LSE Congress

LSE Congress is a simulation activity where students are invited to explore how LSE’s research can contribute to the progress towards the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the first two terms of the year, teams of students explore the research carried out within their departments and making links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The teams will then narrow their focus onto the two SDGs to which they felt their departments’ research can make the greatest contribution.

Each team produces an ‘advance submission’ for the LSE Congress summit, which was held in 2024 on Friday 22 March. These advance submissions can be viewed below. They explain the rationale for choosing the particular SDGs and the contribution their department can make to their progress.

The results were:

Best poster - Health Policy

Best video - Law

Overall winner - Team Blue (representing 'Fiji')

(Esiri Bukata, Jessie Hau Ching Fung, Mariana Garcia Requejo, Felipe Morales Sierra, JoJo Tompkins and Sofia Torri)

Congratulations to all our participants! 

LSE Congress is designed and delivered by the LSE Eden Centre for Education Enhancement as part of the LSE Student Futures/Educate for Global Impact programmes, with a focus on active learning and innovation & creativity in teaching and learning.

LSE Congress 2024 Advance Submissions

Economics 

Aahan Kandoth, Urvi Gaur, Jessie Fung, Sophie Fung, Catherine Wang, Shiqi Chen

Congress poster

European Institute

Jojo Tompkins, Saga Soderstrom, Angelina Maupas, Zeynep Beyza Yildizdan, Gaute Øien Tollan

Congress poster

Video submission

Health Policy

Doug Roche, Ayoposi Ogboye, Lily Mahdavi, Swati Iyer, Yeganeh Sadeghi, Po-Chin Li, Nora Mahmalji

Congress poster

Video submission

International Development

Ashika Thomas, Emma De Fino, Francesca Romana Miti, Sofia Torri, Yuqi Wang

Congress poster

Video submission

Law

Gazal Gupta, Antônio Vale, Rachael Mak, Lara Wilks, Maria Efthymiadou, Clarissa Wong, Aashi Bains, Anahita Kukreja, Andrew Tan

Congress poster

Video submission

Social Policy

Architi Batra, Ani Gevorgyan, Prerna Thakkar, Roberta Cottino, Oyku Kurun, Siham Buule, Maria Alessandra Panzera, Alejandra Orjuela, Maria Isabel Giraldo, Mariana García Requejo, Sara Pineros, Naura Haryanto, Maham Tahir

Congress poster

Video submission

Sociology

Esiri Bukata, Else Bavinck, Jingying Chen, Ahmad Abu-Hussien, Moa Jegnell, Felipe Morales Sierra

Congress poster

Video submission

The scenario

The simulation is based around a fictional scenario: 

The EASG (Education and Academia Stakeholder Group UN SDG) has urged top universities to contribute to its engagement to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025. Participants will be selected based on their capacity to produce research for policy impact. LSE Congress is invited to participate in the stakeholder group with a team of student delegates. 

This is an opportunity for LSE to contribute its expertise to the world’s most important social, economic, and environmental issues. This is an opportunity for you to develop your skills and gain experience in evidence-based advocacy for global problems. 

How will the simulation work?

Each department is invited to submit a team of up to 10 students to participate in the simulation. Supported by Eden Centre facilitators and via a series of structured activities the teams will: 

  • Explore and make links between the research expertise in their departments and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Autumn Term)  
  • Prepare a submission explaining why their department is the best suited to represent LSE at HLPF 2925 and which two SDGs they have chosen to focus on and why (Winter Term). 
  • Participate in a one-day plenary simulation exercise “LSE Congress Summit” (22 March 2024) 

What are the benefits for students?

LSE Congress offers students opportunities to: 

  • Deepen connections with researchers and fellow students within the department, with a better understanding of the discipline(s) represented at the department, the innovative research it produces, and how research can help create solutions for pressing global problems
  • Meet and learn from students from across the school who are interested in similar problems but bring different knowledge and skills to the table
  • Develop an understanding of the opportunities and barriers to research utilisation and research impact when it comes to solving global problem
  • Apply and develop their understanding and analysis of the governance and substance of UN SDGs 
  • Develop analytical, research, communication, advocacy, project management, and group working skills 

What are the benefits for departments?

LSE Congress provides:

  • A community-building activity that places few demands on department resources
  • An opportunity to engage students in thinking about how research informs policy
  • An opportunity to promote the department’s research to students across the School
  • A series of templates for activities that could be adapted and used to deliver simulation exercises within the department in the future.

Winners of LSE Congress 2023

Following a vote by the LSE public on the prepared position papers, videos and posters (and the outright best Overall group, given all the above), there was also a judging panel consultation during the final LSE Congress event on Tuesday 9 May 2023, to decide the best on-the-day presentation. Here are the results, in each category:

Best positition paper

Management and Gender/Social Policy (tied vote) - read here (Mgmt) and here (G/SP)

Best video

International Development - watch here

Best poster

Gender/Social Policy - view here

Best final presentation

'Team Blue' (Chloe Halsted, Daniela Luque-Medina, Joanne Madridejos, Maud Rinkes, Natalia Sayyad, Megan Sieroka and Yijing Xiao)

Overall prize

Gender/Social Policy 

Congratulations to everyone who took part!