DE MONTFORT University has a commitment to international collaborations for data gathering to further work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As the global academic hub chair for SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, DMU files regular reports to the United Nations on its work and progress towards the targets for the goals.
DMU leads three other vice-chair universities reporting data on research, partnerships, outreach, and teaching on SDG 11 to the UN.
The university was also the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) global hub for SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institution for six years until the end of 2024 and still contributes data to the UN on that goal and all other SDGs.
DMU submits an annual report and data to the UNAI on its work on SDG 11 in particular and the other SDGs in general. You can read the 2025 report here.
DMU and international collaboration
DMU also submits a report every four years to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its work, particularly related to the SDGs. The university has been a member of ECOSOC since 2015.
The university is also an official observer for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and shares its data with the organisation.
DMU has sent representatives to past seven Conference of Parties (COP) talks on climate action and was the only European university to have a dedicated pavilion at COP 28, in Dubai, in December 2023.
The university also annually supplies data for the SDG Accord Progress Report from the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC), which acts as the secretariat for the Accord.
The Accord is a global movement of more than 2,800 organisations and individuals in the higher education sector who are committed to embedding the SDGs in their work. The initiative is endorsed by the United Nations, as well as many other global partners, and was launched in 2017.
A huge commitment to SDG data gathering
The 2025 Accord was the largest reporting year to date with 207 institutions, including DMU, from 34 countries supplying data. In 2025, the report found that the SDGs that institutions have most influenced are SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being). Institutions continue to report that they had the least influence on SDG 14 (Life below Water), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 1 (No Poverty). You can read the full report here.
Dr Mark Charlton, the Head of the SDG Impact Hub at DMU, said: “International collaboration on data gathering is an important part of our role at the university both as a global academic hub chair and a university committed through its long-term strategy to embedding the SDGs in all aspects of university life - it is a commitment we take very seriously.
“We spend a lot of time gathering data on the SDGs and our work towards the targets to share with our international partners and official bodies.”