Wonkhe presents
Wonkhe @ Home: Nice work if you can get it
Diversity, social capital and graduate level employment
Online
Get DirectionsAccess to highly skilled and professional work remains a question of socio-economic background. The reasons are complex, having to do with individual circumstances, structural barriers and geography. But wide and open access to social influence, and career success is an aspiration worth pursuing – and universities have their part to play.
Now, with the Westminster government and Office for Students’ emphasis on graduate-level employment as a core indicator of course quality, there is an opportunity to refocus attention on what universities, working with employers, can do to break down the barriers and help to open up opportunities to students from diverse social backgrounds.
At this Wonkhe @ Home event, in partnership with Handshake, we’ll explore how social capital structures access to opportunity, and the current state of thinking about the difference universities can make in supporting their students, and influencing in their regions, to drive social progress.
Agenda
09.30 How privilege still pays – and what can be done about it
Speakers: Anne-Marie Imafidon; Ann-Marie Bathmaker; Louise Ashley
10.30 Understanding students’ experiences and supporting students’ aspirations
Speakers: Julie Sanders; Uzma Khan; David Shull; Sunday Blake; Mia Nembhard
11.20 Break
11.40 Sticky regions: universities working with employers, supporting innovation, and retaining graduates
Speakers: Martin Perfect; Shauna McCloy; Adele Browne
12.30 Close
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Supporters
Wonkhe presents
Wonkhe @ Home: Nice work if you can get it
Diversity, social capital and graduate level employment
Online
Get DirectionsAccess to highly skilled and professional work remains a question of socio-economic background. The reasons are complex, having to do with individual circumstances, structural barriers and geography. But wide and open access to social influence, and career success is an aspiration worth pursuing – and universities have their part to play.
Now, with the Westminster government and Office for Students’ emphasis on graduate-level employment as a core indicator of course quality, there is an opportunity to refocus attention on what universities, working with employers, can do to break down the barriers and help to open up opportunities to students from diverse social backgrounds.
At this Wonkhe @ Home event, in partnership with Handshake, we’ll explore how social capital structures access to opportunity, and the current state of thinking about the difference universities can make in supporting their students, and influencing in their regions, to drive social progress.
Agenda
09.30 How privilege still pays – and what can be done about it
Speakers: Anne-Marie Imafidon; Ann-Marie Bathmaker; Louise Ashley
10.30 Understanding students’ experiences and supporting students’ aspirations
Speakers: Julie Sanders; Uzma Khan; David Shull; Sunday Blake; Mia Nembhard
11.20 Break
11.40 Sticky regions: universities working with employers, supporting innovation, and retaining graduates
Speakers: Martin Perfect; Shauna McCloy; Adele Browne
12.30 Close
Default title
Supporters
Speakers
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![]( "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy in every sense of the word. Aged 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level Computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. Since then, she has forged an enviable CV, including positions at blue-chip companies. Then there are the Honorary Doctorates from Open University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Kent University & Bristol University as well as an Honorary Fellowship at Keble College, Oxford & Visiting Professorship at Sunderland University. It is this wealth of experience and pioneering spirit that led her to co-found the Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women in the STEM sectors.")
Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE
CEO at Stemettes and Trustee at the Institute for the Future of WorkDr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy in every sense of the word. Aged 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level Computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. Since then, she has forged an enviable CV, … Continued
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![]( "Ann-Marie Bathmaker is Professor of Vocational and Higher Education at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on questions of equity and inequalities in vocational, post-compulsory and higher education. Current and recent research projects include: social class and social mobility through HE in England (the Paired Peers project); questions of equity in undergraduate degrees in vocational institutions in Australia; Local Higher Education in a global marketplace: Everyday mobility and local capital in island Higher Education in the UK; the processes and practices of governing further education colleges in the four countries of the UK. She is editor of the Journal of Vocational Education and Training along with Leesa Wheelahan and Kevin Orr, and co-convenor of the Technical, Professional and Vocational Higher Education Network at SRHE (the Society for Research in Higher Education). She is a trustee of the Edge Foundation, a UK based education charity whose mission is to promote a coherent, unified and holistic education system which can support social equity. She was the specialist advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Social Mobility School to Work (2015-2016).")
Ann-Marie Bathmaker
Professor of Vocational and Higher Education, University of BirminghamProfessor of Vocational and Higher Education, University of Birmingham
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![]( "Dr Louise Ashley is a lecturer in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at Royal Holloway, University of London and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Professional Service Firms at Cass Business School. She specialises in researching the implementation and development of diversity and inclusion programmes in large, multinational professional service firms, with a particular focus on gender and social class. Louise has recently completed a study examining the implementation of global diversity and inclusion programmes in large international law firms. She led the team appointed by the government’s Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission (SMCPC) to understand non-educational barriers to the elite professions, published in 2015.")
Louise Ashley
Bridge Group Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of LondonDr Louise Ashley is a lecturer in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at Royal Holloway, University of London and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Professional Service Firms at Cass Business School. She specialises in researching the implementation and development of diversity and inclusion programmes in large, multinational professional service firms, with a … Continued
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![]( "Professor Julie Sanders became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in 2018 having joined Newcastle University as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities and Social Sciences) in 2015. She has special responsibilities for academic strategy, and the three Faculties at Newcastle (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science Agriculture and Engineering and Medical Sciences). She is also the Executive lead for the University’s work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Social and Environmental Justice. Julie is a Professor of English Literature and Drama who researches Shakespeare and contemporaries.")
Julie Sanders
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Newcastle UniversityProfessor Julie Sanders became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in 2018 having joined Newcastle University as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities and Social Sciences) in 2015. She has special responsibilities for academic strategy, and the three Faculties at Newcastle (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science Agriculture and Engineering and Medical Sciences). She is also the Executive lead for the University’s … Continued
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![]( "Uzma Khan is Deputy Secretary and Director of Planning at the University of Glasgow, which she joined in November 2020. Her role involves providing insights and analytics to inform the University’s approach to planning and delivery of its ‘World Changing Glasgow’ ambitions. In her capacity as Deputy Secretary, Uzma is involved in supporting across a range of aspects of the business. Prior to joining the HE sector, Uzma spent 20 years in the civil service as a professional economist in Scottish Government. Most recently, as Deputy Director for Economic Strategy, Uzma was responsible for coordinating the Scottish Government’s immediate economic response to COVID-19, and its position on economic recovery.")
Uzma Khan
Deputy Secretary and Director of Planning, University of GlasgowUzma Khan is Deputy Secretary and Director of Planning at the University of Glasgow, which she joined in November 2020. Her role involves providing insights and analytics to inform the University’s approach to planning and delivery of its ‘World Changing Glasgow’ ambitions. In her capacity as Deputy Secretary, Uzma is involved in supporting across a … Continued
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Sunday Blake
Associate Editor, WonkheSunday Blake is President at Exeter Guild of Students
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Mia Nembhard
President, Leicester SU -
![]( "David Shull joined Handshake in 2014 as one of the founding team members. Since then he\'s gone on to lead Handshake\'s university growth in the United States from 5 universities in 2014 to over 900 universities, 14M students, and 425,000 global employers in 2019. Today, David is leading Handshake\'s international expansion efforts in the United Kingdom and Europe. With a degree in computer engineering, David is passionate about the intersection of technology and education and believes together they can be a powerful engine for social mobility.")
David Shull
UK Country Founder and Head of Operations, HandshakeDavid Shull joined Handshake in 2014 as one of the founding team members. Since then he’s gone on to lead Handshake’s university growth in the United States from 5 universities in 2014 to over 900 universities, 14M students, and 425,000 global employers in 2019. Today, David is leading Handshake’s international expansion efforts in the United Kingdom and … Continued
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Martin Perfect
Head Of Student and Graduate Employability, Staffordshire UniversityMartin has spent over ten years in Higher Education understanding the needs of industry and ensuring that students are well prepared for successful futures. Currently the Head of Student and Graduate Employability at Staffordshire University, Martin also has strong experience in work placements and employer engagement from his time with Coventry University and the University … Continued
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![]( "Shauna McCloy is Head of Employability and Career Services at Ulster University and is passionate about helping students and graduate achieve personal and career success. Her focus is on developing frameworks which embed employability into the higher education system to equip graduates with 21st Century skills and prepare for future of work challenges. Shauna supports organisations in the development of innovative recruitment and selection strategies that enable early identification of talent and skills ensuring a streamlined talent pipeline from higher education to industry.")
Shauna McCloy
Head of Employability and Career Services, Ulster UniversityHead of Employability and Career Services, at Ulster University
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Adele Browne
Head of Careers and Employability, De Montfort Universityyour default content
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![]( "Debbie McVitty is Editor of Wonkhe. Debbie is a former chief of staff at Universities UK, director of policy at the University of Bedfordshire, and head of policy at the National Union of Students, and is a founding member of Wonkhe’s editorial group.")
Debbie McVitty
Editor, WonkheDebbie McVitty, Editor, Wonkhe
