I really valued the time discussing the challenges presently facing the sector with members of the King's' senior leadership team. It was also a privilege to learn about the 'Saluting our Sisters' exhibition and discuss the work of 'King's Edge'.
Matt Western MP, Shadow Minister for Higher Education
07 November 2023
King's welcomes Shadow Higher Education Minister to Bush House
The Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London, Professor Shitij Kapur, was pleased to welcome Matt Western MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Higher Education, for a discussion of university sector issues and a visit to Bush House on 1st November 2023.
During Mr Western’s visit he had the opportunity to visit the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy’s ‘Saluting our Sisters’ exhibition for Black History Month in The Exchange room in Bush House; meeting Olaronke Bamiduro, an undergraduate student in the School of Education, Communication and Society, who helped create the exhibition.
Student mental health is a key focus of the King’s Strategy 2026 and the visit was a valuable opportunity to discuss this priority with Mr Western. Two of the university’s leading specialists in student mental health, Professor Juliet Foster and Jo Levy shared with Mr Western how King’s is holistically supporting student mental health and wellbeing, using the expertise of King’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience to inform practices and policies in this area.
Mr Western also visited King's Careers & Employability, where the innovative King’s Edge hub of extracurricular opportunities was spotlighted alongside our Work-based Learning provision and he had the opportunity hear from Senior Associate Director Andrew Wright and several students who are involved in co-designing and delivering careers education opportunities for their peers.
Mr Western spoke with Gretta Gavin, the Head of the University’s Money and Housing Advice Service, about how students are being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and the support that King’s is providing. Hassan Ali, KCLSU’s VP for Welfare & Community, and Yogietha Kirushnamoorthy, an undergraduate involved in our innovative peer-to-peer Money Mentors programme, also shared their thoughts on the crisis from the student perspective.
Professor Kapur and other colleagues also shared perspectives on funding sustainability for education and research across the sector and the need to ensure any future funding model for universities and students is fair and comprehensive.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Matt Western MP to King’s. We discussed the need for a fair and durable long-term model for both students and for universities to deliver high-quality education and research. We will continue to engage with policymakers to make the case for long-term investment in both higher education and in research and innovation to enhance prosperity, support fairness and social mobility, and help make the world a better place.
Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King's College London
Professor Kapur added "We were also delighted to showcase some of the excellent support provision and creative endeavours of our student and staff community during Mr Western’s visit. It was particularly pleasing that Mr Western was able to hear from a number of students who play a direct, valuable role in supporting their peers across our learning community by co-designing and helping deliver student-facing services at King’s.”