Award-winning graduate employability programme gains further support of J.P. Morgan

Led by Queen Mary’s Careers and Enterprise team, in partnership with University of East London and City, University of London, the QConsult Summer programme places students into mini consultancy projects within east London-based organisations.

After a successful initial QConsult summer programme in June, a further two programmes will run in June 2019 and June 2020.  

Participants are given the opportunity to tackle a real-life business challenge within an organisation, which improves skills, and develops employability and knowledge of the working world. Throughout the programme participants receive advice, training and support from the Queen Mary Careers and Enterprise team.

Widening opportunities

The programme will be supported by J.P. Morgan for three years and will provide an opportunity for Queen Mary staff to develop and disseminate best practice in developing Widening Participation students’ employability. 

At the end of the funding period, Queen Mary will host a mini-conference for Higher Education institutions around the programme’s key learning points.

Professor Stephanie Marshall, Vice-Principal Education, said:

“We are delighted to be working with J.P. Morgan on this programme, which is a fantastic example of Queen Mary’s commitment to our values of inclusivity, diversity and social justice.

“We are excited about what we will be able to learn, implement and share with other institutions to ensure the career success of each and every one of Queen Mary’s graduates.”

Boosting confidence

QConsult summer participant and first-year Politics and International Relations student Mohammed Shahjahan Ahmed, said:

“It was an amazing experience. The mentors from J.P Morgan were very supportive. It was an opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary team, understanding the different approaches to a problem.”

Second-year Economics student Kam Lau, said: “As well as the project itself improving my transferable skills, the debrief at the end really helped me to be more confident in articulating my experience.”

Enhancing graduate employability

J.P. Morgan has also supported the development of the term-time QConsult programme which broadens the skills, experience and professional networks of all Queen Mary’s undergraduates.

The programme places interdisciplinary teams of Queen Mary undergraduates into mini-consultancy projects with London-based growth sector businesses and charities. 

While on the programme, students are paid the London Living Wage for their work. Each participant also receives additional training and wraparound support from careers specialists, which improves their employability and networks. The upcoming term-time QConsult programmes will commence in September 2018 and January 2019.

The programme has won two Higher Education awards; the Guardian University Award for an Employability Initiative in 2016 and the Stars Reimagine Education Award recognising innovation in in higher education globally. It was also shortlisted for a ‘Graduate Development Award’ by the Association of Graduate Recruiters.

The Firm and its Foundation give approximately US$200 million annually to non-profit organizations around the world.

Queen Mary opportunities

The Careers and Enterprise team run multiple programmes to enhance graduate employability by providing students with support, opportunities to build professional networks and experience in a real-life working environment. These include:

QConsult: students act as consultants for businesses and charities.

QMentoring: connects students with a member of the Queen Mary alumni community, or a UK-based professional.

QInsight: students explore a high profile graduate recruiter, meet the staff and practice their recruitment processes.

QTaster: students learn about different potential careers by visiting a variety of graduate employers, undertaking business games, panel discussions and networking.

QProjects: students take on projects in local charities.