LSE Congress

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. 

LSE Congress will send a team of students from one department, who will closely collaborate with EASG to maximise its impact at the 2025 HLPF. LSE Congress 2022/23 will decide which students will form part of the delegation and to which SDGs LSE’s expertise can make the strongest contribution. 

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) (Michaelmas 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 (Lent Term). 
• Participate in a one-day plenary simulation exercise of an “LSE Congress Summit” in which they will compete to represent LSE at the HLPF 2025 (Summer Term) 

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 

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.

We will be contacting all departments in the week beginning 18 September and sending the promotional materials and documentation that departments can use to recruit a team.

The deadline for recruiting team is 10 October. A team can consist of up to 10 students and at least some members of the team should be available to attend an on-line briefing at 1pm on 13 October.

Once you have recruited you team please submit the details via this form.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss further please email Dr Jenni Carr (j.carr4@lse.ac.uk)