Ð԰ɵç̨

Ð԰ɵç̨ Leicester (Ð԰ɵç̨) has become one of just four UK universities to be awarded funding by the United Nations’ PRME Seed Fund to support transformative teaching.

Students will work with researchers to develop new resources for impacts that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global goals to tackle issues facing the planet.

By working alongside university students directly affected by related challenges, this project aims to develop participants’ awareness of social policy development and foster values-driven leadership skills.

The project lead, Dr Susanna Chui of the Faculty of Business and Law, said: “Migration and displacement are global issues and we know that people can face a range of challenges as they try to integrate into new communities. We want to work together to co-create solutions and provide some positive ways forward.

“Ð԰ɵç̨ as an institution is closely aligned with the work of the UN as Hub Chair for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and this work is of huge relevance.

“This project reflects Ð԰ɵç̨’s commitment to social justice and supporting communities, and we hope that our students will get a lot from working on this, understanding the challenges that communities can face by hearing it from those most affected.

“This programme is positioned to empower participants to be social changemakers by equipping them to be the problem-solvers of SDGs.  Participants will be equipped to master the knowledge, skills and experience to use systems and design thinking to conduct research, analyses and solution design for advancing SDGs.”

Students from across the Midlands will work alongside other stakeholders in workshops and problem-solving sessions. Solutions may include policy recommendations, business ideas, educational resources or digital tools.

It aims to create new two “playbooks” – one focusing on the causes of challenges facing refugees and migrant communities who have been displaced and factors at play such as availability of job training – and another which helps develop practical, innovative solutions that address people’s needs like mentoring programmes.

Joining Dr Chui on the project is Dr Mark Charlton, Associate Director of SDG Hub, Dr Mujeeb Rehman, AI researcher focusing on digital solutions from the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, and Maggie Woo, a PhD candidate and design thinking expert.

The project will run throughout 2025, and the team will work alongside student leaders, community groups and industry mentors to develop practical solutions. Part of the work will evaluate how effective working on social change projects can help young people develop leadership skills and confidence.

Ð԰ɵç̨ is a signatory of PRME – Principles for Responsible Management Education – which aims to develop responsible decision making and put sustainability at the heart of business.

There were 36 entries to this year’s competition, which empowers educations to try out transformative teaching ideas that advance sustainability, ethics and responsible leadership.