UEL and Siemens are diversifying the green talent pipeline

Professor Broderick and Ms Bower's talk, 'Delivering net zero carbon and inspiring energy innovators of the future at an urban university', was given to business leaders from the public and private sector. Throughout the session, Professor Broderick and Ms Bower reminded businesses of the need to align Greentech and sustainability with their core corporate values if they want to be genuinely transformative.

Professor Broderick, pictured, said,

The University of East London have been pioneering futures since the second industrial revolution to where we are today in the fourth and into the fifth".

"Throughout that time, we have seen sections of society excluded from the innovations and opportunities of technological evolution. Core to the University of East London's mission is to ensure that we are diversifying the talent pipeline: Solving the skills gap by supporting talent – where ever it is found - to access, flourish and thrive in our constantly evolving economy and society.

"Sustainability is a key area in our highest-level institutional performance dashboard. Why is that? It isn't only because it's the right thing to do for our planet, which of course it is. It isn’t only because the sound business case makes financial sense. For us, it is about how the journey to net zero and beyond can advance the core purpose of our University and increase value to the communities we serve. 

"The Living Lab being created in our net zero journey supports access to real-time data for research and development; provides an applied learning environment for sustainability across the curriculum and in our specialist programmes including the Siemens MSc Smart Cities; and, in building on our top 10 position nationally for graduate start-ups (KEF, 2022) to grow new green companies and new green jobs and to accelerate green innovation."

The successful partnership between the University of East London and Siemens has been built overtime with shared values and goals and a commitment to collaborative strategic investment to realise the benefits for all.

Ms Bowser said, “Students starting university in 2025 are younger than smart technology itself. They have grown up with devices and expectations with smart technology in their environment. They are probably disappointed with where we are as a society in our move towards achieving net zero, and how we are using smart technology to help us get there. 

“Now is the time for us to take action, drive positive change and help build a greener future for these students using smart technologies to accelerate this transition.”

The University and Siemens have put students at the heart of the project, running hackathons to help shape solutions and giving students the chance to work with world-leading experts in greentech and engineering. 

Following the first hackathon, six students were selected to take part in an internship with Siemens followed by a one-year mentoring scheme. A new MSc in Smart Cities is being developed jointly by the University and Siemens.

The project includes an energy efficiency programme, renewable energy generation, smart building technology and a microgrid.  Smart building efficiency analytics allow students to analysis energy conduction and usage on-campus, providing students with real-world experience interacting with the University’s digital twin, whilst also informing future energy management decisions for the University. The Living Lab enables students and researchers to use net zero technologies and new, transformative methodologies for skills development, research and enterprise. 

To get find out more about UEL's net zero carbon 2030 plans, or to get involved in the project, please email netzero@uel.ac.uk.