Thank you for considering joining the University of East London at this exciting time. The University has been on a transformational journey over recent years, led by our Vice-Chancellor and President, Amanda Broderick.

Our strategy, Vision 2028, guided us to a position of financial stability, significant organisational growth, and, most importantly, better outcomes for our inspirational student body. The development and implementation of our People Strategy, highlights the People and Culture Directorate’s crucial role in the continuing success at UEL.

As the Director of People Services and Transformation, you will lead the charge in delivering and enhancing our People & Culture operational services. Collaborating closely with the Director of People & Culture and other senior leaders, you will champion employee engagement and strive for operational excellence.

In my time at UEL, I have learned that it is an exciting, challenging, dynamic and rewarding place to work – the next step is making it one of the best places to work in the UK, delivering our People Strategy objectives – I do hope that you apply to join me on this journey.

The University of East London is a vibrant and diverse university located in Stratford and Docklands. Our goal is to become the leading careers-focused, enterprising university in the UK, one which both prepares our students for the jobs of the future and provides the innovation to drive that future sustainably and inclusively.

Born in 1898 to serve the skills needs of the 2nd industrial revolution, the University of East London has commenced Year 5 of its transformational 10-year Vision 2028 strategic plan led by our Vice Chancellor & President, Professor Amanda Broderick, to advance Industry 5.0 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 5.0 talent pipeline – working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found; and to create an inclusive and sustainable, green future.

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.

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.

Our Diversity of Thought programme won the Best University and Employer Engagement Strategy Award (Institute for Student Employers 2023). UEL is ranked 6th in the UK for annual graduate start-ups. And we are in the top 10% of the sector for employment-related outcomes.

People and Culture Directorate

The People & Culture directorate (approx. 40 staff) is organised across five distinct core functions, aligned to the delivery of our People Strategy – Talent Acquisition & Onboarding, Employee Experience & Development, Operations, Systems & Service, Employee Relations & Policy and Health, Safety & Wellbeing.

The People & Culture directorate is responsible, in partnership with stakeholders across the organisation, for delivering the University of East London’s People strategy in furtherance of the UELs strategic progress outlined in our Vision 2028 strategy.

We are committed to providing customer-focused and operationally excellent services. Our goal is to create an environment that attracts people to work at UEL, where they receive support for their development and growth. We strive to enable everyone to perform at their best in a high-performing and supportive atmosphere.

Our Core Values

• Passion drives us
  • We are passionate about making a difference in the lives of our students, staff, and the communities we serve. We are a university that has a clear vision for the future, driving innovation and progress in everything we do. Our passion drives us to go the extra mile, to innovate, and to create opportunities for all. Whether in the classroom, in research, or in our community engagement, we pour our energy into everything we do. So, we inspire others. We never settle for less, and we constantly strive to exceed expectations. Our passion is what moves us forward.
    
• Inclusion makes us stronger
  • UEL is a place where everyone belongs. Our strength lies in the diversity of our community – students, staff, and partners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. We actively seek out different perspectives, recognising that inclusivity enriches the learning experience for everyone. By removing barriers and creating an environment where everyone can thrive, we reflect the diversity of the world we serve. We are a university with a moral compass, committed to doing what is right for our people and the communities we engage with. So, we champion equality. We listen. We learn from each other. And we celebrate the differences that make us stronger.
    
• Courage moves us forward
  • We believe that progress requires bold decisions and the courage to challenge the status quo. We are a university that has a strong ambition to push boundaries, create lasting impact, and lead with confidence. We empower our staff and students to think creatively and act with confidence, knowing that true growth comes from stepping out of comfort zones. So, we embrace change. We challenge ourselves. We speak up, and we stand up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult. Together, we build a better future through courage.

Careers-led

We’re changing the face of education to match the ongoing fundamental shift in working cultures. We have collaborated with industry to re-develop, re-design and validate our course portfolio, so the knowledge our students gain reflects the changing needs of industry and prepares our learners for sustainable careers of the future.

Our ambition as a careers-first University, focuses on increasing the diversity of the talent pipeline, moving away from old-fashioned proxies for talent, and bringing together education, industry and talent in a new education and skills social value partnership – breaking down traditional barriers to education and work and developing students from all backgrounds to become pioneers in the evolving economy.

UEL Campuses

The East of the capital is full of opportunities with businesses, developments and innovative careers at every turn. The Olympic Boroughs have the youngest, fastest growing, and most multicultural neighbourhoods in the UK. There has never been a better time to live and learn in East London.

With campuses in Stratford and the Royal Albert Dock, we’re at the heart of it all. Global businesses are making the area their base and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf create a brilliant backdrop. Because industry in the area is connected to the rest of the world, so are we.

• Docklands Campus
  • Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment, with modern lecture theatres and seminar rooms, a 24/7 library and learning centre, and a multimedia production centre – complete with audio and visual labs and studios.
• Stratford Campus
  • Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford’s thriving town centre, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which hosted the 2012 London Olympic Games. The Stratford campus is home to The School of Education and Communities, and the School of Health, Sports and Bioscience, which houses the Hospital and Primary Care Training Hub including Nursing, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy.
• University Square Stratford (USS) Campus
  • University Square Stratford is one of London’s most modern and well-equipped campuses. It is home to our Institute of Performing Arts, and we teach business, law and criminology here, too. Our Legal Advice Centre gives students the opportunity to give back to the community by offering free advice to those unable to pay for it.

Sustainability

These works aim to create fun and dynamic spaces for the UEL community to thrive today, tomorrow and for years to come. While we make these improvements, we clearly have UEL’s vision in mind to be the most sustainable university in London. In-line with this, the Connected Campus team works with local suppliers to create sustainable outcomes, carefully considering where resources come from and maximising equipment by efficiently keeping these in circulation for as long as possible. The programme also supports innovative solutions to recover and regenerate materials no longer need so they can be used for other purposes.

Inclusivity is at the heart of our institution. We are continuously pushing boundaries and finding solutions to complex social, environmental, and economic challenges.

• Ranked number 1 in the UK for addressing inequalities (2nd in the world) by the Times Higher Education Global Impact Ranking, 2020.
• We hold the Athena Swan Silver award for gender equality, are a disability-confident employer, and we are working closely with Stonewall to ensure inclusivity for our LGBTQ+ staff and students.
• The University of East London achieved a Silver Race Equality Charter (REC) award.

We help students develop big ideas for a kinder world, inspiring the workforce of the future through a careers-based education and giving back to the local community. We foster an academic environment that motivates diverse thinkers to turn inspiration into reality, encouraging innovation and creativity.

Our community

There’s plenty of choice in London. But you won’t find anywhere like the University of East London. Nowhere else quite matches us for a unique sense of community.

Our community is made up of 40,000 total students from 140 different countries studying at the University of East London and collaborative partners.

• Ethnicity breakdown*: Asian 34%, White 26%, Black 24%, Mixed 5%, Other 4%, Not known 6%
• Gender breakdown*: Female 57% , Male 43%
• Age breakdown (age on entry)*: 29% under 21; 71% 21 or over
• 57% of our students are the first to attend university *
• Fee status*: 55% of our on-campus students are home students, 12% are EU, and 33% are international students
• 20%  of our students are postgraduates*

(* From available data for 2020/21. Figures rounded to nearest whole number)

Office for Institutional Equity

What we do

Realising our ambitions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion add up to what we call institutional equity. Our Institutional Equity Strategy is founded upon the core principles of fostering inclusivity, promoting staff and student success, enhancing belonging, and promoting equitable culture and practice. We are developing a dynamic approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion based around our Institutional Equity Strategy.

We embrace diversity. As our campuses are home to people from all walks of life, who join us from all corners of the globe, it ensures our students develop new ideas, discover new opportunities and make new connections.

At the University of East London, we’re constantly adapting. Today’s world is changing constantly. Tomorrow’s problems are unknown. Society depends on experts for answers. Everything we do is geared towards preparing for an unpredictable future.

Vision 2028 is our ambitious 10-year strategy. We’re working with industry to reshape education for the benefit of all, giving students from any background the skills and opportunities to thrive in a changing world.

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

Progress

The University has undergone significant transformation. Vision 2028, our 10- year strategy, has provided a roadmap for our continuous progress, evolution, adaptation, and growth.

The cumulative impact of our transformational achievements may be best summed up by being named the UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2025 by The Times and Sunday Times in the annual Good University Guide 2025.

UEL is the top-ranked riser for teaching quality, reflective of record-breaking scores in the 2023 and 2024 National Student Surveys. In 2024, the University ranked 1st in London, 1st in England and 3rd in the UK for students’ overall positivity.

We are incredibly proud of our groundbreaking results in the 2024 National Student Survey (NSS), achieving historic milestones and solidifying our position as the student-ready, careers-first university of the future. We were placed 3rd nationally for overall student positivity and top 10 in Teaching, Learning Opportunities, Assessments and Feedback.

We have won awards for our strategies and programmes, created ground-breaking integrated professional services and implemented a pioneering Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness curriculum which has helped us engage students more than ever and prepare them for the jobs and opportunities of a fast-change future.

Our Connected Campus investment continued to enhance our physical and digital infrastructure and we marched forward in our quest to be net zero carbon by 2030. We worked to reduce health inequalities, improve the lives of children and keep people safe online. We expanded our global partnerships while strengthening our position as an anchor institution in east London.

We collaborated with partners to create the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, a regional hatchery for green innovation and enterprise launched in December 2023.

We also took over as the cultural operator for the flagship Stratford Youth Zone, part of a new partnership with Newham Council. The venue, located in the former Stratford Circus building, will deliver a programme of creative and performing arts based activities for young people as well as the larger community.

There is still much to be done, but we take pride in what we have accomplished and as part of Vision 2028, we continue to support a community of students, staff and stakeholders seeking to build a fairer and more sustainable world. We are currently reviewing our Vision 2028 and will shortly launch an update to share with our community.

Strategic objectives

• Future Professional – Careers and Enterprise
  • UEL’s careers-first approach informs everything that the University does. At UEL, professional success starts from day one. Our award-winning Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness curriculum ensures students develop the emotional intelligence, digital proficiency, and leadership skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace. With over 2,500 employer partnerships and a focus on careers-first education, we provide hands-on experience through industry placements, mentoring schemes, and entrepreneurship support.
• Future Graduate – Education and Experience
  • For over 126 years, UEL has played a key role in unlocking talent and potential for students from East London and beyond. UEL is redefining what it means to be a graduate. With an unparalleled focus on social mobility, we support students from diverse backgrounds through targeted interventions, skills development, and real-world experience. Our commitment extends beyond graduation, with 15 months of career support, work placements embedded in the curriculum, and extensive employer collaborations.
• Future Life – Impact and Innovation
  • In a world of constant evolution, innovation is the heartbeat of our daily lives. Beyond academic success, UEL is committed to improving lives through research and innovation. Our impact-driven initiatives tackle global challenges, from reducing health inequalities to pioneering social prescribing and developing sustainable materials like Sugarcrete®. By funding research with real-world applications, we ensure our students and communities benefit from cutting-edge advancements.
• Sustainable Future – Sustainable Growth and Diversification
  • Over the past six years, guided by Vision 2028, we have strengthened our institutional resilience considerably. Sustainability is at the heart of UEL’s mission. From achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 to leading innovative projects like the Living Lab and the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, we are setting the benchmark for green innovation in higher education. Our partnerships with industry leaders like Siemens and community-focused sustainability programmes demonstrate our commitment to environmental responsibility.

Read the full report to learn more about the impact of our Vision 2028.

The East of the capital is full of opportunities with businesses, developments and innovative careers at every turn. The Olympic Boroughs have the youngest, fastest growing, and most multicultural neighbourhoods in the UK. There has never been a better time to live and learn in east London.

• UEL’s 40,000 students represent over 160 different nationalities from across the globe
• 1 new tech company is formed every hour in London (uktech news)
• There will be 125,000 new jobs in East London by 2030 (london gov.uk)

With campuses in Stratford and the Royal Albert Dock, we’re at the heart of it all. Global businesses are making the area their base and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf create a brilliant backdrop. Because industry in the area is connected to the rest of the world, so are we.

At UEL, we pride ourselves on our growing global footprint and impact, along with our place at the beating heart of a vibrant and richly diverse local community. With civic engagement and widening participation informing how we reach out within east London, we take our responsibility for changing lives seriously, with drive, innovation and a clear sense of partnership.

Determined to address the challenges of an evolving higher education landscape, UEL is creating more focus, more directionand more professionalism around its offering to students and employees alike. We are increasingly investing in world class research and a modern campus that seeks to inspire and enable.

You can look forward to a warm, sincere welcome, genuine camaraderie, career choice and mobility. Your time at UEL will be characterised by support, empathy and an enthusiasm to be flexible around your personal and professional journey. You will find an institution led with passion, visibility and purpose, where your impact, resilience and sense of collegiality will directly contribute to UEL’s future and those of the students whose lives you will touch and change forever.

Induction

Induction is of crucial importance to UEL. It helps our new colleagues settle in and ‘feel at home’ – and means they are more likely to become effective and committed members of our team. All new staff joining us benefit from guidance, support and information, particularly in their first few weeks.

We ensure all line managers are aware of the importance of induction and are supported with a checklist of activities and events that should happen in the first six weeks of employment. All new staff should be assigned an experienced colleague on their first day, who can help them with the settling in process. In addition we run corporate induction sessions which are a great opportunity to learn more about our culture, vision and values and to network with other new colleagues from across UEL.

Facts and Figures

• How many people work at UEL?
  • We employ over 1,500 staff from 67 countries (not including placements, interns, hourly paid employees or claims staff). Academic staff: 836. Research staff: 22
• How many alumni does UEL have?
  • The University has over 100,000 alumni in over 170 different countries across the globe. The number grows by approximately 4,000 each year. Of these, 78,112 are contactable by email, our main method of contact with our alumni. We have large cohorts in Nigeria, Malaysia, Greece, Germany, and India, and notable alumni include British sprinter Adam Gemili, musician Tinchy Stryder, leading human rights lawyer Imran Khan, and MP Rupa Huq.
• How many degree apprenticeships does UEL offer?
  • We offer 13 degree apprenticeships at level 6 (bachelor’s degree) and level 7 (master’s degree). We have a total of 481 apprentices continuing their education (not including Babcock police constable degree apprentices). There is an additional 263 starts this academic year and 100 new Associate Nursing Apprentices will be starting in November 2021. In addition, 110 Babcock police constable degree apprentices started in September this year.
• What is the diversity and global reach of our students?
  • Our students come from 140 different nations.