The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme aims to attract leading academics from around the world to undertake research in co-operation with the private sector to identify breakthrough solutions to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
About The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme
The Fellowship Programme is being established in the name of CISL’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, to help mobilise global evidence on challenges such as inequality, nutrition and environmental protection with a view to enabling companies and policymakers to play a catalytic role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Attracting outstanding candidates to address specific topics within CISL’s research framework, the Fellowship Programme sets its sights on being one of the premier schemes internationally. In a unique model for the University, a select group of researchers will be appointed to build an academic evidence base to foster new thinking and solutions to sustainability challenges, cutting across conventional boundaries, and leading to practical insights, tools and recommendations for decision-makers to carry into their organisations.
Working in close association with academic departments and Cambridge colleges, the Fellowship Programme will attract outstanding candidates to undertake interdisciplinary research into sustainable finance, economic innovation, inclusive development, natural capital, future cities, and leadership for a sustainable economy.
Fellows will be appointed for 3–5 years by an independent Research Oversight Committee (ROC) comprising members of CISL’s Management Board of senior professors across the six Schools of the University.
"Universities contribute to society through the creation of new knowledge and the development of new skills. It is our aspiration to do this in ways that are relevant and purposeful.
The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme, hosted by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, will help us to do just that by allowing academics to engage productively with business, government and financial institutions for society's benefit – both in the UK and globally."
Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
Researching breakthrough solutions to the UN SDGs
While Fellows will work independently of their sponsors, it is anticipated that research will be directly relevant to business and policy challenges. Sponsors will have the opportunity to indicate the general areas where they perceive there to be gaps in knowledge, helping to focus attention on the next generation of solutions.
Fellows will have the opportunity to enhance their impact and connect with practitioners by contributing to CISL’s executive and graduate education programmes.
Indicative areas for research are below. More will be added here as they are confirmed.
Social & environmental accounting (supported by Anglian Water)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will explore the potential of, and develop a standardised measurement framework for, natural and social capital in order to make informed decisions as to how limited resources are spent. |
Investing in sustainable communities (supported by Asda)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will investigate what it means to be a good corporate citizen and the role of business in local communities across the UK, with the ambition of developing strategies for resilience that benefit employees and customers, and society as a whole. |
Sustainable health (supported by AstraZeneca)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will review the academic evidence for preventative, sustainable health and explore the policies, practices and innovations necessary to deliver economic and healthcare benefits in a set of case study challenges. |
Inclusive growth (supported by The Equal Opportunities Foundation)The Equal Opportunities Foundation Fellow in Inclusive Growth will primarily research the potential of leveraging on China’s Belt and Road, and Greater Bay Initiative, to promote the transition to sustainable economies for all countries and regions involved. In addition, the research will investigate ways in which to address social exclusion, unequal development, and rural poverty through the effective use of financial instruments including fintech and artificial intelligence within the wider policy and strategy framework. |
Radical innovation and disruption (supported by Paul and Michelle Gilding)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will explore the implications of innovation and disruption associated with the transition to a sustainable economy, for incumbent businesses, investors and policymakers. |
The role of responsible business in the community (supported by Sainsbury’s)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will assess the evidence and potential for business to play a more active and positive role in the communities in which they operate and serve. |
Industrial transformation (supported by SAPPI)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will investigate how trends of innovation and sustainability will come together to reshape the future of industry – looking at the paper and pulp industry as an initial example and examining drivers including the rise of artificial intelligence and the need to bring carbon emissions to net zero. |
Pathways to a circular economy (supported by Unilever)A Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow will investigate the potential of a circular economy to mitigate the business risks associated with ‘linear’ models of production and consumption and generate new business opportunities. In doing so it will also explore the structural factors that can help or hinder a transition to a more circular economy and the likely impacts on society of that transition. |
Fellows
Fellows will join the Programme in 2019, and will be located in CISL’s offices. They will collaborate closely with CISL and be fully supported by the Institute, as well as being connected to relevant University departments and colleges offering access to top research environments, multidisciplinary centres and the academic and social community of the University.
The Fellowship Programme will include two categories of Fellow:
Senior Research Fellows
Outstanding academics in the mid-stages of their careers, who are strong candidates for permanent posts in universities, or may already occupy such roles.
Research Fellows
Post-doctoral researchers who are building their academic careers and who bring energy and a fresh perspective built on their recent doctoral research.
Sponsors
CISL is very grateful to the founding sponsors of The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme: Anglian Water, Asda, AstraZeneca, The Equal Opportunities Foundation, Paul and Michelle Gilding (individuals), Heathrow Airport Holdings, Sainsbury’s, Sappi and Unilever.
