CIFAL London
CIFAL London
Through its stewardship of CIFAL London, operating under the auspices of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), GEDU Global Education plays a direct role in global capacity building for sustainable development.
CIFAL London operates as a hub with international reach, engaging all GEDU’s institutions across the globe, supporting young people and professionals in the public and private sectors through training focussed on SDG implementation.
UNITAR is headquartered in Geneva and operates a global network of 30 CIFAL Centres.
Thematic Areas of Work
CIFAL London aligns its activities with UNITAR’s core thematic pillars, which reflect key dimensions of sustainable development:
Good Governance and the Rule of Law
Promoting transparent, accountable and effective institutions, as well as evidence-based policymaking.
Sustainable Cities
Supporting integrated urban planning, resilience and inclusive growth in rapidly urbanising environments.
Sustainable Transportation and Mobility
Advancing safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable transport systems across land, maritime and aviation sectors.
Health and Development
Strengthening health systems, policy frameworks and capacity to address both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
People and Social Justice
Promoting inclusion, gender equality, human rights and equitable access to opportunities.
Education Systems Transformation
Enhancing education policy, vocational training and lifelong learning systems to respond to evolving societal and labour market needs.
Leadership
Director of CIFAL London
Kevin McCole
Kevin McCole is Managing Director External Relations and Sustainability at GEDU, leading global stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, public affairs, and sustainability initiatives across the group's international education portfolio. He also serves as Director of CIFAL London.
Kevin brings over 35 years of international relations and higher education, including 19 years in the UK's diplomatic service. During his diplomatic career, he served in London, The Hague, Malta, Bucharest, and Kolkata.
Kevin subsequently spent over 16 years with the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), where he was Managing Director, playing a leading role in strengthening the UK-India trade, investment, and education partnership.
A recognised advocate for international education, sustainability, and international collaboration, Kevin works closely with governments, universities, businesses, and multilateral organisations to expand access to education and support economic and social development.
Chair of CIFAL London
Dr Vishwajeet Rana
Dr Vishwajeet Rana serves as the Group CEO of GEDU. He holds an MBA from Ohio University and an MS and PhD from Stevens Institute of Technology. His earlier career experiences include working at HSBC’s New York office, where he executed complex cross-border equity and debt-structured investments and financing transactions across the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong.
Dr Rana is passionate about the transformative role of education, actively researching global education models and applying them to expand access and unlock student potential through higher education. In recognition of his contributions to widening participation and advancing social mobility, he was appointed as an Honorary Member of the Advisory Board of UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Inclusion in 2025.
Dr Rana is also a published author. His works include the textbook Dr Rana on Applied Corporate Valuation and Financial Modelling as well as the forthcoming co-authored volume Our Coastal Heritage: Conserving the World’s Shores for People and Nature.