Who we are
The Director of ESDS is Ray Wilkinson - Extension 7023
Please see below for a service map of ESDS which details the eight operational teams and their activities.
External and Strategic Development Services' operational teams are:
Continuum: Director - John Storan, Extension: 2643
- Advise on the WP participation Strategic Assessments for HEFCE/HE sector
- Research income generation
- Research outputs
- WP national/international networking
- Research project management / delivery
- National WP policy support
- Management and support of the national coordination team for WP
Education and Community Partnership: Head - Gail May, Extension: 4028
- Widening participation strategy and assessment
- 14-19 strategic partnerships with boroughs
- Partnerships with schools and colleges; compact, trusts, progression agreements
- Adult and access agenda
- Outreach and liaison schools and colleges
- Information advice & guidance service
- Community outreach and projects
- UCAS fairs
- Summer school and gifted and talented programme
- Widening participation projects; Student Associate Scheme and Aimhigher
- Post-entry study skills through Skillzone
Employability and Enterprise : Director - Femi Bola, Extension: 6422
- Institutional employability strategy
- Employer Engagement
- Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) and report
- Careers Fairs and employability events
- Virtual job shop
- Placements, work experience, internships, graduate schemes, volunteering and mentoring
- CV checking service, mock interviews, skills workshops, employer led workshops
- Learning materials and activities e.g. assessment centres and psychometric tests
- Student and graduate employability/careers advice
- Careers publications
- Supporting the delivery of UEL employability modules
- Adecco contract
Knowledge Dock
- Facilitate transfer of technology and knowledge
- HEFCE work with business (3rd leg)
- KTP and Student Project Programmes and Development
- Knowledge Dock Business Centre
- University Company – Knowledge Dock (UEL) Limited
- Commercial income generation
Quality Assurance and Enhancement: Head - Ruth Carter, Extension: 2341
- Advice and support to schools in managing quality processes and enhancing the quality of the student experience
- Managing the academic appeals, students complaints, extenuation and external examiner systems
- Validation of collaborative programmes, including providing advice and support to schools and external partners in the development of collaborative academic links
- Providing a committee secretariat to the second tier committees of Academic Board
- Taking a lead role in our University’s preparations for external quality audits
- Liaison and completion of returns with relevant regulatory bodies (e.g. Edexcel, QAA)
- Co-ordinate the University student satisfaction survey
Research and Development Support : Head - Martin Longstaff, Extension 7485
- Work with local and regional authorities and government regeneration bodies
- Regional and Thames Gateway policy: to support local regeneration
- External funding to support regeneration and corporate /school development projects
- Strategic partnerships with Regional HEIs
- Development and management of strategic pilot programmes which deliver UEL’S regeneration vision
- Developments and management of external networks and partnerships
- Opportunity scanning for UEL benefit
- Accountabilities management for externally funded projects
Service Administration: Administration Manager/PA to Director of Service - Jackie Leach, Extension 4936
- Each team member provides vital support to all the teams within ESDS
- Key contacts for both internal and external colleagues
- Organise and manage the administration and support systems within ESDS
- Carry out activities that facilitate the effective running of the service
- Responsible for managing Health & Safety procedures
- Organise events including Service Away Days & Networking Events
Strategic Planning: Head - Holly Duglan, Extension: 2006
- Compliance with regulatory bodies (e.g. HEFCE, HESA) & relevant statutory returns
- Manage the University's strategic planning process
- HEFCE PI analysis and response
- Development & management of MIS system (with IT) to support School and Service annual planning
- Analysis of market trends and regional data
Director of Policy - John Lock, Extension: 3322
- Key external stakeholder engagement
- Project development and support
- Information dissemination
