Inaugural Liverpool Commonwealth Lecture held on campus
The Liverpool Commonwealth Association (LCA) held its first Commonwealth Lecture at LJMU.
The aims of the association’s lecture series, were outlined by Chair of the LCA, Garth Dallas, and include:
- What does the Commonwealth stand for in the modern world?
- What is its role in education and trade?
- How can the Commonwealth foster a sense of belonging and be a force for good?
- And what does the declaration look like for Liverpool as a commonwealth city?
Keynote speeches
Attendees listened to an opening speech from LJMU graduate, Dr Malik Al Nasir who discussed working within the frameworks of institutions like the Commonwealth of Nations.
Malik also highlighted the need to deconstruct the historical narrative and the inequalities that are still playing out for many in their everyday life.
Her Excellency Justina Mutale then delivered the keynote speech of the evening reflecting on one resilient common future and how we can transform the Commonwealth for its 56 member states.
Justina shared with the audience key statistics about the commonwealth including:
60% of the Commonwealth population are aged 29 and under
The biggest economies in the Commonwealth are Indian, the UK, Canada, Australia and Nigeria.
Global challenges are particularly relevant to the Commonwealth with many member states that are islands or low-lying countries, vulnerable to climate change.
The above highlights both opportunities and challenges and Justina addressed the need for resilience, digital infrastructure and transformation in the face of these global challenges, and the need to improve the Commonwealth’s long-term sustainability.
The keynotes were followed by a Q&A discussion in which the audience addressed the implications of AI and blockchain, how the history of the Commonwealth can be embedded with the curriculum and if the core values of the Commonwealth are still relevant today.
Further information about the Liverpool Commonwealth Association
Vice Chancellor, Professor Mark Power, said at the event:
“The Liverpool Commonwealth Association was launched here at LJMU in 2015, and we are enormously proud of our continued work with the association. We have many joint programmes of activity, Professor Tim Nichol, one of our two Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s is a trustee of the association, and we have an ongoing commitment to be part of this force for good as part of a wider global family.”
Find out more about the LCA and further lecture events on the Liverpool Commonwealth Association website.
