LJMU students share ideas with international delegates to work towards the United Nations Global Goals

Health and social care students joined international delegates at the Social and Solidarity Economy International Forum’s international conference in France to learn about the key role the social economy has to play in contributing to the UN Global Goals.

The UN Global Goals were adopted by world leaders in September 2015 and implemented at the start of 2016.

They include good health, quality education for all and clean water and sanitation; and aim to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities, and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

The students from the School of Nursing and Allied Health had previously gained knowledge through a social enterprise module with guest lecturers from Genie in the Gutter – a social enterprise working with people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse in Liverpool, the Furniture Resource Centre, Enterprise Credit Union, Homebaked in Anfield and the School of Social Entrepreneurs North West.

They were able to use this knowledge to actively participate in multi-lingual workshops and share ideas at the conference.

Lead tutor Dr Paul A. Jones, reader in social economy at LJMU, said: “The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is uniquely placed to play a major role in achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals.

“It pioneers fair trade, environmental, employment and energy innovations and is the source of affordable finance through co-operative banks and credit unions.

“In giving theses students the opportunity to attend the SSE conference in France, LJMU enabled them to experience first-hand how social entrepreneurs are mobilising human, financial and institutional resources and creating democratic, collective enterprises to respond to some of the most intractable problems facing the world today.”

The conference concluded by calling upon the international community to recognise and support the contribution of the social economy to achieving the Global Goals by 2030.

The student’s participation in this conference is part of LJMU’s commitment to civil and global engagement.

LJMU aims to provide students with experiences, which promote positive social change encouraging them to pursue activities that enhance the lives, aspirations and prospects of people not only within local communities, but regionally, nationally and internationally.