UEL marks 125th anniversary with festival
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Published
05 June 2023
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The University of East London was buzzing with excitement as it marked its 125th anniversary with an exciting Royal Docks Innovation and Enterprise Summer Festival.
This year's festivities, held on 31 May, surpassed all expectations, transforming the Docklands campus into a vibrant hub of fun-fuelled celebration that lasted till dusk with thousands of guests.
Students, staff, their families and the local community joined in the festivities, creating a special "bring your children to work" day which added excitement and exuberance to the annual showcase.
The festival offered an enticing array of activities and attractions.
UEL's schools and services hosted a diverse range of stalls, showcasing the University's commitment to innovation and enterprise. From interactive games and car racing, charming photo booths to a towering rock-climbing wall, there was something round each corner to catch the eye.
The allure of countless cupcakes, street food vendors and fashion stalls hosted by our student entrepreneurs brought the campus to life.
Captivating live music and dance performances from the School of Arts and Creative Industries ELEVATE festival set the tone with infectious rhythms.
Sayo Fayemi, who is studying an MBA, said, "I'm really excited to be at the UEL summer festival. So far I've participated in the Tuk Tuk photo booth so that's really fun and cool and next I'm really looking forward to the silent disco because there's going to be some Afro-beats so I want to jam up to that! It's been great."
Ashley Durant, studying Acting for Stage and Screen, had a special reason to enjoy the buzzy crowds. He was playing Macheath in The Threepenny Opera, excerpts of which were performed in the Docklands Square marquee.
He said, "This is my first musical performance and my second time in front of a live audience so this is a whole new world for me. I normally do film and TV whereas this is more interactive. Once you make that connection with your performance you just get the vibe from the audience. It’s amazing!"
As the sun set, the anticipation grew for the grand finale of the festival - the breath-taking water show. At 9.30pm, families, friends and children gathered along the dockside waterfront, awaiting the main event.
With meticulous choreography, an impressive water curtain unfolded, captivating onlookers with a narrative that captured the remarkable journey of the University of East London, from its beginnings as a technical institute in 1898 to its monumental achievements of the present day.
The display reaffirmed UEL's enduring legacy and its profound impact on countless people through the decades.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Amanda Broderick said, "We are delighted to have celebrated this momentous milestone with such a memorable event. The festival exemplified our dedication to innovation, community, inclusion and our careers-first focus in everything we do.
"We were pleased to throw open our doors to welcome students, staff, alumni, industry partners, friends, and neighbours to showcase the University of East London's rich history of community engagement and transformative impact.
"This event provided a unique opportunity for everyone to not only learn about our remarkable past but also witness first-hand the meaningful contributions we are making in our communities today and our vision for a brighter future."
Amid the festivities, special events further underscored the University’s focus on diversity and engagement.
A LinkedIn Live Stream featured a panel discussion on equity, diversity, and inclusion, reflecting on the University’s crucial role in providing inclusive, career-oriented education.
Elsewhere, the Female Founders Demo Day showcased six exceptional finalists competing for the prestigious £5,000 top prize, highlighting UEL's commitment to empowering women in entrepreneurship.
Sponsored by Ankh Impact Ventures, the first prize went to Ashlea Cromby, from the School of Education and Communities, whose business is called Mansible Tea & Estate and is a highly ethical supplier of premium tea.
The runners-up, who won £2,500 each, were Nicole Ihemadu with her AI powered hair and beauty brand Uzuri Tribe, and Kiri Scamp who runs sustainable natural cosmetics brand Miller.
Meanwhile, industry partners participated in the inaugural Diversity Drives Innovation summit, which saw the launch of two key reports. London's Deputy Mayor, Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, commended UEL for its "intentionality" in successfully diversifying the talent pipeline.
The Diversity of Thought report addresses the key stages of the recruitment cycle where those from marginalised backgrounds would be less likely to be represented, demonstrating our partnership work and progress in recognising talent across all parts of society.
The report examines how, in collaboration with partners, the programme is co-created, with pick and mix elements to ensure it is complementary to existing partner recruitment processes while also providing maximum impact.
The ground-breaking Supporting Early Talent To Flourish handbook, endorsed by the Institute of Student Employers, helps organisations ensure their staff flourish, providing employers with a roadmap on inclusivity and reinforcing the benefits that a diverse workforce can bring.
As part of the launch, our Diversity of Thought partners were presented with awards for their work with UEL on pushing forward with an agenda of social mobility, giving students chances they might otherwise miss.