Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Queen Mary University is committed to driving action for the SDGs through our research, education, and operations with engagement supporting all that we do.
See below for a snapshot of the activity supporting “SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals”
Research and Innovation
The East London Research Network
The East London Research Network (ELRN) brings together researchers across the Queen Mary faculties and research support roles to share best practice, build connections and discuss opportunities and challenges focused on our place in East London.
The network facilitates research partnerships supporting action across the SDGs including:
- The effects of Universal Free School Meals on primary school attendance and educational attainment.
- The BlueGreenE17 – Paving the Way for a Wilder Walthamstow
- Inequalities in Household Overcrowding in Northeast London
- Partnership for Black People’s Health
The London Student Sustainability Conference
For the last two years, 2024-2025, Queen Mary University has been an organising member for the London Student Sustainability Conference (LSSC). Collaborating with 10 other universities across London to pull it together, the conference offers a chance for students to showcase their research, supporting the SDGs.
Each year Queen Mary has has students present their research and in 2024, one of our PhD Students, researching biodegradable plastics, was selected as one of the top three presenters.
Through partnering for the goals, LSSC offers a fantastic opportunity for attendees to broaden their knowledge on sustainability issues. They can create connections, as well as gain inspiration, and the necessary tools to take climate action.
Education
STREAM – Foundation in SustainAbility short-course
STREAM is “Sustainability Transformation through Research, Education and Action and Queen Mary,” and is the home of our new, co-created short course, providing staff, students and the wider Tower Hamlets community with a foundational knowledge in sustainability.
Commitment to education for SDGs
Queen Mary is committed to ‘actively embed the fundamentals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into our teaching, research, our partnerships and all aspects of our operations.’ (Queen Mary Environmental Sustainability Policy). This commitment is visible on the staff-facing Queen Mary Academy website, where colleagues can explore resources to help them embed sustainability in the curriculum.
Operations
Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice
Queen Mary is a signatory of the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, and is committed to embed sustainability in research in line with the 6 priority areas of the Concordat and collaborate with the sector to drive a just environmental transition.
The Food Made Good Standard
This year, we achieved one star in the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good standard. Part of the framework includes supporting the community, treating staff fairly, feeding people well and supporting farmers and fishers. Our meaningful work being done in community engagement and partnerships with organisations like the Ocean Regeneration Trust, plus regular plant-based options, were highlighted as illustrating how our operations are having a positive impact in our community.
Engagement
Centre for Public Engagement
Our Centre for public engagement is dedicated to working to embed public engagement further within the university by providing advice and support, reward and recognition, and funding for engaged activities.
Queen Mary’s public engagement involves a huge range of projects in the UK and round the world, including the Pathways to Ancient Britain project ‘Deep History Detectives’ based in Norfolk to ACACIA, working with children in Africa on controlling asthma.
Our Platinum Watermark
Queen Mary University has been awarded a Platinum Watermark by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), recognising our strategic support for public engagement and our commitment to improving the support we offer. In 2021 we were the first university to be awarded this level of Engage Watermark.