Tonight we've seen the power of our students' voices, whether they're first year students through to master's students having ideas to change the world ... and it's these types of ideas that show the power of education and show the power of what we're doing here at King's.
Professor Rachel A. Mills, Senior Vice President (Academic)
15 April 2025
NMPC student takes gold at Policy Idol for proposal to tackle eating disorders in gyms
MNurs student Sophie du Plessis wins the Overall Prize at the Policy Institute’s annual contest
Sophie du Plessis, studying for a master's in Nursing at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, was crowned the overall winner at Policy Idol 2025 last Thursday.
Policy Idol is an annual competition, organised by the Policy Institute at King's, in which students from across the university pitch innovative policy ideas to a panel of leading experts
In her presentation, Sophie pitched a policy idea titled "The fitness industry & eating disorders: a call for safeguarding measures in UK gyms", which addressed the growing, and often intertwined, problems of eating disorders and exercise addiction. Sophie's pitch argued that gyms should be better positioned to notice, understand and support those at risk.
At the final on 10 April, seven finalists had just three minutes on stage to pitch their policy idea to a live audience and a panel of judges including Baroness Louise Casey, Dame Sally Morgan, Jonathan Slater, and Professor Bobby Duffy.
This year our finalists covered a wide range of timely topics including period poverty, AI, student homelessness, international development, organised crime in prisons, and inequality.
Esther Mano, studying for an MSc Global Leadership & Peacebuilding at the African Leadership Centre, won both the prize for style and the audience choice award with her policy pitch titled "Where a Nation Teaches, the Nation Thrives: A Bold Vision for Zimbabwe’s Future". Esther's presentation proposed a six-month mandatory teaching experience for all second-year public university students in Zimbabwe in order to enrich both the education sector and society as a whole.
Emily Rose Wagner, studying for an iBSc in Regenerative Medicine & Innovation Technology at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, won the prize for substance with her policy pitch titled "Call to action: end student homelessness".
Emily's presentation proposed that all students without alternative housing options be guaranteed 365-day accommodation throughout their studies, including the summer before and after university. Drawing on personal experience, Emily's presentation revealed the scale of the issue of student homelessness and the urgent need to address it.
Watch the full event
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Senior Vice President (Academic)