Appointment of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education & Experience

University of East London

Welcome

The University of East London is one of the most diverse and vibrant universities in the global capital. Our pioneering and forward-thinking vision is making a positive and significant impact to the communities we serve, inspiring both our staff and students to reach their full potential.

Born in 1898 to serve the skills needs of the 2nd industrial revolution, the University of East London has commenced Year 3 of its transformational 10-year Vision 2028 strategic plan led by our Vice-Chancellor & President, Professor Amanda Broderick, to advance Industry 4.0 careers-1st education. We have a clear route-map to provide a springboard for the jobs and opportunities of the future; drive diversity in the 4.0 talent pipeline – working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found; and to create an inclusive and sustainable, green future.

We are looking for forward-thinking, innovative, curious, high-energy, self-aware people who are passionate about making a positive difference and who will thrive in an inclusive and diverse University community who are always moving forwards.

As one of the most socially inclusive and international Universities and comprising one of the most diverse staff populations in the UK (50% of our professoriate identify from black or minority ethnic backgrounds), we are hugely proud of our track record in reducing inequalities (ranked 1st in the UK & 2nd globally, Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings, 2020) and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of Vision 2028.

We are building an environment of success where colleagues are supported to achieve, and our community can flourish and thrive. We are an accredited Investors in People Award Institution and have achieved the Investors in People Health and Wellbeing Award. With Athena Swan Awards and being one of a small number of Universities to have achieved the Race Equality Charter Award, we continue on our journey to address and reduce barriers to opportunity.

So, if you are looking to build your career in a dynamic, inclusive and performance-focused team and are inspired by our environment and drive for success, we want you to apply to join the University of East London. We are looking for inspirational individuals who have a passion to make a positive difference to people and planet, creating a more sustainable future for everyone.


About the university

Over 25,000 students are enrolled at UEL and partner institutions. Nearly 18,000 of those study at UEL.

We have 1,476 core staff, 608 of which are academic, and 868 of which are support staff (including research staff).

Our income for the year 2020/2021 was £174.8 million. Tuition fees and education contracts remain our largest source of income; the largest area of growth came from international students, mainly in the School of Business and Law, but our Home and EU student income has also increased, alongside the income we receive from research grants and contracts, which currently stands at £2.2 million.

Vision 2028

Vision 2028 is our ambitious 10-year strategy to reinvent the University and reimagine the role of higher education. Our Vision places UEL at the forefront of careers-led education, providing students with a springboard for the jobs and opportunities of the future.

It aims to drive diversity in the 4.0 talent pipeline to give graduates the skills, tools, and competencies sought by employers and entrepreneurs in a rapidly changing world, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our priorities remain resolute in our mission: driving career-ready student inclusion, and increasing our reputation for the benefit of our alumni and the social impact of the University.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Future professional

Employer-led careers zones

We are proud to announce ground-breaking collaborations with world-leading companies to drive graduate-level careers and fulfil rewarding life goals.

Sustainability

Education 4.0

Implementing cloud technologies to improve performance, generate cost savings, and provide an outstanding learning experience for students.

Future Graduate

Maximising mental wealth

The world of work is changing and so are our degrees. We are developing professional fitness to accelerate employment readiness for a 4.0 and 5.0 economy.

Future Life

Innovation Pioneers

Our academics are pioneers of new thinking that impact people and the planet. Their knowledge advances practice, policy, and well-being in every community we serve.

CROSS-CUTTING INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES

Digital First

Developing digital fluency throughout the University, creating learning experiences and spaces that meet the needs of future students, employers, and entrepreneurs.

Connected Campus 

We are globally connected with educators, industry, and communities to pioneer futures for a 4.0 economy and inclusive society.

Health Gain 

We believe in health, physical activity, and sport for all. We have an elite athlete zone and are the London Talent Hub for Basketball England.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are committed to realising an inclusive environment and are one of only 12 universities in the UK with the Race Equality Charter.

Progress

In Year 3/4 of Vision 2028, we continued to be tested by the global pandemic and since then have taken decisive action to advance our education and research impact, while responding dynamically in constantly changing circumstances.

Our multi-layered Covid response system kept our community safe, our Dual Delivery framework engaged students to ever-higher levels and our series of wellbeing initiatives provided intellectual, emotional and physical support during a historically difficult time. We also took the opportunity to explore new themes.

In Year 3 of Vision 2028 we moved forward with the following strategies:

  • Becoming a leader in the local and global climate change conversation and a net-zero carbon institution.
  • Supporting the health and well-being of students, staff, and the local community with care, compassion, and commitment.
  • Harnessing the power of sport to transform lives individually, locally, and nationally.
  • This year we also celebrated the launch of our multi-million-pound Connected Campus improvement programme, designed to increase the accessibility of our campuses to our community and to enhance the education and industry interface.

Now, as we continue to focus on Year 4 of Vision 2028, our careers-first vision has remained constant. We empower our learners, build industry 5.0 career-readiness, and nurture an inclusive industry-facing environment that is central to the creation of a more diverse talent pipeline.

Pioneering futures

Pioneering futures since 1898

The University of East London has been pioneering futures since 1898: from the 2nd industrial revolution through to the 4th and 5th industrial revolutions. Our mission is to become the UK’s leading careers-first institution, working with industry partners to blur the line between the worlds of study and work.

Located in one of the world’s most multicultural areas, our 25,000 students are a microcosm of creative diversity, representing 156 different nationalities. With London campuses in Stratford and in Royal Albert Dock, the University is at the heart of the industrial and creative shift east and is committed to supporting East London.

In every industrial revolution, sections of society can be excluded and left behind. Our Vision 2028 strategy ensures we equip our diverse graduates with the skills, competencies, social capital, and networks to not only have access to but to flourish and thrive in a changing economy and society.

We are leading the way in education through our Dual Delivery model which gives students the opportunity to study virtually and in person. Our sector-leading ‘Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness’ modules are embedded into every level of every degree in the University. Students are equipped with enterprising skills such as design thinking, market research, and problem-solving, which are designed to meet the needs of industry now and in the future.

Our vision is to become the leading careers-first university in the UK. But our strategic priorities also include a commitment to becoming a net-zero carbon institution by 2030 and harnessing the power of sport to transform lives individually, locally, and nationally.

We are working alongside blue-chip partners like Siemens to evolve a smart campus strategy and build our growing reputation as a player in a global network of higher education institutions and thinkers who will produce sustainability solutions.

Our Global Sports Strategy aims to transform lives through sport at elite and grass-roots levels, as well as to partner with local, regional, and international organisations to champion inclusion, health gain, and belonging.

The role

Terms of appointment

Here at UEL we understand it’s about more than just a salary. It’s about the entire package on offer along with our amazing working environment and inclusive culture. To help you fully understand what we’re offering, we’ve created a comprehensive overview for you.

Benefits

  • Pension Contribution – UEL’s standard teaching pension ranges from 31.08% to 35.38%. You’ll contribute 7.4% to 11.7% (depending on your grade) and we contribute 23.68% to maintain the scheme.
  • Death in Service – The benefit we hope you never need. 3 times your pensionable salary is payable for all members of the pension scheme.
  • Holiday – You’ll receive 30 days per year, plus bank holidays. We usually close for 3 days during Christmas, so you should gain an extra 3 days.
  • Shared Success Award – This is a discretionary high-performance annual bonus scheme that pays up to £4,250 pa.
  • Hybrid & Flexible Working – Most of our roles are open to some hybrid and flexible working. However, this is dependent on the duties / responsibilities of the role and won’t be available for all roles.
  • Healthcare Cashback – We provide access to the Simply Health cashback scheme so you can cover yourself and family at the right level for you.
  • Employee Discount Portal – Discounts on a wide range of items including tech products (inc Apple / Samsung etc) to holidays and naturally occurring retail spending from food shopping, dining out, clothing, DIY to cinemas. In March 2023 our ‘Success Together’ retail discount card will launch. This is a UEL-branded pre-pay Visa debit card which provides access to discounts (averaging saving of 7.5%) at 94 retailers such as Argos, Asda, B&Q, Boots, Halfords, M&S, New Look, Pizza Hut, Primark, River Island, Sainsburys, Waterstones, Wilko and Zizzi among others.
  • Cycle to Work Scheme – This offers you an average discount of over 30% for purchase of bikes and accessories with no minimum spend. The maximum cost is £3,000 allowing the purchase of e-bikes.
  • Volunteering Leave – We offer you an additional 2 day’s per annum on full pay for any charitable work. This is a time matching scheme, so you’ll need to do 4 days volunteering using 2 days from your holiday entitlement.
  • Eye Care Vouchers – We’ve partnered with Specsavers and will pay for your examination as well as making a contribution to the cost of the frames.
  • Rail Tickets – We offer an interest free loan for the purchase of rail tickets.
  • Employee Assistance Programme – We’re all human and sometimes need some extra support. Our EAP offers you free and confidential access to a range of counselling and support services to help manage difficult situations. You can also access 8 free counselling sessions.
  • Relocation Assistance – This may available depending on your individual circumstances. Please discuss with your Talent Acquisition Consultant.

Facilities

  • Gym Membership – Full Gym (Sports Dock) access is available to all UEL employees for £20 per month. The Sports Dock is at our Docklands campus, so we provide a free bus service for colleagues based at other UEL campuses.
  • Car Parking – car parking is available at all our campuses.
  • Location – Our Docklands campus provides beautiful views overlooking the river next to City Airport and is only a few stops from the Elizabeth line. We’re an open university campus with 24-hour security offering you loads of facilities including: Costa Coffee, Coffee bar (free coffee every Friday at 10-11am), Canteen (free breakfasts every Wednesday morning), Gym, Shop and a Bar that are all less than 100 metres from Cyprus DLR station.
  • Overnight Accommodation – Ensuite rooms are available to all employees at our Docklands campus from £36 per night. This is a popular benefit and should be booked in advance to ensure availability.
  • Lockable bike shelters and shower facilities are available at all our campuses.

As an employee of UEL you should be eligible for a wide range of discounts, examples include:

  • 25% off your monthly bill with O2 Open.
  • Up to 20% off selected Apple products.
  • TOTUM Discount card gives discounts off over 350 brands and a free Taste card.
  • Eligibility for Costco membership and £10 off your first year’s membership fee.

Discounts are offered by the above retailers and are subject to change at their discretion.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is noon on 21st April 2023.

Final Panel interviews will take place on  EITHER Tuesday 13th OR Tuesday 20th June (TBC). 

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact Kiersten Avery on +44 (0)7510 384 735 or kiersten@andersonquigley.com