Leicester College and De Montfort University launch collaborative Guest Speaker series celebrating local changemakers

Leicester College has announced that second year students studying on the Foundation Degree in Tourism and Events management have partnered with the DMU UN SDG Hub at De Montfort University to develop an exciting new guest speaker series that shines a spotlight on individuals making a meaningful difference across the city.

Supported by the Programme Lead, Megan Whitwood at Leicester College and academic link tutor, Dr Hiu Man Chan, this initiative is designed not only as a student-led project but as the foundation for a long-term collaboration between the two institutions, benefiting future cohorts of learners.

As part of the project, students are taking ownership of the concept by developing a unique name, logo and slogan for the series, reflecting their creativity, professionalism and commitment to community engagement.

The guest talk series will bring together speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, including charity leaders, community advocates and local changemakers. Each session will explore impactful topics - from addressing social challenges to celebrating positive transformations within Leicester - providing students and the wider community with valuable insight and inspiration.

This collaboration highlights the shared commitment of Leicester College and De Montfort University to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering student voice, civic responsibility and real-world learning opportunities.

Further details, including event dates and speaker announcements, will be shared on the Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/voices.of.the.city_leicester

Megan Whitwood from Leicester College said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to take ownership of a real-world initiative that connects directly with the local community. Through developing the ‘Voices of the City’ series, they have demonstrated creativity, professionalism and a strong commitment to highlighting the positive impact individuals and organisations have across Leicester.

“Collaborating with De Montfort University and the DMU UN SDG Hub has further enriched this experience, enabling our learners to engage with meaningful global themes at a local level. I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved and excited to see how this project develops for future cohorts.”

Radostina Gininska, Student Team Leader added: “I’m really excited to be part of the ‘Voices of the City’ project, which highlights the people and stories shaping Leicester. Being involved in planning, inviting guest speakers, and promoting the event has given me a real insight into how events come together. I’m looking forward to seeing the project come to life and to the impact it will have on the community.”

Anzar Popat, Programme Area Manager - Travel & Tourism at Leicester College said: This initiative represents the kind of forward-thinking, collaborative work we want to embed into our curriculum. Working alongside De Montfort University and the DMU UN SDG Hub allows our students to engage with global themes at a local level and we are excited to see this grow into a long-term partnership that benefits future learners.

Leicester College currently offers Travel and Tourism courses at Level 1, 2, 3 and 5. These courses offer different modules which include areas such as: aviation; cabin crew; resort representatives; travel services; customer service; planning and promoting events and marketing.