Preston free events: Former UN Secretary-General heads to UCLan and there are still tickets left!

A former Secretary-General of the United Nations is heading to Preston this week.

By Aimee Seddon

Published 24th Oct 2023, 12:15 BST

Updated 24th Oct 2023, 12:17 BST

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations is delivering a free lecture at the University of Central Lancashire, and tickets are still availble.

Who is Ban Ki-moon?

Ban Ki-moon, 79, was the eighth UN Secretary-General, holding the position between 2007 and 2016.

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visits Kyiv, Ukraine in 2022 with the former president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, as a member an independent group of senior global leaders known as The Elders. (Photo by Alexey Furman/Getty Images)

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visits Kyiv, Ukraine in 2022 with the former president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, as a member an independent group of senior global leaders known as The Elders. (Photo by Alexey Furman/Getty Images)

Prior to joining the UN, the South Korean politician and diplomat was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, and also works as Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute.

What is the lecture?

Ban Ki-moon will deliver a talk entitled ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Role of the Youth for a Sustainable and Resilient Future’.

The lecture series is funded by the European Commission and is a joint initiative between the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme and UCLan’s Institute for the Study of the Asia Pacific.

When and where is the lecture?

The free lecture is taking place at on Wednesday, October 25.

Ban Ki-moon will deliver the Kapuscinski Development Lecture in Harrington Building Lecture Theatre between 3pm and 5pm.

Samlesbury residents anger at proposals submitted by development company part ow...

What does the UCLan say about their guest?

Dr Sojin Lim, Course Leader for MA North Korean Studies and Co-Director of UCLan’s International Institute of Korean Studies, said: “It is a great honour to welcome such an important figure in world politics as Ban Ki-moon to our Preston Campus to deliver a Kapuscinski Development Lecture.

“He is known throughout the world for the work he did during his tenure as the UN Secretary-General, including the adoptions of the 2015 SDGs and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

“In this free lecture he will talk about how the youth, as a group of members of our society, can play their role for a resilient, as well as sustainable, future.”

How to get tickets?

It is free to attend but you just must register online. If registration fills up, the event will also be livestreamed here.