UEL shortlisted for Business School of the Year Award

Innovation and impact at the heart of RDSBL

The Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL) is an innovator in business education, setting a high standard through transformative impact in enterprise, community engagement and global partnerships.

Located in Newham, one of Europe’s youngest, fastest growing, and most diverse regions, the School drives positive change for people and planet by connecting innovative and equitable teaching, research, and practice to deliver meaningful outcomes for students, industry, and communities.

Professor Fatima Annan-Diab, Executive Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law, said,

I am very proud that our School has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Business School of the Year Award. This recognition speaks volumes about the vision, drive, and excellence that shape our community. Every day, our staff, students, and leaders bring energy, creativity, and commitment to everything we do, and this nomination reflects that. It highlights our ongoing mission to empower students, champion innovation, transform lives and make a real difference in the worlds of business, law, and society.”

Professor Shampa Roy-Mukherjee, Vice Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law, added,

Being shortlisted for Business School of the Year highlights the innovation, impact, and national standing of our School. It reflects our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for students, staff, and partners to drive lasting and equitable change.”

The School has championed equality, sustainability, social justice and global leadership through several initiatives:

• Its Practice-Based Centres, including its Legal Advice Centre, Business Advice Centre, and Tax and Accountancy Clinic, delivered more than £1 million in pro bono consultancy to over 600 SMEs last year. At the same time, more than 2,000 business and law students gained real-world professional experience, equipping them with career-ready skills.
• The School alongside the Law Noon Centre for Equality and Diversity co-designed a youth-led, National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded health project in Newham. Mobilising over 200 young people, it empowered 30 youth champions to influence local health decisions and shape a global “social charter.” The group created a framework on Women’s Rights and Climate Justice which was adopted by the United Nations Expert Group, allowing for more efficient operationalisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals and influencing negotiations at the World Urban Forum.
• The School launched its Business Incubator Programme in May 2024, supporting over 60 early-stage entrepreneurs. One venture, ThinkClock Battery Lab, secured £400,000 in UK Innovate funding. Through the British Council’s SCOUT programme, the School engaged 30 disadvantaged students from India, underlining its global commitment to nurturing talent.
• The School’s Centre of FinTech has been recognised for its outstanding support of student entrepreneurs and innovators in FinTech and Web3. Working with global blockchain company Avalanche, our students have won hackathons and collaborated with entrepreneurs at Avalanche’s Innovation House. The Centre has also advanced ethical business practice through a research partnership with Guangdong University of Finance and Economics. Most recently, it was named Best Academic Provider at the Financial Times Global Awards, further cementing its reputation.

Student success and national recognition

The Royal Docks School of Business and Law’s teaching excellence is reflected in its National Student Survey (NSS) and Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) results, where satisfaction levels consistently exceed benchmarks. Highlights include:

• Business Management: Ranked 1st in the UK for satisfaction with assessment and feedback, and 1st in London for teaching, academic support, and learning resources.
• Hospitality and Tourism (IoHT): Rated 1st nationally for learning opportunities, wellbeing support, and freedom of expression.
• Law: Ranked 2nd in London for both learning opportunities and student voice.
• Marketing: London’s top-rated for teaching satisfaction, academic support, and organisation and management.
• Accounting and Finance: Achieved 95% positivity for teaching and 97.5% for academic support, placing UEL in the national top quartile.
• Postgraduate Law (LLM): Achieved 100% overall satisfaction, ranking 1st in the UK.
• Postgraduate Business Management: Reached 96% overall satisfaction.

Winners of the Times Higher Education Awards 2025 will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh on 13 November 2025.