Now and Then, Issue 21

NOW

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ISSUE 21, NOW AND THEN

2019

UEL LAUNCHES ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

Meet the chair, vice chair & subcommittee leads REACHING FOR THE STARS

Dorota Filipowicz

AIMING FOR MISS UNIVERSE CROWN

Archna Bhatt

The magazine for the University of East London's Alumni Network

Matt Njovu, UEL graduate

25% off for UEL alumni Take a look at our brand new co-working space in Knowledge Dock. For only £99+VAT per month you get: - Registered business address - Internet access - Mail holding - Use of meeting and breakout rooms - 2 hours free meeting room hire per month - Library access - Networking opportunities If you are interested in joining a community of successful businesses, we would like to hear from you.

Please contact us at Knowledge.dock@uel.ac.uk or +44 (0)208 223 7789

co-working spaces

“ Returning to UEL to base my business is a no-brainer.

It still feels like home.”

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THIS ISSUE THIS ISSUE THIS Welcome to the 2019 edition of the University of East London’s alumni magazine, Now and Then. This is the 21st edition of Now and Then, and the first to showcase our new brand and visual identity. We believe we have created a brand which will give our stakeholders, including our alumni, a greater sense of pride in the University, bring us closer together as a community, and truly embody our position as an institution which has been pioneering futures since 1898.

Our new logo comes from the University coat of arms and incorporates several elements: the phoenix, which represents transformation and renewal; the shield, a reference to our coat of arms; the cogs, which denote our role in the community and the industrial revolutions which have inspired new ways of working; the wave, which symbolises water and the global gateway of the Docklands; and the torch, which represents the light of knowledge and our association with the 2012 Olympics.

We hope you like it! You can read more about the brand and how it is an important part of our new 10-year strategic plan, Vision 2028, on pages 6 and 7.

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

This year’s cover story details our Alumni Advisory Board, which was created in 2018 by the Alumni Team and the Centre for Student Success. In its short existence, the board has gone from strength to strength, and we’re excited to introduce you to chair Joan Saunders-Reece and vice-chair Jacqueline Malcolm, as well as the board’s subcommittee leads. Hear about their UEL stories and why they chose to make a difference by joining the Alumni Advisory Board.

SPECIAL FEATURES

This edition features an out-of-this-world story about positive psychology graduate Dorota Filipowicz. Dorota spent six months at the European Astronaut Centre, where she met and worked with British astronaut Tim Peake. We also spoke with Archna Bhatt, a forensic science alumna who is one of 40 women taking part in this years Miss Universe Great Britain competition. And don’t miss our research update, where we showcase four academics who received a prestigious British Academy/Levelhulme Small Research Grant award.

REGULAR FEATURES

Make sure to check our packed news section, which has all the best University stories from the last 12 months, and our alumni snippets, which celebrate the success of our graduates. In this edition’s SeqUEL, entrepreneur and counsellor James Aidoo discusses how UEL set him on his career path and Georgia Kalogeraki speaks about her achievements in the field of engineering.

BACK COVER

Our back cover features work by Doreen Fletcher, an artist renowned for painting the forgotten parts of London’s East End. Doreen earned both undergraduate and postgraduate fine art degrees from the University.

If you have any feedback on Now and Then, please send it to the team on alumni@uel.ac.uk.

UEL ALUMNI NETWORK

CONTENTS

EDITOR

Charlie Werren DESIGN

UEL Design & Publications Department Joan Saunders-Reece, chair and Jacqueline Malcolm, vice-chair of the Alumni Advisory Board COVER PHOTO

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COVER

Nick Ian PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION

Sure Print Services ©Now and Then 2019

Alumni Network, University of East London, Docklands Campus, University Way, London, E16 2RD alumni@uel.ac.uk +44 (0)20 8223 2222 uel.ac.uk/alumni

facebook.com/uelalumni @UELAlumni LinkedIn Search for UEL Alumni Network under groups and click join!

SUBSCRIBE

For the latest news and interviews subscribe to our YouTube channel. youtube.com/videouel

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CONTACT US

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ABOUT

Now and Then is a publication of the Alumni Network at the University of East London. It is a platform for graduates and friends across the globe to stay in touch with their university, and maintain relationships with former classmates and the wider UEL community. We aim to provide opportunities for communication, friendship and involvement.

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06 UEL UNVEILS NEW STRATEGY AND VISUAL IDENTITY AND BRAND 08 ROYAL ALBERT DOCKS EDUCATION AND ENTERPRISE FESTIVAL 10

UEL NEWS – UPDATE FROM THE LAST 12 MONTHS

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UEL LAUNCHES ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

24 SEQUEL 28 DOROTA FILIPOWICZ – REACHING FOR THE STARS 32 RESEARCH UPDATE

38 ALUMNI SNIPPETS 43 10 MINUTES WITH: DOREEN FLETCHER

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ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

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36 ARCHNA BHATT – AIMING FOR MISS UNIVERSE CROWN

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UEL unveils new strategy and visual identity and brand

Over this academic year, the University of East London has been developing and starting to implement a 10-year strategy, Vision 2028, to transform our curriculum, pedagogy, research impact and partnerships to make a positive difference to student, graduate and community success. The driving force has been Professor Amanda Broderick, vice-chancellor and president, who joined the University in September 2018.

The ambitious but achievable goal is to become the leading careers-focused, enterprising university in the UK, one which both prepares its students for the jobs of the future and provides the innovation to drive that future sustainably and inclusively.

As part of this, and following extensive consultation, the University launched in May a new brand and visual identity, the centrepiece of which is a new logo that reflects its rich heritage and ambitions for the future.

A brand is shorthand for the experiences, associations, and feelings that people have about an institution and, therefore, a clear and compelling brand is critical to the University’s aspirational destination. After hundreds of hours consulting with staff, current & prospective students, the University of East London Students’ Union, alumni, employers, strategic partners and others, it became clear that the old brand wasn’t connecting with stakeholders and didn’t project a strong enough message to the wider world about what is distinctive about the University of East London.

The University needed to tell the story of its journey from a local centre of education and training in east London during the 2nd Industrial Revolution to where it is now as a futurefacing, ‘glocal’ institution providing skills and talent solutions for the still-evolving 4th.

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ION The new logo comes from the University coat of arms and incorporates several elements: the phoenix, which represents transformation and renewal; the shield, a reference to its coat of arms; the cogs, which denote its role in the community and the industrial revolutions which have inspired new ways of working; the wave, which symbolises water and the global gateway of the Docklands; and the torch, which represents the light of knowledge and the University’s association with the 2012 Olympics. The colours – teal, black, and white – remain the same.

This is a brand which will give stakeholders a greater sense of pride in the University of East London, which will bring them closer together as a community, and which truly embodies the University’s position as an institution which has been pioneering futures since 1898.

Integral to Vision 2028, the University’s External Relations Directorate coordinated this important work alongside brand agencies, but it would not have been a success without the input of the over 1,000 stakeholders across the University who shared their input during workshops, interviews and focus groups. Thank you to the alumni, in particular, who shared their insight and feedback throughout the process.

The University’s digital assets will be updated by July, and the majority of its physical assets, including campus signage, completed by autumn 2019.

This new brand and visual identity builds on the University’s heritage – a heritage which alumni have helped create – and will prepare the University for the future. Please join us on this exciting journey of the next chapter for the University of East London.

To see more about our new strategy and visual identity and brand visit www.uel.ac.uk/about/about-uel

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Royal Albert Docks Education and Enterprise Festival showcases the University of East London pioneering futures since 1898

The festival displayed our role as a 'glocal' campus, both local anchor and global gateway

Heavy rain didn’t stop students, staff, alumni, business partners and community members from coming together on 12 June to take part in the University of East London’s Royal Albert Docks Education and Enterprise Festival.

Held at the Docklands campus, the Festival offered a wide range of activities, including a concert by rapper Professor Green, the final of its Talent & Diversity Hackathon in association with Microsoft, interactive robots, live music, virtual reality experiments, architecture showcase, entrepreneurial market, and more.

The Festival also provided an opportunity to launch publicly the University’s new ambitious and important 10-year strategy - Vision 2028. Pioneering futures globally for a 4.0 economy and inclusive society, the University’s strategy is reflected in the new brand identity revealed at the Festival. Drawing on its heritage from 1898 and focusing confidently on the future, the University is developing talent and innovation for east London and around the world.

Professor Amanda Broderick, vice-chancellor and president, said, “There is an incredible amount of talent and enterprise at the University of East London, and the Royal Albert Docks Education and Enterprise Festival was a wonderful showcase for this today. This is a celebration of everything that makes the University of East London great, but it is also a springboard into the future, as evidenced by the launch of our new strategy, new brand identity and other highlights

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

ERING including announcing the inception of the RADTECH Design Innovation Hub in partnership with Tongji University in China and ABP.” The day-long event wrapped up with a performance by East London rapper and performer Professor Green, who wowed the crowd with an exciting performance.

The day began on a more serious note, with an international networking event where University leaders explored potential partnerships with colleges overseas as well as opportunities to collaborate and provide international pathways for students.

This was followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of East London and Tongji University in Shanghai to collaborate on design-led innovation. The signing followed a high-level roundtable, part of London Tech Week.

Other events which took place over the course of the day included: • The official launch of the University's 10-year strategy, Vision 2028, and new visual identity and brand.

• Phantom Recruitment Method, an automated employment recruitment platform, took the crown over three other talented teams at the final of the University’s Talent and Diversity Hackathon. The ideas presented were formed at a day-long Hackathon held in April with partners including Microsoft and ABP Royal Albert Dock.

• Top architecture talent was on display as part of a student showcase for the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering. Kate Macintosh, an architect who designed some of the UK’s most innovative public housing projects, helped give out students awards.

Partners with a presence at the Festival included West Ham United, Excel London, the LDE University Technical College and Microsoft.

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UEL NEWS 2019

UEL PIONEERS BIG DATA PROJECT AIMED AT TRANSFORMING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH The University of East London won the support of the Office for Students to collaborate with educational, industry and charity partners to revolutionise the way the higher education sector identifies and supports mental health issues in students.

A £2 million initiative will integrate technology, advanced educational data analytics, student relationship management tools and student support models to find ways to better recognise, understand and support students experiencing mental health problems.

The University of East London’s work on the project includes leading on the development of an “early alert” tool which will use data mining, analytics and customer service management information to identify at-risk students.

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PROFESSOR ANDY MINNION SELECTED FOR TOP 100 LIST OF ‘NATION’S LIFESAVERS’ The University of East London’s Professor Andy Minnion was named in the Universities UK’s top 100 list of individuals and groups who are saving lives and keeping people healthy.

Professor Minnion, director of the University’s RIX Research & Media, was chosen as one of the MadeAtUni campaign’s ‘Nation’s Lifesavers’ for his work pioneering a multimedia advocacy approach which helps people with learning disabilities shape and control the way they are supported and cared for in their daily lives.

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12 Professor Minnion said, “It is a great honour to be selected for our work helping people with learning disabilities. The work we do at RIX Research & Media, in partnership with families, professionals and organisations, demonstrates the power of our tools in ensuring learning disabled people have the best possible health and wellbeing, and are genuinely listened to and understood.”

UEL BRINGS EMPLOYERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR ‘HACKATHON’ An automated phantom recruitment platform, an embedded work shadowing programme and a ‘career passport’ which would inspire students to pursue innovative employment pathways were just some of the many ideas put forward at the University of East London’s Talent & Diversity Hackathon.

Over 100 people attended the Hackathon, organised by the University and Microsoft and hosted by ABP London, in April. It brought students, academics, employers, education providers and community stakeholders to ABP Royal Albert Dock to explore the future growth, sustainability and diversity of the talent pipeline in east London.

Stakeholders worked together in small groups and were taken through facilitated, ideation and problem solving sessions to ‘explore’ ways to bridge skills gaps and meet employer needs. A showcase of the best ideas took place 12 June at the Royal Docks Education and Enterprise Festival. Make sure you read our festival story on pages 8 and 9 to see who won.

UEL WELCOMES MAYOR SADIQ KHAN AT #LONDONISOPEN EVENT The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited the University of East London’s Stratford Campus, as one of the first stops on his newly launched mobile immigration advice roadshow, aimed at EU Londoners and their families.

The Mayor, marking the original ‘Brexit Day’, was welcomed on 29 March by UEL’s pro vice-chancellor (impact and innovation), Professor Verity Brown, and students and staff. It was part of a four-day red bus tour of the capital, during which City Hall provided advice and guidance to European nationals who wish to remain in London post-Brexit.

UEL staff and students, many from European countries, had a chance to meet the Mayor of London and voice concerns they had regarding uncertainty about their place in the UK after Brexit.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

UEL ANNOUNCES NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE RADTECH DESIGN INNOVATION HUB The University of East London and Tongji University of Shanghai signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a London/Shanghai design-led innovation hub.

The signing took place at the University of East London on 12 June following a high-level roundtable discussion between leaders from the two institutions and industry associates. The new partnership is set to begin this autumn with an international design project.

The roundtable was part of the University’s activities within London Tech Week. The partnership between the two universities is in association with ABP, Royal Albert Dock.

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14 HISTORIC DEAL CREATES NEW ERA OF COOPERATION BETWEEN UK AND GHANA A consortium of international partners signed an historic deal last September which is set to usher in a new era in UK-Africa relations and boost education, skills development and recruitment opportunities for students at UEL and the people of Ghana.

The memorandum of understanding was signed during the conferral of an honorary doctorate by UEL to His Majesty Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti, Ghana, in recognition of his services to education.

The agreement sets out an ambitious ‘Western Africa Access Corridor’ springing from Ghana, which enhances education and trade.

UEL RECOGNISED WITH RACE EQUALITY CHARTER (REC) BRONZE AWARD The University of East London was recognised in May with the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze award, affirming the University’s commitment to supporting race equality.

UEL achieved the award by completing an in-depth assessment and developing a robust action plan to ensure that race equality is embedded across the institution. The actions and initiatives in the plan were created in consultation with staff and students.

The University is embedding and promoting a stronger understanding of, and commitment to, race equality by embedding race and racism awareness and greater cultural competency among staff at all levels, including decision-makers and senior management. Members of institutional committees will undertake training to increase their awareness of race equality and how white privilege can affect decision-making.

PROFESSOR MARCIA WILSON WINS HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD UEL’s dean of the College of Applied Heath and Communities, Professor Marcia Wilson, won a top award for her contribution to higher education.

Professor Wilson won the ‘The Leadership Award’ at the annual PRECIOUS Awards, which recognise success in the workplace and inspires women of colour to launch their own businesses.

Professor Wilson was nominated by a former athlete, sport and inclusion consultant, and SportsAid trustee, Michelle Moore. (pictured left).

In her acceptance speech Professor Wilson said she has been involved in higher education for 30 years and it has been an amazing journey.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

NEW BEGINNINGS PROGRAMME WINS TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION AWARD UEL’s pioneering New Beginnings programme won a prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Award in November for ‘Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year’.

A panel of judges said, “New Beginnings addresses many of the barriers to access experienced by mature students and has been sustained over many years. Although programmes of this nature exist in many institutions, what sets New Beginnings apart is the evidence of impact on enrolment in university courses and subsequent success.”

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16 New Beginnings specialises in preparing people who have been out of education for a long time, or do not have formal or sufficient qualifications, to start undergraduate degree study.

Internal evaluation by the University suggests that students who complete New Beginnings go on to enjoy further academic success.

Seventy-two per cent achieved a first-class or 2.1 degree.

UEL HOSTS ROYAL DOCKS CHRISTMAS MARKET Students, staff and members of the local community converged on the UEL Docklands campus on 12 December for the University's Royal Docks Christmas Market.

Attendees enjoyed attractions including a ferris wheel and skating rink, a photo booth with fake snow and stalls which stretched across the Docklands square offering hand-crafted items made by the UEL community, hearty food options and hot chocolate and mulled wine.

There was also live music throughout the day, including a special performance of 'Silent Night' by singer Francesca Thompson, who released a recording of the song to raise money for youth empowerment charity, Youth Charter, which is run by Francesca's father, Geoff, Chair of the UEL Board of Governors.

The event also included a ribbon-cutting for the newly refurbished UEL Faith and Reflection Centre, located just inside the Docklands campus entrance next to the Cyprus DLR station.

DVISORY

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

BOARD Image Credit: Nick Ian

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18 UEL LAUNCHES ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

One of the University of East London’s most underutilised resources is its former students. To better tap into our large and successful graduate population, the University has set up the Alumni Advisory Board (AAB), which we hope will enhance our communication with graduates and current students alike.

Created by the Alumni Engagement Office and the Centre for Student Success, the Alumni Advisory Board had its first meeting in June 2018.

Charles Prince, director of the Centre for Student Success, said "It is imperative we engage our alumni in formal ways as it helps build UEL's profile, opens increased financial opportunities and gives our students the access to careers we need to improve our standing in the sector."

AAB chair Joan SaundersReece graduated from UEL in 2007 with a master’s degree in terrorism studies.

She works for Transport for London. Vice-chair Jacqueline Malcolm also came to UEL as a postgraduate, graduating

in 2014 with a master’s degree in theatrical directing.

Advocating for stronger alumni-student connections Joan began her career in 1986, when she joined London Underground as a train guard, a role that is now defunct. But she always had bigger goals.

Joan said, “As soon as I became a guard, I realised that I wasn’t going to be a guard for long.”

Joan eventually became a driver and then moved into a position teaching Underground staff how to maintain and repair trains. At the same time, she pursued a part-time degree in social science at the Open University.

Joan left her job as an instructor to become a trouble-shooter on the District Line, managing a team of 18 who were responsible for fixing any problems that might stop the trains from running.

Disasters like the Clapham Junction train crash and the 7/7 bombings in 2005 prompted Joan to start thinking about disasters and how they could be avoided.

Her next role as an emergency response manager required her to look at the history of terrorism on the London Underground. This led her

to pursue a master’s degree in terrorism studies at UEL. Joan said, “UEL is a great university, and for the last few years I’ve been involved with UEL in one way or another.

Something that we wanted to put in place is a way that alumni who have made something of their careers can give back in a structured way, even if it’s just a day here or a day there, to encourage our current students or alumni in their careers.”

AAB vice-chair Jacqueline Malcolm, who grew up in the small rural town of Northampton, always wanted to become a playwright. The last 30 years have taken her around the word as she has pursued her theatre dreams.

As a teenager, Jacqueline formed a drama group with four friends, writing plays and performing them in the UK, USA and the Caribbean.

At the age of 23 Jacqueline moved to London and worked in a series of corporate jobs but kept her creative side alive by putting on a play once a year. She also studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and at the London Centre of Theatre Studies.

Joan Saunders-Reece, chair

Jacqueline Malcolm, vice-chair

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

Image Credit: Nick Ian

From 2007, Jacqueline lived and worked in California, New York and on the Island of Syros, Greece before returning to London in 2014, at the age of 47, to do her master’s degree in theatrical directing at UEL. Jacqueline said, "I've always wanted to be an artistic director of my own theatre company. I’ve had plenty of practical experience but to really achieve my goals having a master’s degree was necessary.”

In addition to her role as the vice-chair of the AAB, Jacqueline has stayed active with UEL via the delivery of a short course for current students.

She said, “One of the things my peers and I discussed when I was attending UEL as a student was how to monetise our creativity, which is something I find to be a common struggle amongst many creatives. When you’re an entrepreneur the number one thing you learn is how to put a value on yourself and I wanted to be able to give creatives the same tools that entrepreneurs have naturally.”

Image Credit: Nick Ian

The result is the Creative Platform Academy Ltd, a 5-stage process addressing key elements of entrepreneurism which is currently offered free of charge to UEL students in the creative streams.

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THE WORK JACQUELINE AND JOAN DO FOR THE ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD INVOLVES ENCOURAGING ALUMNI TO GIVE BACK AND HELP THE JOB PROSPECTS OF NEW GRADUATES – BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT IMPROVING THE EXPERIENCE OF CURRENT STUDENTS. JOAN SAID, “THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T HAVE SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY WERE STUDYING, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW THEY THINK WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS.” AS PART OF THE EXPANSION OF THE BOARD EARLIER THIS YEAR, JOAN AND JACQUELINE APPOINTED SUBCOMMITTEE LEADS TO LOOK AFTER KEY PROJECTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE UEL EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OUR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNICATIONS, ‘GIVE BACK’ AND SUCCESS.

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Image Credit: Nick Ian

COMMUNICATIONS JAASIR ALI

Jaasir Ali, who graduated with a degree in international business from the University of East London in 2014, heads up the communications subcommittee. During his time at UEL Jaasir was a very engaged student, taking on the role of programme rep and participating in the Global Scholars programme where he participated in projects in Malaysia and Spain. Jaasir was also an intern in China for several months, an experience that encouraged him to travel across Asia, and subsequently spend time working in Japan.

Jaasir is passionate about technology and enjoys working with fintech (financial technology) companies and companies that use next generation technologies such as big data, IoT (internet of things), AI (artificial intelligence) and blockchain. This has led to him creating his own company, which specialises in digital marketing and blockchain, with a clientele that includes celebrities, top entrepreneurs and companies across the globe.

It was a natural progression for Jaasir to become part of the Alumni Advisory Board. He has an understanding of how important it is that students and alumni engage with the services that the University has to offer and he is eager to make sure this message is communicated well.

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Image Credit: Nick Ian

GIVE BACK JACQUI BASHFORD

Jacqui was awarded a firstclass degree in business management from the University of East London in 2011, and also holds a service management accreditation from the Yale University School of Management.

Jacqui is an area manager for AT&T, where she is responsible for leading a global team that supports complex sales opportunities for Fortune 500 companies.

Jacqui has 28 years of professional experience in the telecommunications and technology industry and has held positions in operations, service delivery pre-sales bids and service management at BT and Concert. She also worked in the government sector for eight years.

Jacqui is passionate about being active within her community and has been involved with several local initiatives, including a volunteer position as a governor at Bromley Hall, a school for children with special needs, and in support of BT Business in the Community Partnership.

As a founding member of the AT&T EMEA Women’s Network, Jacqui currently leads a global mentor circle, and plans to develop a similar programme for University of East London students and alumni.

Vadi graduated from the University of East London with a degree in law in 2012.

Having previously worked in the area of alumni relations at another institution, he has a great working knowledge of alumni activities.

Vadi is a development coach, and runs his own company which aims to help people under 30 find their life purpose and improve their self-image. Vadi is also a workshop coordinator at University College London’s medical school.

His main interest is entrepreneurship, and his company is currently working on a fintech project for 18-24 year olds in education.

Charlie Werren, alumni engagement manager, said, “Now that the subcommittees and chairs are in place, the Alumni Advisory Board really has the tools to generate ideas and bring them to life.”

The Alumni Advisory Board will next meet on 2 September at UEL’s University Square Stratford Campus from 5:30 – 8 pm. If you are interested in coming along and learning more about the board, contact the alumni team on alumni@uel.ac.uk.

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Image Credit: Nick Ian

SUCCESS VADI LOANGO

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ENTREPRENEUR AND COUNSELLOR JAMES AIDOO TELLS HOW UEL SET HIM ON HIS CAREER PATH

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At 31, James Aidoo has already helped over 10,000 students through his speaking and educational coaching and consultancy company Innerscope, won an award from the Metropolitan Police for his work and is tirelessly engaged in a host of projects, including helping the homeless and acting as community minister at his church.

And it is all thanks to a pivotal point in his life while he was studying at the University of East London for his Youth and Community BA degree course.

Having grown up on an Islington Council Estate, James is all too well aware of the problems and issues young people experience.

Even before deciding to take a degree at UEL, he knew he enjoyed working with young people.

Looking back, James has nothing but praise for the inspiration he received from his UEL degree course. He credits it for leading him to setting up his own company and doing all the work he is engaged in now.

“I had found that I was not getting the jobs that I wanted as I didn’t have a degree.”

James said. “So at the age of 23 I signed up at UEL where I felt that the youth and community course was really cutting edge. It was theoretical, but also highly practical. And what I also loved about UEL was the multi-cultural nature of the student body. I felt that there were people there who really wanted to draw out the scholar in you. And just being in a buzzy environment like UEL was so exciting.”

In a key moment on the course James decided to set up his own company after his degree, to offer coaching to young people and professionals. Now his company, Innerscope, is thriving, and offering coaching to hundreds of young people in key stage 4 and leading up to GCSE. Just after graduating, James had a pleasant surprise. In 2013 he was awarded the Borough Commander’s Recommendation Award from the Metropolitan Police for the intervention programme he designed and delivered based on youth unemployment and anti-social behaviour.

James has also been heavily involved with his local churches. As part of his modules at UEL he was

assigned to St Mark’s Church, Tollington, near Islington, for his practice module.

Now, James spends four days at his local church - Holy Trinity, Hounslow - where he is an official community minister leading young adults in the congregation, and two days running Innerscope.

And in between James also co-ordinates at a homeless drop-in centre in Hounslow called the Olive Branch project.

“It’s a really exciting time,” James said. ”I have a lot to thank for UEL and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to do education, youth and community studies. I think the things I learned there have helped to shape my life.”

James’ company Innerscope is at: www.innerscope.co.uk

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GEORGIA KALOGERAKI IS ACHIEVING GREAT FEATS IN ENGINEERING

Nominated for a top award for young engineers, shortlisted for trainee-of-the-year at her employer Costain and mentor to UEL undergraduates, University of East London civil engineer graduate Georgia Kalogeraki is achieving great things.

At just 25, Georgia already has several impressive engineering projects under her belt, including Crossrail and the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, which she currently works on.

She has gone from strength to strength with Costain, a 150-year-old consultancy and engineering company.

She said, “When I graduated, I initially found it difficult to find a job in the industry as, due to family circumstances, I had not been able to secure any work experience while at UEL. “However, I remained focused and ready to grab an opportunity, which eventually appeared when I secured a two-week work experience offer from Costain at Crossrail Anglia. This led to a role as a trainee engineer and then, after a year, I was able to join the graduate engineering scheme at the company.

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“It’s an exciting time for engineers.

After joining Costain, I found myself surrounded by supportive colleagues and a company who values my

development. I was thrilled but thoughtful about the responsibility and duty of being an engineer, as well as mindful of the male-dominated environment. Working on a colossal project such as Crossrail and now the HS2 entails a lot of challenges.”

After just six months as a graduate engineer with Costain, Georgia was shortlisted for trainee-of-the-year out of 2,000 nominations. Not long after, in July 2017, she was nominated for the “Top 50 Women in Engineering Under 35”, an initiative run by The Daily Telegraph newspaper and Women in Engineering Society UK (WES).

Georgia is currently working towards her chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers, and is an active ambassador and advocate for more women to join the industry.

Georgia has kept strong links with UEL and recently took part in our #BeTheNext campaign, which will be used during summer 2019 to promote our late application and clearing process.

Georgia said, “UEL is a really good university. It provides you with practical experience and expertise and the advantage is that the professors are so helpful and always keep their door open for you.”

To view all our #BeTheNext videos, including the one featuring Georgia, visit www.youtube.com/videouel

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DOROTA FILIPOWICZ ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019

REACHING FOR THE STARS

Image Credit: LAMB, ESA

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It was an amazing time of my life, being a space geek. I really loved it and enjoyed hanging out at work and listening to people’s stories about their work and life.

Dorota, 38, graduated in November 2018 after doing her postgraduate positive psychology course part-time over three years. She secured a bursary from the School of Psychology to intern at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in return for offering to create a video about her experiences and come back to UEL and talk to students about her time there.

Dorota’s first taste of the wider galaxy was in 2016 at “space camp” – known officially as the Space Study Program at the International Space University, Dorota said, “I have always been interested in space and my first opportunity to get involved in the space industry was for a summer programme. I went to Haifa in Israel for two months. That gave me a taste for the industry and I decided to go on and apply for EAC.” During her internship at EAC, she met and worked with British astronaut Tim Peake, as well as a number of other astronauts from Europe and NASA. Dorota said, “It was an amazing time of my life, being a space geek. I really loved it and enjoyed hanging out at work and listening to people’s stories about their work and life. There was a great spirit of camaraderie and the workplace

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was filled with buzz, inspiration and big dreams.

I wish for more workplaces to share such a wonderful work atmosphere.

How does a postgraduate in positive psychology end up at a space centre? Dorota explained her unusual journey.

She said, “There are many interns at EAC and they come from a variety of backgrounds.

Modern space exploration seeks expertise of people from engineering, humanities, arts, architecture, PR, medicine, computer sciences, social sciences… the list goes on.

“I was lucky to get a place working in the media lab there, where I took and edited photos and videos of astronauts, guests and created multimedia material for the use of the training division.”

Among her many tasks, Dorota helped to make videos of Tim Peake, including messages for events he was not able to attend in person.

The internship occurred right at the end of Dorota’s course, which meant she was doing research and writing her dissertation in the evenings and weekends after working at EAC all day - but that was a price worth paying.

She said, “From the moment you pass the threshold of EAC you will find yourself in a magical space filled with space station models, space related paraphernalia, people excited about their work in the industry and sharing their passion left and right. And you may also catch a glimpse of an astronaut!”

Dorota, who was born in Poland, has lived in the UK since 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Bristol University before going on to do her master’s in positive psychology at UEL “the perfect course” for her.

After graduating from UEL, Dorota moved to Gloucestershire to take a position at Bristol University as a residential life advisor.

She said, “I am now able to put what I learnt on my degree at UEL in positive psychology into action, providing wellbeing support and pastoral care.”

I am now able to put what I learnt on my degree at UEL in positive psychology into action, providing wellbeing support and pastoral care.

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RESEARCH UPDATE FOUR UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON ACADEMICS RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS BRITISH ACADEMY/ LEVERHULME SMALL RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS

Dr Raoul Bianchi explores social tourism in Spain Dr Raoul Bianchi, reader in international tourism and development at the University of East London. has been exploring the ways in which government and the tourism industry can champion ‘social tourism’. His project was recently awarded a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant.

Dr Bianchi is co-investigator on the project, which is led by the University of Nottingham and in collaboration with the Universities of Malaga and Huelva in Spain.

Dr Bianchi explained, “Social tourism is a form of welfare, delivered through financial subsidies, which yields social, economic and personal benefits. Despite these positive impacts, funding has decreased in recent years and we have little knowledge of how such changes have impacted on businesses and destination economies.”

Social tourism is "the connections and phenomena related to the participation of people in the countries of destinations as well as of holidaymakers, of disadvantaged layers of society or those unable to participate in tourism, holidays,” according to the International Social Tourism Organisation.

Dr Bianchi's project will employ multiple methods to assess public funding policies and economic impacts of ‘social tourism’ in Spain.

Dr Bianchi said, “In addition to the academic outcomes, the objective of this project is to inform Spanish government policy on the impact of funding cuts as a result of the Eurozone crisis between 2007 and 2017.”

Dr Bianchi, who is part of UEL’s Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, has spent the past 25 years focused on issues of power and inequality in relation to tourism.

The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants support primary research in the humanities and social sciences and are worth up to £10,000.

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Professor Corinne Squire is committed to improving lives of people with HIV Researching HIV in countries such as Zambia, Brazil and South Africa, and how it has affected people’s lives, has been a key part of Professor Corinne Squire’s work for over 20 years.

As a professor of social sciences at UEL since 1996, and as co-director for the University’s Centre for Narrative Research, Professor Squire has worked with the HIV Psychosocial Network to report on the effects of a decade of austerity on people living with HIV. This research has received funding from a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant, as well as Global Challenges Research Fund QR. It has potential implications for international policy, and for the well-being of people with HIV worldwide.

Professor Squire said, “Despite the successes of HIV treatment and care, people living with HIV worldwide still encounter treatment difficulties, stigma and isolation, and resource insecurities like hunger and homelessness. Such constraints undermine treatment effectiveness and reduce wellbeing. At the same time, people with HIV consistently find positive ways to manage their condition, and generate resources to support themselves and others.

“From initial data, it is startling to see how precarious even medical provision is for many people with HIV, let alone food and sanitation.

At the same time, we are finding strong evidence of the imaginative and ingenious strategies people with HIV have for creating better lives for themselves.”

The project looked at 120 people with HIV in Zambia, Brazil, South Africa, and the UK. Collaborators on the projects include Rob Ahearne (UEL), Sanny Mulubale (University of Zambia), Adriana Prates and Luis Vascon (Federal University of Bahia) and Floretta Boonzaier (University of Cape Town).

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34 Dr Jo Finch explores safeguarding concerns around PREVENT policy

Image Credit: Nick Ian

The experiences of parents and carers who have been referred to social services due to safeguarding concerns around extremism and radicalisation are explored in a new project by the University of East London’s Dr Jo Finch.

Dr Finch, a reader in social work and deputy director of UEL’s Centre for Social Work Research, was awarded a British Academy/ Leverhulme Small Research Grant to carry out the work, which is also supported by The Victoria Climbie Foundation and Together with Migrant Children.

Dr Finch said that debates around Prevent – a government policy to identify and support people at risk for radicalisation and extremism – have become polarised. Advocates say the programme is needed to stop citizens from committing acts of terrorism, while critics say it legitimises state discrimination of Muslims.

Amidst the conversation, those who have been subject to referrals from social care, such as parents and carers, have not been heard, according to Dr Finch.

She said, “I’ve written about Prevent and the possible ethical issues it might raise for social workers in both the UK and elsewhere.

“There is some research about the implementation of Prevent for some professionals, such as teachers, but there is currently no empirical research which looks at Prevent and social work. Given that social workers are key professionals in terms of safeguarding, I was surprised at the lack of critical attention given to it by social work practitioners and academics.”

Dr Finch was supported in her application for the grant by the University’s Research and Development Support (ReDS) team and Grantcraft.

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Dr Tim Lomas awarded funding to further work in ‘untranslatable’ words University of East London psychology lecturer Dr Tim Lomas was recently awarded a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant to further the work of his lexicography project.

Dr Lomas says that studying 'untranslatable words' could be key to embracing multicultural diversity.

Dr Lomas has scoured the world and its many languages to compile a list of more than 100 terms related to happiness and wellbeing which can’t be easily translated into English. His new research will build on this work by eliciting videoblogs about ‘untranslatable’ words from speakers of the approximately 300 languages spoken in London. There will also be in-depth interviews with select speakers.

Dr Lomas said, “Although London’s multicultural nature is often celebrated, this ideal has come under challenge, especially post-Brexit.

Consequently, there is need for a greater appreciation of the nature and value of cultural diversity in London. An innovative means to achieving this is through studying untranslatable words, which reveal phenomena that have been overlooked in English but identified by other languages.”

Dr Lomas said the blogs and interviews will be analysed thematically, providing a conceptual ‘map’ of the data, and the results will be disseminated through various channels including a one-day conference.

“The research will enhance our understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity in London, as seen through the prism of wellbeing,” Dr Lomas added.

Dr Lomas was supported in his application for the grant by the University’s Research and Development Support (ReDS) team and Grantcraft.

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ARCHNA BHATT AIMING FOR MISS UNIVERSE CROWN University of East London forensic science graduate Archna Bhatt will take centre stage this summer when she competes to represent Great Britain at the Miss Universe pageant.

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Archna, who currently lives in London but grew up in Watford, works as a cabin crew member for an airline.

She is one of 40 women taking part in the 2019 Miss Universe Great Britain competition in Cardiff in July.

She said, “I had two dreams as a little girl. One of them was to become a cabin crew member and fly all over the world. The other was to be a contestant in a beauty pageant.

“When I came to UEL, I decided to study forensic science, as I had been fascinated by crime drama and crime scene investigations on TV, and it was something which I figured I could always fall back on.

“I loved the course, but in my present job with an airline it’s a great experience to travel and meet so many people.”

Archna, 26, graduated from UEL with her bachelor’s degree three years ago. She said being a student at UEL boosted her confidence and gave her direction. Mingling and interacting with her fellow students helped her overcome anxiety, she said.

Additionally, spending time at the Docklands Campus, near City Airport, helped solidify her decision to take a job with an airline - Archna said she was motivated by watching airplanes taking off all day!

Archna said she chose UEL not only because she liked her course, but also because her mother, when visiting relatives near Stratford, had good things to say about the environment around the University.

Archna said participating in a major beauty pageant is “outside my comfort zone” but she’s excited and ready to do her best.

If she is successful in the Great Britain qualifier on 13 July, she will get the opportunity to represent the UK later this year at the Miss Universe competition.

Archna said, “In the run up to the contest I will be tasked with a series of challenges and fundraising for A-Sisterhood, an organisation which supports the advancement of women worldwide.

“This year, monies from the fundraising will be donated to several charities, including Llamau, a homeless charity in Wales which runs special projects to help homeless women and the National Centre for Female Genital Mutilation which aims to put an end to the practice by 2030.

“I am really excited to have been chosen as a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain this year. It’s going to be a huge adventure as well as a lot of fun.”

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Michael Gunning succeeds in the pool and the classroom A rising star in international swimming in the UK and Jamaica, Michael Gunning has proved he can also succeed in his studies, having graduated from UEL in 2018 with first-class honours in early childhood studies.

Michael is interested in primary school teaching, and he said his course at the Cass School of Education and Communities was “really insightful and presented me with topics I had not thought about before.”

Michael is one of just a few men to study on the University’s undergraduate early childhood studies course, which has traditionally attracted a largely female cohort.

He said, “I really think men have an important role to play in children’s early development, but most importantly early education, because all children need to have positive male role models in their life.”

Michael is also used to sporting success. At the age of 16 he represented Great Britain at the Open Water Swimming Championships in Rome. In 2016 he became the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) 200 and 400 metres freestyle champion. He went on to represent Jamaica at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest in 2017, setting a national freestyle record.

Michael won Jamaica’s 2018 Aquatics Sportsman of the Year Award, and has qualified for the 2019 World Championships in Gwangiu, South Korea.

MNI

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Naomi Tomlinson lands ‘dream job’ with Comic Relief It didn’t take long for Naomi Tomlinson to secure her dream job soon after graduating in 2018 with a first-class degree in international development with NGO management.

As Comic Relief’s partnerships coordinator for trusts, foundations and institutions, Naomi works to find and develop new partnerships for the charity.

Naomi said, “Comic Relief is an incredible organisation which tackles a broad range of issues which I care about deeply, and I'm really excited to be a part of a team working towards meeting their goals and objectives.”

Naomi heard about the work of Comic Relief at UEL. “When I saw a job there, online, I jumped at the opportunity to apply and was lucky enough to be offered the job,” she said.

Before coming to UEL, Naomi worked in international development in the Philippines, founding and directing the charity Fair Play for All from 2010-2014.

The organisation uses sport, education, and social events to help families and communities out of poverty. It led Naomi to a career in the third sector.

She said, “I chose UEL specifically because of the unique 'NGO management' angle of the degree and the opportunity to do an internship as part of a third year module.”

Krishma Sabbarwal earns prestigious China-based British Council internship Fashion textiles graduate Krishma Sabbarwal went on a remarkable eight-week adventure to China in 2018 after earning a prestigious China-based British Council internship.

Krishma, who graduated from UEL in 2018, had been searching for new opportunities when she came across Generation UK, a Sino-British scheme run by the British Council and Intern China to encourage more British youth to take up study, work and travel opportunities in China.

Krishma applied and was offered an internship which took full advantage of her creativity - exploring print

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40 design to create stylish home furnishings. She was based in the port city of Qingdao (just south of Shanghai) from 14 October to 16 December.

Krishma said that the eightweek placement included three weeks of intensive Mandarin lessons as well as excursion trips to Shanghai and Beijing.

She is full of praise for the course she completed, which included a placement year, and urges others to take the same path she did.

She said, “It’s just been a really positive experience for me that I would recommend to anyone.”

UEL events management graduate wins prestigious industry award University of East London events management graduate Cariad Williams was honoured for her impressive work as a student at the Meetings Industry Association's miaList 2018 awards ceremony.

Cariad, who graduated from the University in 2018 with a first-class degree in events management, won the MiaList's 'Graduate' award after being chosen over peers from across the UK by an expert judging panel.

She said, “I was delighted and surprised to be told that my lecturer, Lisa Wyld, who is director of UEL's Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, had put me forward for the award.

“To then be told that I had been shortlisted and then selected to receive this prestigious award was incredible. I was overwhelmed when I was presented with my award at the celebratory lunch.”

The miaList awards celebrate outstanding and passionate individuals "who go above and beyond the call of duty" in the meetings, hospitality and events industry.

Ms Wyld said: “I was very proud of Cariad for winning this, especially as it's an industry-based award. It will make a real difference to her career opportunities in the future and the different directions she can take."

Alumni come back to UEL to inspire current students Three alumni who earned their master’s degrees in NGO and development management at UEL brought their experiences and wisdom back to the university for a special evening in February at University Square Stratford. The trio spoke about their current work and how they were inspired by their UEL course.

The alumni were Suzanne McCarthy, board member and chair of the Standards Committee, Fundraising Regulator; Chibwe Henry, government-funded partnerships manager at Comic Relief; and Tia Ndu, doctoral researcher, urban policy analysis, University of Leicester.

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2017, beat five other finalists to take the £6,000 first prize at the London Bishopsgate headquarters of NatWest in May. The annual Dragon’s Den-style contest attracted more than 100 entries.

Charlie said, “I am completely emotionally overwhelmed that I’ve won. I want to thank UEL’s enterprise team for this incredible opportunity to invest in my dream.

Thank you so much.”

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They focused on the realities of working in nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the context of the development sector, the 4th Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies. Each speaker gave an account of how their course had benefited and influenced their way of thinking and their roles.

All the speakers highlighted the importance of technology in the NGO sector.

NGO and development management programme leader Meera Tiwari said, “Our course takes a unique approach to becoming a critically informed development practitioner.

“We established the course in 2006 and it was IAC/EADI

accredited in 2017. Since then, it has produced some inspirational alumni. This event has been an opportunity for us to invite some of them to share their amazing journey and challenges.”

Dance: urban practice alumna Charlie Blair wins E-Factor 2018 Dance: urban practice alumna Charlie Blair, who turned her experience of being homeless into a hip-hop dance business aimed at combatting loneliness, won the University’s prestigious E-Factor entrepreneur competition.

Charlie, who graduated in

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CONNECT

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Have you heard about UEL Connect?

UEL Connect allows you to re-connect with classmates and expand your professional network by making the most of the University of East London’s secure platform.

Our networking platform has been designed to cultivate a culture of staying in touch and helping each other out. It is easy to sign up quickly by importing your LinkedIn or Facebook profile.

RE-CONNECT Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to and stay in touch.

EXPAND Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know.

GIVE BACK Introduce, employ and offer to act as a mentor to our graduating students.

ADVANCE Advance your career through inside connections working in top companies.

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So why wait? uel.ac.uk/uelconnect

*If you have already joined we hope you are enjoying the platform if you have any feedback please send it to alumni@uel.ac.uk

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10 MINUTES WITH DOREEN FLETCHER Doreen Fletcher is an artist who is renowned for painting lost parts of London’s East End. After recently achieving both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in fine art at the University of East London, she held a retrospective exhibition in February at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, east London, which resonated strongly with local people.

Doreen’s exhibition, which was was one of the Nunnery Gallery’s most successful shows in recent memory, featured a large selection of her paintings and included unseen pictures from private collections. A monograph of Doreen’s work was also published to coincide with the exhibition.

While Doreen’s subject matter is largely buildings or street scenes with very few people included, she feels that the two are completely intertwined.

She said, “You can’t have buildings unless there are people, and they are there although not in view.”

A number of artists, including Edward Hopper, have influenced Doreen’s work, and some of Doreen’s scenes are reminiscent of Hopper’s style.

Doreen’s pieces include paintings of the wider east London areas of Newham and Forest Gate, as well as France, where she has a home.

Doreen moved to east London from the West Midlands many years ago. Doreen said she “came here for a date and stayed for 23 years,” adding that, “It felt like I had come home”.

Doreen’s inspiration has come from a variety of influences.

She was motivated to recreate lost parts of London, she said, because,“It disturbed me to see these shops and pubs closing and being boarded up. So I thought, ‘I must make a record of this.’”

Doreen paints from a mixture of sketches, observation, photographs and memory. Detail and light play a key role in her pictures.

She said, “There is a difference in the skies in east London and I have wondered if this is due to refraction from the widening river. I think other factors might contribute, such as the flattened terrain, fewer tall buildings, the introduction of the Clean Air Act and the reduction in heavy industry.”

As a mature student, Doreen decided she wanted to learn about etching and printmaking and applied to UEL, her local university.

However, soon after she started the course, she said, she felt the urge to unpack her oil paints.

Doreen said, “That’s where the poetry begins. For me, no other medium can achieve this.”

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Salmon Lane - Doreen Fletcher www.doreenfletcherartist.com