Loughborough students speak at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Two Loughborough University students have addressed officials from 53 nations at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Devika Malik, a PhD student within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and Loughborough University London student Paul Ntulila attended the biennial summit meeting last week.
Devika was invited to talk about her experience as a para-athlete and the work she is doing to change the lives of young people with disabilities at the Formal Opening of the CHOGM.
She spoke about the Wheeling Happiness Foundation, a project she co-founded with her mum that aims to give people with disabilities the confidence to take part in sport whilst also equipping them with essential life skills.
Paul Ntulila also attended the meeting’s Commonwealth Youth Forumand presented a speech that addressed the inequality people with hearing impairments and disabilities experience in the UK and many other countries.
Paul – who is a deaf student studying MSc Diplomacy, Statecraft and Foreign Policy at Loughborough University London - discussed how he wanted inequality to be reduced and challenged governments to improve life for all citizens within their countries.
Following the forum, Paul commented: “This event was the best experience of my life. All three days were incredible and it was a hugely significant opportunity for me.
“To be able to go to such a large, high profile international event was a privilege, and strongly aligned with my passion for politics.”
The CHOGM takes place every two years and is attended by Presidents and Prime Ministers from the 53 nations of the Commonwealth, as well as lobbyists, journalists and the royal family.
Key topics discussed at this year’s event included trade, cyber security and ocean conservation.
You can read Devika’s speech at the CHOGM here, and find out more about Paul's story by watching this video and by reading his blog reflection on the event here.
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2020 QS World University Rankings and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
Specialising exclusively in postgraduate-level study, Loughborough University London is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers cutting-edge master’s and PhD degrees, as well as business collaboration, research and enterprise opportunities.
The seven specialist institutes at Loughborough University London include: Design Innovation, Digital Technologies, Diplomacy and International Governance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Management, Media and Creative Industries, and Sport Business. Close industry partnerships with a wealth of leading businesses and creative organisations means teaching and learning is informed by real-life challenges and driven by true industry pressures.