New grant will support underrepresented voices in technology

As part of the award, there is potential for an additional £600k to be added during the 2024/25 academic year. 

The scholarship aims to encourage more women, black students, disabled students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds into the technology industry and will support 57 of our students.

These groups of students are currently significantly underrepresented in the artificial intelligence and data science industries.   

The funding will come from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Office for Artificial Intelligence who have pledged £8.18 million to deliver scholarships to underrepresented students. 

The University has previously received £66,250  from the Royal Academy of Engineering, to empower minority groups in the engineering sector to tackle climate change.

Professor David Tann, Dean of the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering at UEL, said, 

“We’re delighted to be awarded this funding that will help us directly support our students launch and develop their careers in technology, artificial intelligence and data science.

“At UEL we celebrate and embrace diversity, where 156 different nationalities are represented in our student population and 52 per cent of our students are the first in their family to go to university. 

It is vital that we diversify the technology industry in the UK to showcase different perspectives, create more opportunities and inspire more people to enter artificial intelligence and data science. This funding will help us champion voices from people who have traditionally been ignored in the sector and give them the tools that they need to succeed.

John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students, said,

"This funding provides opportunities for students underrepresented in these industries to achieve their career aspirations. This funding builds on the successes of the programme’s recent students and provides the UK’s data science and artificial intelligence sector with a wider pool of highly skilled graduates.

"Universities have responded to the various needs of these students, such as offering flexible learning for mature students and for those with caring responsibilities. Early evidence suggests students from the priority groups are successfully completing their courses and connecting with employers. We encourage more employers to get involved to nurture this talent and help train the digital workforce of tomorrow."

For more information see the artificial intelligence and data science postgraduate conversion course.