How did you get to where you are now?
I graduated from Queen Mary, University of London in 2015 with a BSc in Geography. After graduating I was given an internship at QMUL as a Student Enquiry Centre Assistant, where I gained insight into supporting students. Hence, my next role was in education management at the University of Westminster! This role sparked my interest in providing quality assurance in education, which led me to my current role as Education Support Officer at Imperial College London.
What do you do as part of your role?
I currently work in the Faculty of Natural Science at Imperial College London. In my role, I work with departments to support quality assurance, education governance and student systems at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
My week consists of liaising with key staff to ensure students are taking the correct modules and curriculum. I work closely with the Vice-Dean (Education) and the Faculty Education Manager to support the delivery of the education strategy and ensure that students get the best experience whilst studying at Imperial. In addition, I support education and student facing committees to collect student feedback and manage quality assurance decisions. There are numerous activities which enable the best standards in the sector. I take pride in helping coordinate this for the faculty.
Was there anything particularly useful that helped you get into this role?
Whilst all my previous roles have helped me get to where I am now, my first experience working at Queen Mary as an intern was particularly useful as it helped me adapt from studying to working and understand what a career in education looks like.
How does geography feature in your work/what difference does it make?
Studying geography gave me vital soft skills which have helped me get to where I am. For example, working with colleagues, managing tight deadlines as well as conducting independent research.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy interacting with students and having opportunities to help them achieve their goals. I help students who need additional support, as well as students who want to engage beyond their course and utilise opportunities offered to them at Imperial.
What are the opportunities for career progression? What might you be doing in five years’ time?
There are lots of opportunities to progress into different roles within higher education. In five years’ time I hope to lead an area of the education services division!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to go in to this career?
My main piece of advice for someone looking for a career in education is to try different roles as there are lots of opportunities to learn new skills and explore different areas within the sector. Education is a dynamic and exciting sector, which means you can always find fun new activities and projects to work on. Enjoy the experience, working full-time can be dauting after studying so try to enjoy the process by looking for opportunities you’d not considered before.
Why did you choose geography? Why should others choose geography?
I chose to study geography to understand the science behind our natural landscapes and how this interacts with our expanding cities. Our world is ever changing, and this makes geography a great degree to study, and creates opportunities to explore the UK and the world.
* This interview was undertaken in 2022 and was correct at the time of publication. Please note that the featured individual may no longer be in role, but the profile has been kept for career pathway and informational purposes.