UEL’s EDI Initiative Garners Acclaim and Wins Major Award
The University of East London has won the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity Award 2024, for its transformative Diversity of Thought (DoT) programme. Announced at the AGCAS Awards for Excellence on 10 June, this recognition highlights UEL’s innovative efforts to promote inclusivity and equity in higher education.
The DOT programme was judged by the association to have “had a profound impact on participants, enhancing their career readiness and increasing their chances of securing meaningful employment. Through targeted interventions and strong partnerships, the University of East London has created a more inclusive and equitable environment for all students.”
The AGCAS awards celebrate and promote exemplary practices among Higher Education (HE) careers and employability professionals and their partners, highlighting innovation, collaboration and high standards across all facets of HE careers and employability services.
UEL’s DOT programme, which launched in 2020, is a pioneering initiative aimed at driving social mobility and bridging the gap in graduate employment outcomes for students from marginalised backgrounds. Developed through consultation with students, staff, and industry partners, the programme identifies and addresses barriers these students face in accessing graduate-level roles within leading companies.
Cherise Basslian, UEL’s Director of Careers and Student Enterprise, said, “We are thrilled to receive the AGCAS Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity Award for our Diversity of Thought programme. This award reflects the strength of our employer partnerships and the significant impact the programme has in providing life-changing opportunities to our students, while also offering valuable insights to our partners on fostering a dynamic and diverse early talent pipeline.”
The DoT programme targets critical stages in the recruitment cycle where marginalised students are often underrepresented, focusing on three core elements to build social and cultural capital among students:
Exposure to workplace culture: Students gain first-hand experience in workplace environments through immersive tours, work experience placements and interactions with industry professionals.
One-to-one mentoring: Participants receive guidance from influential staff within partner organisations, helping them navigate competitive selection processes.
Professional networking: The programme provides access to vital professional networks, providing students with the connections needed to pursue aspirational careers.
The programme has been hugely successful, with many inaugural partners directly recruiting students from the DoT talent pool and achieving significant year-on-year growth in partnerships. High satisfaction rates from both industry partners and the students themselves highlight the programme’s impact on career readiness and social mobility.
The DoT programme is supported by a wide variety of blue-chip employer partners, including the Metropolitan Police, IBM, Morgan Sindall, AWS, the V&A, Siemens,ITV, Clifford Chance, Barclays, NatWest, and London City Airport. These partnerships are essential in co-creating bespoke programmes that complement existing recruitment processes while ensuring maximum impact in diversifying the workforce. Their collaboration has been crucial in empowering UEL students and enriching the programme.
Looking ahead, UEL aims to be a leading voice in challenging traditional recruitment practices and championing diversity and inclusion within the employment sector. By 2028, the University is looking to work with 50 new partners, with a target of getting 90 per cent of its Diversity of Thought participants into graduate roles.