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UEL staff recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

Friday 15 June 2012

Queen’s Birthday Honours

Two members of UEL staff have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Femi Bola, who is UEL’s Director of Employability and Student Enterprise, was awarded an MBE for services to diversity. During her seven years at UEL, Femi has played a vital part in turning a traditional careers service into a proactive and high quality facility with a first-rate  reputation. As part of her role, Femi helps equip students with the skills to attain and retain a job or start their own business.

As chief architect of UEL’s employer engagement strategy, Femi recognised the need to go back to basics and create an approach on two principles: to get employers to recruit beyond traditional corporate social responsibility engagements and to focus on the business benefits of recruiting UEL students.

Speaking in response to her inclusion in this year’s honours list, Femi said: “It came as a real surprise if I am honest. Diversity is an issue I feel extremely passionate about, so it is a great honour that my work for UEL in this area has been recognised.”

Andy Minnion, the Director of the Rix Centre, a research and development centre which  provides specialist support to people with learning disabilities was also awarded an MBE for services to the education of people with special needs. The Rix Centre has pioneered and developed Multimedia Advocacy, which is a way of using new media production to help people with learning disabilities to communicate and take more control of their lives.

Andy Minnion said: “I am delighted to accept this accolade on behalf of the Rix Centre – in particular the committed team of people associated with the centre over the years; our service users and their friends and supporters.”

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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