UNITAR strives to fill a unique niche in the United Nations by offering training programmes specially tailored to the work of the United Nations in New York and that are interactive and participatory. Many workshops require individual presentations, group work and homework assignments. The atmosphere is often informal and collegial, where participants know they are in a learning environment and are not requested to represent their respective countries. Most of UNITAR's programmes are held in small to medium-sized conference rooms at United Nations Headquarters in order to facilitate frank discussion and exchange of views. Selected events are open to members of academia, non-governmental organizations and the private and public sectors. These participants can offer new perspectives and energies, adding to the overall value of the learning experience.

The New York Office offers a wide range of programmes each year. New initiatives in 2006 include workshop series on: international negotiation, peacekeeping, and migration issues.  The Office will also launch the Continued IT Education (CITE) Project which offers a blended learning approach to self-paced on-line computer skills training for diplomats working at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  CITE also works as the skills-based complement to UNITAR's upcoming Webinar Series which will engage with key issues in IT Policy and will be broadcast live over the internet.  

In addition, the New York Office continues to offer a number of courses on the workings of the United Nations, including briefings for new members of the General Assembly and new members of the Security Council, as well as workshops on drafting resolutions and on documentation.  UNITAR will also offer additional workshops on subjects of relevance to delegates, including international trade, sustainable development, economics and finance, law of the sea, registration of treaties, etc.  Finally, UNITAR will continue its annual partnership with Columbia and New York Universities offering a small number of delegates the opportunity to audit courses at either Institution's law school.

As evidenced by our 2006 Programmes, the UNITAR New York Office offers a wide array of courses and opportunities for meaningful exchange among delegates, academia and experts from the public and private sectors. However, in an effort to continually offer the most relevant services to delegates, UNITAR welcomes and remains responsive to direct requests by permanent missions for additional programmes.