Engineering students at King's College London (KCL) have staged protests following a recent assignment that required them to design a device aimed at improving the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. This task, part of an engineering design module project, prompted significant backlash among undergraduates, with 74 students signing a petition to express their concerns about the module's content and relevance.
Historically, students in the same module have worked on projects involving prototypes such as Mars rovers, robot drones, and mechanical cars. However, the latest brief asked students to research challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and develop a product addressing those issues. The initiative was intended to encourage students to consider how engineering solutions might serve diverse groups of people, particularly those historically underrepresented in the field.
Despite the intent behind the project, many students questioned its appropriateness for an engineering course. Several argued that such a topic should have been part of an elective module, offering a choice among various underrepresented groups rather than focusing exclusively on LGBTQ+ issues. Others accused the university of advancing a particular agenda, with some saying they had accepted the module only to demonstrate that the institution is progressive.
The project also raised safety concerns among students from countries with more conservative views on LGBTQ+ rights. Some reported fears for their personal safety should they participate in such work. Additionally, students with religious objections expressed discomfort, with one undergraduate voicing a conflict between the assignment and their faith, stating, “My religion does not allow me to endorse or be part of something that it prohibits.”
From an academic standpoint, several students felt that addressing LGBTQ+ issues was beyond the scope of engineering design. The brief, which accounted for 70 per cent of the module grade, was described by some as impossible to achieve within the constraints of electromechanical design. One student commented that the assignment was "of no help" in their development as an engineer, deeming it a complete waste of both money and educational experience.
Following the petition and widespread complaints, KCL’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) team was involved to provide guidance. The EDI department reportedly found dozens of survey responses from students to be “blatantly anti-LGBTQ+” and recommended sending a letter to the student cohort condemning homophobia. Students subsequently received communication reiterating that "sexual orientation and trans status are protected characteristics and discrimination against anyone on these grounds will not be tolerated."
To accommodate international students concerned about potential political repercussions in their home countries, the engineering department expanded the scope of the project in November last year, according to KCL’s student newspaper, Roar News.
A spokesperson for King’s College London stated: “The aim of this module is technical design – last year this was presented as a task to help engineering students explore and consider that the products they create will be used by a range of different people, often with different life experiences and challenges to their own. We regularly review and revise module content across all our subjects to deliver engaging educational programmes that challenge our students, and future iterations of this module will undertake a variety of different tasks.”
Source: Noah Wire Services