ذكذكتسئµ is a key figure in helping to shape policy around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its role as a global academic hub.
The university has been the hub for SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions for six years working internationally, nationally, and locally in promoting the SDGs and developing policy.
Its lead role on SDG 16 has seen it work on projects as well as policies and 2024 has been one of the busiest yet.
ذكذكتسئµ has held regular talks with the United Nations about progress on SDG 16 and on framing future policies around the Goal.
One of the projects that has attracted the interest of the British government is the Football for the Goals project, which harnesses the popularity of sport to advance work on sustainability.
The head of ذكذكتسئµ’s SDG Impact Hub, Dr Mark Charlton, appeared before the government’s Environmental Audit Committee to detail the project in Leicester and the international network created with other amateur football clubs interested in sustainability.
Talks were also held on the SDGs between Government officials and the British Council during wide-ranging conversations at the COP 28 climate action summit in Dubai, where ذكذكتسئµ was the only European university to have a dedicated pavilion in the Blue Zone.
Working towards the SDGs was also a prominent feature in a ذكذكتسئµ India Research Showcase event in May 2024 attended by representatives from the India-British Trade Council.
The event showcased work around SDG 13 (helping tea growers in Assam tackle climate change) and SDG 12 (creating prosthetic limbs out of recycled bottles) as well as SDG 8 Decent Work and Employment.
The university’s role as the SDG 16 global hub also saw it host the East Midlands Forensic Network conference at its Leicester Castle Business School, involving academics, the Home Office, industry experts and the police.
ذكذكتسئµ has also been involved in talks at a regional level on the SDGs and public policy that took place with leaders of Leicester City Council during 2024.
The Policy Engagement Symposium, held on campus, saw researchers from ذكذكتسئµ meet with Leicester City Council Deputy Mayor Councillor Adam Clarke to look at how collaboration between ذكذكتسئµ experts and the council could help address pressing policy issues.
ذكذكتسئµ’s Kim Sadique, Associate Professor in Genocide Prevention and Education, has been at the forefront of work on SDG 16 working with various NGOs.
She was also recently appointed as Chair of the Academic Advisory Board for Remembering Srebrenica which is the UK Government funded national charity which educates about the consequences of hate and commemorates the Bosnian Genocide.
The charity has educated more than 200,000 young people and created 1,500 Community Champions who stand up to hate and help build more cohesive communities.
Dr Charlton added “Part of our role as a global academic hub is to work with national and regional government on all aspects of the SDGs. Those discussions, both formal but more often informal, take place on a regular basis as we seek to further work towards the targets in the SDGs.
“It has been a particularly productive year in 2024 and the conversations on developing SDGs policies with government and NGOs have made good progress.”