launched the CILEP educational project, opening deeper cooperation in student and teacher training, joint project proposals, technical exchange, scientific writing, research development, and locally adapted territorial economic development models.

ILS LEDA builds on experience accumulated mainly through United Nations human development programmes and the European Union across Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Innovative approaches to mind-body healing in the field of movement science

This event, led by Dr. Massimo Mori under the title “The Paths of Wellbeing between East and West,” introduced center members to new applications of traditional Chinese medicine and healing methods.

Dr. Mori also launched the experiential “OSTEOTAO” project on the effects of Tai Chi on osteoporosis. Participation information was shared via didattica@cregu.org.

Center members took part in Cainiao Group’s sustainable business management training

To support the 3060 carbon peak-to-carbon-neutrality target and strengthen sustainable concepts, Cainiao Group collaborated with the center to organize sustainable business exchange activities for center members.

During the event, center members visited the sustainable theme park and Cainiao Organic Ecological Park, and took part in exchange activities at Cainiao headquarters together with Italian experts connected to the center.

The special workshop for students of the ATPI project began on June 18

All Chinese students participating in the ATPI project were invited to join the June 18 public art seminar hosted by Prof. Fabrizio of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan.

Participants were asked to send their application to didattica@cregu.org to receive event information. The event was accompanied by simultaneous interpretation in Chinese.

The “Cultural Diversity Fundamentals of Land Art” series was about to begin

In collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, the special course on the cultural diversity of land art officially began on June 11. The course series ran for seven weeks and was open to all center members.

Participation details could be requested via didattica@cregu.org.

The center visited Cainiao Group to explore new forms of cooperation in sustainable development

On June 15, the center’s expert team visited Cainiao Group in Hangzhou, China, and conducted a seminar on sustainable business management. The event exchanged experience with Cainiao Group on staff management methods, business layout development, and related topics.

During the seven-day period, the expert seminar was open to the public free of charge and all were invited to participate.

Expert exchange meeting: “Installazione site-specific and its sustainable concept”

On Sunday, May 28, an online forum on the sustainable development of public art, “Installazione site-specific and its sustainable concept,” was held by the center together with experts from the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Turin, and the Brera Academy of Fine Arts.

Starting from the contemporary relevance of decorative art and moving through different forms of public art and urban language, the event launched a sequence of seven consecutive Sunday meetings.

The center’s new course series: sustainable design in urban space

The course series jointly launched by the center and the DSR LAB of the University of Florence, in collaboration with Tarim University, opened free of charge to all center members on April 29.

Participants were invited to submit their application and request the course plan via didattica@cregu.org.

Sustainable design art symposium for students of the ATPI project

Today, design-related industries are among the most polluting in the world after the oil industry. Under UNESCO advocacy, the use of sustainable materials and sustainable design concepts has become a new trend in contemporary society.

This series, chaired by Stefano Follesa, a member of the center’s expert committee and professor at the University of Florence, was an exclusive event for mainland China students in the ATPI project. It aimed to strengthen awareness of sustainable and diverse design thinking, while encouraging exchange of new technologies and trend analysis in sustainability.