The University of Westminster hosted an event titled Diverse Solutions to Diverse Challenges within Built Environments on 21 February at its Marylebone Campus. This event brought students and prospective employers together to tackle current challenges in the sector.
This event explored diverse solutions to challenges within the built environment, from real estate investment advisory to property development and sustainable design consulting. Diverse Solutions to Diverse Challenges was open to industry professionals, University of Westminster students, other universities and industry recruiters.
Participants heard from experts on the skills challenges the construction industry faces and learned about opportunities to work with the University to fill skill gaps and attract new talent. The event focused on the impact that innovative company approaches can have on attracting talent and productivity. University of Westminster students at different stages of their career spoke about their experience over question-and-answer sessions. The event ended with a networking session where participants connected with other organisations across the industry and met talented students and recent alumni from the University of Westminster.
Presenters included Dr Jan Wilcox, Senior Lecturer in Real Estate and Director of Employability for the School of Applied Management, and Hadi Ibrahim, a London-based entrepreneur, Chartered Engineer and a Visiting Lecturer at the School of Applied Management. University of Westminster students Shaniece Elliott and Gurleen Ghotra, both in their second year on the Real Estate BSc Honours course, did a Q&A session with Dr Wilcox about their lived experience with a focus on the issues of diverse recruitment and retention.
Director of Business Engagement Linsey Cole said: “This event was organised to bring employers into the University to share and discuss their skills and challenges, as well as to find out how the University can support the real estate and development fields going forward. It was great to see our students learning more about innovative solutions and prospective employment opportunities.”
Head of the School of Applied Management Dr Phillip McGowan said: “It was wonderful to see how many employers took time out to come and hear us share our research and ideas at this event. Many of them have also offered valuable support to us in developing our courses to keep them relevant and ensure that our graduates are meeting the needs of industry.”
This event contributed towards the Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (9) development goal of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by the University of Westminster to help make the University a more sustainable, responsible and inclusive place to live, work and study.
Learn more about courses in Construction, Surveying and Real Estate at the University of Westminster.
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