WUF Academy to bridge research, training and housing practice
Organized under the Forum's theme, "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities", the WUF Academy responds to growing capacity gaps in delivering sustainable urban development and adequate housing. By bringing together universities, research institutions, practitioners, policymakers, professional associations, and training organizations, the initiative seeks to transform the Forum into a learning and innovation ecosystem with impact extending beyond the Forum itself.
Four pillars, one learning ecosystem
The Academy is structured around four interconnected components. The first is a programme of 45 training sessions taking place over three days and led by partners from different regions. Designed for urban practitioners and leaders, these sessions focus on tools, methods and approaches to pressing urban and housing challenges, with an emphasis on solutions that can be replicated and scaled across contexts.
The second component is the WUF Academy Campus, a space dedicated to knowledge and learning within the Urban Expo. 15 booths will bring universities, research institutions, and training organizations together to showcase their work. The Campus will also feature a central stage hosting more than 30 short academic lectures, alongside workshops, networking opportunities and spaces dedicated to innovation and digital learning.
Transforming practice and the way we learn
Among the Academy's key innovations is the Housing Primer, a free digital microlearning course jointly developed by UN-Habitat and the United Nations System Staff College. Designed as a short, interactive, and accessible learning experience, the course introduces the fundamentals of adequate housing, explains how housing policies and implementation are connected, challenges common misconceptions, and highlights practical pathways for action centred on people's needs and well-being.
The Housing Primer is designed as a long-term learning resource, helping make housing knowledge accessible to a broad audience while supporting future learning and engagement worldwide.
Bridging divides through dialogue and partnerships
The fourth pillar of the Academy focuses on two dedicated roundtables addressing strategies to bridge capacity gaps through research, education and professional practice. The academia and research roundtable at WUF13 will bring together academia and research institutions to define critical actions under shared research and capacity development agendas on housing. The professional associations roundtable will explore how professional education, training and innovation can equip cities to deliver inclusive and resilient housing solutions at scale. The two roundtables will be held on 21 May from 13:00 to 17:00.
Together, the four pillars reflect the recognition that the gap between scientific knowledge for urban sustainability and housing for all is a capacity gap — one that requires not only stronger research, but sustained investments in large-scale and impact-driven research, knowledge transformation and innovative practical learning programmes.
The WUF Academy will be officially launched by the UN-Habitat Executive Director on Tuesday, 19 May at 12:30 at the WUF Academy Campus.