External & Strategic Development Services

External and Strategic Development Services (ESDS), is comprised of eight operational teams. ESDS leads UEL’s external facing work and has played a key role in helping to secure funding from the European Union and the UK Government to develop, promote, and deliver a diverse range of projects and services.

The Director of ESDS is Ray Wilkinson - Extension 7023

Please see below for a service map of ESDS which details the eight operational teams and their activities.

External and Strategic Development Services' operational teams are:

Continuum: Director - John Storan, Extension: 2643

Advise on the WP participation Strategic Assessments for HEFCE/HE sector
Research income generation
Research outputs
WP national/international networking
Research project management / delivery
National WP policy support
Management and support of the national coordination team for WP

Education and Community Partnership: Head - Gail May, Extension: 4028

Widening participation strategy and assessment
14-19 strategic partnerships with boroughs
Partnerships with schools and colleges; compact, trusts, progression agreements
Adult and access agenda
Outreach and liaison schools and colleges
Information advice & guidance service
Community outreach and projects
UCAS fairs
Summer school and gifted and talented programme
Widening participation projects; Student Associate Scheme and Aimhigher
Post-entry study skills through Skillzone

Employability and Enterprise : Director - Femi Bola, Extension: 6422

Institutional employability strategy
Employer Engagement
Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) and report
Careers Fairs and employability events
Virtual job shop
Placements, work experience, internships, graduate schemes, volunteering and mentoring
CV checking service, mock interviews, skills workshops, employer led workshops
Learning materials and activities e.g. assessment centres and psychometric tests
Student and graduate employability/careers advice
Careers publications
Supporting the delivery of UEL employability modules
Adecco contract

Knowledge Dock

Facilitate transfer of technology and knowledge
HEFCE work with business (3rd leg)
KTP and Student Project Programmes and Development
Knowledge Dock Business Centre
University Company – Knowledge Dock (UEL) Limited
Commercial income generation

Quality Assurance and Enhancement: Head - Ruth Carter, Extension: 2341

Advice and support to schools in managing quality processes and enhancing the quality of the student experience
Managing the academic appeals, students complaints, extenuation and external examiner systems
Validation of collaborative programmes, including providing advice and support to schools and external partners in the development of collaborative academic links
Providing a committee secretariat to the second tier committees of Academic Board
Taking a lead role in our University’s preparations for external quality audits
Liaison and completion of returns with relevant regulatory bodies (e.g. Edexcel, QAA)
Co-ordinate the University student satisfaction survey

Research and Development Support : Head - Martin Longstaff, Extension 7485

Work with local and regional authorities and government regeneration bodies
Regional and Thames Gateway policy: to support local regeneration
External funding to support regeneration and corporate /school development projects
Strategic partnerships with Regional HEIs
Development and management of strategic pilot programmes which deliver UEL’S regeneration vision
Developments and management of external networks and partnerships
Opportunity scanning for UEL benefit
Accountabilities management for externally funded projects

Service Administration: Administration Manager/PA to Director of Service - Jackie Leach, Extension 4936

Each team member provides vital support to all the teams within ESDS
Key contacts for both internal and external colleagues
Organise and manage the administration and support systems within ESDS
Carry out activities that facilitate the effective running of the service
Responsible for managing Health & Safety procedures
Organise events including Service Away Days & Networking Events

Strategic Planning: Acting Head, Ruth Carter, Extension 2341

Compliance with regulatory bodies (e.g. HEFCE, HESA) & relevant statutory returns
Manage the University's strategic planning process
HEFCE PI analysis and response
Development & management of MIS system (with IT) to support School and Service annual planning
Analysis of market trends and regional data

2012 Office: Director - John Lock, Extension: 3322

Running UEL Olympic Group
Creation and implementation of Olympic Strategy
Key external stakeholder engagement
Project development and support
Information dissemination

USS Stratford: Project Manager, Richard Evemy, Extension 6315

Intellectual Property Development: Director, Richard Zheng, Extension 7233

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