Research impact at UEL
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125 years as an anchor institution in East London
Our research is participatory, inclusive, empowering, and impactful by design. It is driven by an urgent need to find long-lasting solutions to significant local and global challenges.
By actively seeking collaboration, we develop partnerships with local government and community organisations to explore and address challenges, issues and concerns as articulated by our community partners. We encourage their active participation and inclusion during the development and delivery of research projects, emphasising collaboration to deliver sustainable problem-solving.
Our focus on communities lies not only in East London but also abroad: we are working with governments, universities and NGOs in countries currently including India, Zambia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Brazil.
We have selected a range of research highlights which demonstrate our strategy, our strengths and approaches and our commitment to engaging communities locally and globally.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
UEL is working hard with our collaborators to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Goals are 17 urgent calls-to-action to create a fairer, better world for the future.
In the 2021 Times Higher Education Impact rankings, UEL was rated in the top 3% for striving for Goal 5 - Gender Equality and the top 10% for Goal 10 - Reducing Inequalities, out of 1,117 institutions from 94 countries.
Impact Highlights
Think of the Children; Safeguarding Children Online From Harm (Ref 2021)
As children go online, strategies must be developed to make sure that their online interactions are safeguarded. Research, led by Professor Davidson, addresses major social issues and has driven, influenced and improved national and international policy, industry, and practice. This research has led to several impacts including: influencing online harm policies, internet service regulation and the development of the UK Safety Tech Sector; and development of a child online protection policy and five-year implementation plan in Rwanda.
Childcare marketisation: addressing the perils and shaping the future (REF 2021)
Professor Eva Lloyd is the co-founder and director of the International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare (ICMEC) at the University of East London (UEL).
Professor Lloyd's research looks at systems and policies of early childhood education and childcare which are marketised, as they are in England. The partners which deliver these services can be full profit businesses, not for profit businesses or run by the public sector.
Are our social media posts hurting the planet? (REF 2021)
The growing demand for digital services has created a new challenge for the environment. Sending emails, texts, browsing the internet, uploading videos and more all come with a cost – a few grams of carbon dioxide are emitted due to the energy needed to run your devices and power the wireless networks you access.
Sustainably protecting our coastlines from climate change (REF 2021)
Researchers from the University of East London have designed a new low-carbon concrete mix which can reduce CO₂ emissions by 40 per cent compared to traditional concrete.
Alongside this, Dr Ravindra Jayaratne, reader in coastal engineering has worked with disaster-vulnerable communities to help build stronger, sustainable coastal defences while strengthening people's mental resilience against facing tsunamis.
Research from UEL improves practises in early years education (REF 2021)
Researchers from the Baby Development Lab at the University of East London have pioneered new methods to uncover how changing modern living environments affect early years development.
Multimedia advocacy for young people with learning disabilities (REF 2021)
The Research and Media Centre (RIX) at UEL is reducing inequalities in care quality, and improving service provisions and access to opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
Assessing peatland status, condition, management and policy for carbon and other ecosystem benefits (REF 2021)
Research by Mr Richard Lindsay, Head of Environmental and Conservation Research at the University of East London (UEL), has been "instrumental" in stimulating improved commitment to sustainable management and restoration of peatlands within decision-making at the global scale by shaping inter-governmental treaties and United Nations (UN) policy development, changes in international law, as well as national policy development within government departments and national bodies together with local initiatives supporting award-winning individual businesses and communities involved in the sustainable management of peatlands.
Historicising and promoting 70s & 80s NYC music, social dance and art culture (REF 2021)
Prior to the research carried out by the University of East London's Professor of Cultural Studies Tim Lawrence very little was known or understood about New York City's music and art scenes during the 1970s and early 1980s.
Kicking Out Covid-19
UEL's Institute of Connected Communities has worked closely with communities across the world. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, their results have come into sharp focus in the fight against the pandemic.
Giving Volume to Voices
Our work with and for disabled people covers a wide range of subjects from developing software tools for self-advocacy, to pioneering education and life goal support for people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or staging neurodivergence in the performing arts.
Turning The World into Art
UEL is home to artists and creative thinkers. Our artists have been featured across the globe and their art reflects both the world as it is and the world as it could be.
Clinics for the Community
At UEL, we like to ensure that our projects benefit more than just our research. Through our legal, accountancy and mediation clinics, we provide both invaluable advice to community members and unique experiences for our students.
Living Art in Newham
UEL is deeply connected to our Newham community. Our performing artists have been working with the local community to bring theatre, dance, and installation art to unusual venues throughout the borough.
