King's College London

King’s has recently published a new report detailing case studies that outline our progress towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The case studies cover four key impact areas – research, education, operations and service & engagement – and showcase the breadth of creativity, innovation and projects at King’s that seek solutions to pressing global issues.

The report also details statistics about King’s research, including the 23,758 published papers representing 4.74% of the UK’s research in 2023-24 – 10,420 of which directly related to the SDGs (44% of King’s research output).

Through a range of educational modules and study programmes, research projects, groups and centres, policies and operational projects, and numerous service opportunities, the report demonstrates how King’s interdisciplinary approach has centred positive impact within its work.

Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s, said in the report foreword:

Some of the projects showcased include:

• The founding of the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change hub, a £5 million hub that enables partnerships between academics across the UK to deliver faster and more impactful climate adaptation;

• The Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (NMPC) became the first faculty dedicated to nursing and midwifery to receive Beacon Site Status from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, in recognition of its success in embedding sustainability within their curricula;

• King’s Legal Clinic, which was established to provide a free legal advice service that works with local and international organisations on research and justice projects, published a ‘Rights of Nature Toolkit’, with an ambition to promote the rights of rivers and help them stay pollution-free;

• In 2024, King’s was awarded Sanctuary status in recognition of its ongoing work to ensure that the University is a place of safety, solidarity and empowerment for people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries.

The UN SDGs provide a global framework for targeted action towards the most significant challenges facing the world, covering 17 key areas that are vital to creating a peaceful, prosperous, and secure future. Set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs cover a range of topics from climate and sustainability to poverty, hunger inequality, innovation and education.

Demonstrating the range of interdisciplinary strengths at King’s, the report details achievements beyond work at university-level such as student-led initiatives and external volunteering partnerships that demonstrate how the King’s community makes a positive impact within the local area and beyond.

Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service), also said in the report foreword: