The Lab was established in 2021 and its first partner is easyJet holidays.

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The four students are Laura Ballerini and Sekoah Kwon-Salkin, who are studying for the MPhil in Development Studies; Tanya Nyadzayo, who is studying for the MSc in Migration Studies; and Rachel Wibberley, who is studying for the MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy.

Twenty SDG Impact Lab fellows were selected from among Oxford postgraduate students. Fellows will take part in a 16-week programme which aims to train them in values-based leadership and a range of transferrable skills that will help them to join their academic research to real-world impact in collaboration with business.

They will also carry out a four-week research internship in either Spain or Greece in the summer vacation of 2022 to engage stakeholders and develop well-scoped impact initiatives.

The four students set out why they applied for the fellowship and what they hope to achieve:

 “The key reason I decided to apply to become a Fellow of the Oxford SDG Impact Lab is that this programme gives an unparalleled opportunity to conduct socially relevant and independent research,” Laura said. “My hope is that this research will contribute to positively informing the sustainability strategy of a leading corporation operating in the sector of sustainable tourism, and provide fertile grounds for more fruitful collaborations between academia and the third sector.”

"I applied for the fellowship because I am passionate about sustainable development and helping businesses have a positive impact on the world," Tanya said." I'm looking forward to expanding my industry knowledge and project management skills over the course of the 16-week programme, while working with brilliant and like-minded individuals".

 “I am currently writing my thesis on tourism and development in Bali, Indonesia, where COVID-19 has severely impacted the island's tourism industry. I believe that an analysis of the challenges that Bali's tourism sector faces can have important implications for other tourism destinations across the world,” Sekoah said. “Through this incredible collaboration with easyJet holidays and the SDG Impact Lab, I am excited to apply my research to a real-world experience and gain practical knowledge of ways to advise private sectors in sustainable tourism practices”. 

“I applied for the fellowship because I wanted the opportunity to turn research into action,” Rachel said. “The Oxford SDG Impact Lab offers a unique blend of academic research skills and practical skills in leadership and project management, which empowers its fellows to create tangible impact. With this fellowship, I hope to work with local communities, businesses and government actors to drive sustainable development in ways that contribute to the empowerment of women and girls across the world”.

Find out more about the SDG Impact Lab.