World first as DMU selected as global hub

De Montfort University has been selected as the global lead by the United Nations for one of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are aimed at transforming the lives of millions by 2030.

DMU is the only university in the world to be granted the honour of spearheading work into an SDG – and has been chosen for SDG 16 to promote peace, justice and strong institutions.

The award follows the university being made the UN’s global lead, in January 2018, to mobilise higher education through a new network to reduce the impact of forced migration.

The following July, the Director of the UN’s Department of Public Information Outreach Division Maher Nasser announced the DMU would now be the global hub for SDG 16 for at least the next three years.

He said at the time: “Earlier this year I saw first-hand how DMU has taken a lead in supporting SDG number 16 – supporting peace, justice and strong institutions – through its inspirational launch of the global #JoinTogether network.”

SDGs will be embedded in all DMU initiatives

Mr Nasser added: “Through DMU’s efforts, students from all six continents have found their voice and confidence in taking practical steps to sustainable goal 16 and other selected goals.

“The visibility given to the SDGs in DMU’s strategic plan will undoubtedly spark curiosity. And curiosity in the hands of young people and nurtured within the walls of this university can help channel energy into activism, action and the creation of a better world.”

DMU may be the global hub for SDG 16, but it intends to embed all 17 into every aspects of university life and these goals will be the prism through which the university explores new and exciting possibilities in teaching, research and student support.

SDGs will be embedded into the curriculum with academics drawing up plans to integrate the 17 goals into all aspects of DMU’s teaching, learning and research.

There are also up to 100 research projects going on at DMU that align to the UN’s SDGs - and the number of  projects is growing. Projects include everything from flood alleviation on the outskirts of Leicester to innovative plans to deal with the dire housing crisis in Nigeria to how Muslim women wearing the niqab are treated in the British judicial system.