Insights panel event, Scotland 2024

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Insights – a ‘global village’ approach

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minutes reading time

Widening Participation addresses educational inequalities and patterns of under-representation in Higher Education. How do universities also help these students build the confidence and networks that will make a difference to their future career?

The African proverb, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, expresses the idea that an entire community plays a role in creating a supportive, nurturing environment in which people feel secure enough to develop and flourish. There’s a similar approach at the heart of the Insights Programme, the University’s career exploration and professional development initiative for students from Widening Participation backgrounds.

Widening Participation (WP) recognises that students don’t share the same start in life, nor equal opportunities to succeed educationally. Factors that can affect an individual’s aspirations and trajectory in life include social, financial, cultural, and geographic barriers. 

Poverty and inequality can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. WP initiatives are primarily about minimising that impact through the transformative potential of higher education. The University is committed to providing students from under-represented backgrounds with equal access to the University, and equal opportunities for their studies and research while they are here. WP is about nurturing talent across all parts of society and the commitment to these students continues long after they join the University, providing support throughout their student journey and beyond.

The Insights Programme is designed to assist with one important aspect of that wider university experience – the transition to a successful and fulfilling career. To date, more than 670 students have taken part, with Insights helping them make the most of their time at Edinburgh, build their professional network, and lay the groundwork for their future career.

A diverse group of Insights students posed on a Scottish hillside

“We know this group of students may not have access to networks, professionals, or exposure to the working world that helps build insider knowledge, inform career planning, and often provides opportunities,” explains Eilidh Steele, Insights Programme Manager in the University’s Careers Service.

“We also know how competitive the employment market can be,” she continues. “To succeed, our graduates need to be prepared. Relevant work experience, transferable skills, and, in many instances, insider knowledge are vital, but not all our students have access to the opportunities and networks that can aid this process.”

Professional connections

Through Insights, WP students in the early years of their undergraduate degree can connect with members of the University’s global alumni community – former students who not only donate to the running of the programme but also volunteer as hosts.

Groups of up to 10 undergraduate students travel together to a UK or US host city to visit alumni at their own workplace.

Current Biomedical Sciences student Sophie went to Boston for her Insights experience in June this year. “As a first-generation student, I and my family believed that getting into university was all I needed to secure my future. Internships and experience were things that I had entirely overlooked and failed to realise were integral to my success,” she admits.

“After ‘wasting’ my first year by largely keeping to myself, I began to experience some anxiety surrounding this. I had no idea where to even begin. I decided to chance applying to the Insights Programme when the opportunity arose. The kind of experiences that it offered and the skills I could improve by participating seemed like a dream. I hardly even knew what networking was and I had never planned something as big as a trip to another continent before.”

Dark haired female student photographed with a statue of a woman in Boston
Sophie went to Boston for her Insights experience

Kristin Sargeant, Insights Programme Manager in the University’s Development and Alumni department, explains: “From early career graduates to those in executive roles, our alumni volunteer their own time to host students, share career insights, and offer practical advice about what it’s like to work in their sector.

“This helps our undergraduates build their confidence and professional skills. The connection with our alumni fosters a supportive community that the students can rely on as they transition from the University to their professional careers.

“Participants have told me how much they value it when a host they visited reacts to their professional updates, such as on LinkedIn. Insights isn’t just a ‘one moment in time’ activity. Involvement can create lasting networks that go both ways. Alumni find it equally rewarding to see how students’ progress and they tell us they get a lot from participating and remaining a part of the University community.”

Rewarding

Josh, an alumnus who graduated with MSc Science & Religion in 2018 and now works for Amazon in the US, agrees: “I have not been back to Scotland in many years, and wanted to reconnect with the University community. This was such a rewarding way to do so.

“Students visited my office, where we build and test robotics solutions for Amazon’s fulfilment network. They participated in a site tour, saw some of the latest and greatest in Amazon’s robotics innovations, and I held a panel discussion, with two other colleagues who spent time at the University, so students could ask career-related questions. I think getting the next generation of innovators interested in the work we do and in the possibilities of the robotics industry in general can only help drive the field forward.”

Reflecting on his time with the Insights undergraduates, Josh said: “This was definitely a two-way experience. I got to know some of my colleagues better at Amazon because of their help on the career panel and the process also gave me time to reflect on my own career. I have not always had things figured out and have made mistakes along the way – helping students see this can be OK can be very beneficial.”

Marc, a current MA (Hons) Philosophy & Psychology student, participated in Insights, in Scotland, in 2023. He volunteered to help prepare this year’s students for the experience because he believes he has benefited and developed since taking part: “I have become exceptionally ambitious and networking-orientated since taking part in the programme. Insights provided me with opportunities and guidance. I learned about the powerful value of networking, and of having initiative and self-reflection.

A student with a microphone addresses an audience of Insights students
Marc, a previous Insights participant, gave back to the programme by helping students prepare

“I have been saying yes to nearly every opportunity and finding a thrill in the networking. If you take the initiative to pursue opportunities, more will be presented to you and will likely be bigger! By gaining more experience you broaden your perspective and lengthen your resume. Big dreams are possible!”

Collaboration

Close collaboration between the University’s Development and Alumni and Careers Service staff, with support from Widening Participation and Edinburgh Global colleagues, gave rise to the Insights Programme, which has run successfully for the past seven years. It requires a significant investment of work each time.

Students benefit from a comprehensive programme of preparatory training and support sessions delivered by Careers Service staff. This includes discussions about various aspects of work and skills development, such as communication, to ensure they are prepared to best engage with and get the most from their experience. Small group work focuses on addressing students’ concerns and uncertainties ahead of their trip and welcomes previous participants who give back to the programme by sharing their own experiences and advice. Finally, video calls with alumni volunteers around the world help prepare the students for professional conversations and networking opportunities.

Students in a networking lab session learning about conversation starters
Students benefit from a comprehensive programme of training and support

The University’s community of former students, coordinated by Development and Alumni, has always played a vital role in the programme’s success and longevity. Their donations allow Insights to run as a fully funded programme, meaning there is no cost to the students who take part. Alumni also volunteer as hosts for either the preparatory conversations online, or for in-person visits at their workplace. Since the launch of the programme, more than 300 volunteers have taken part.

All told, it’s a collaboration that underlines one of the University’s core values – the desire to build a welcoming community that staff, students, alumni, and friends all feel proud to represent.

“Insights is a tangible example of that value being put into practice,” Kristin says. “It connects staff, students, alumni, and the wider community together through the development workshops and visits. Insights simply wouldn’t work in the same way, could not have the same impact, if all these groups weren’t so actively involved.”

Key strand

Chris Cox, Vice-Principal Philanthropy and Advancement, heads up Development and Alumni and is co-sponsor of the programme. “Insights has become a key strand of our widening participation strategy,” he says.

“Like most universities, in the past our almost sole focus was on encouraging and then supporting students to join the University, despite real and perceived barriers. That remains vital, but if we’re serious about our mission – that our graduates make the world a better place – then we need to help facilitate connections, alongside confidence-building, horizon-broadening opportunities, which allow every student to reach their full academic and wider potential. Almost 100 per cent positive feedback from participants over several years, and the societal impacts now being made by graduates of the programme, tells us Insights does precisely that.”

“It is a fabulous example of the power of collaboration,” says Shelagh Green, Director for Careers and Employability, who is also a co-sponsor of the programme.

“The partnership between the Careers Service and Development and Alumni; the open and honest sharing that our alumni hosts offer to our students; the networks and peer support that our students provide for each other. The relationships fostered within the Insights community are incredibly impactful – they epitomise the generosity and care that exists within this community.”

Appealing

Iris, a current MA (Hons) Sociology & Psychology student, took part in Insights in Scotland this year. She visited law firm DLA Piper Scotland LLP and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. She experienced the benefits of the programme’s community-based approach first hand: “I had reached a point in my university experience, where I was looking for ways to enhance my social skills in the professional world. I found thinking about what came after university extremely intimidating, so speaking to alumni about their experiences was very appealing.

Three students in conversation at a networking event
Iris valued Insights’ networking opportunities

“Being autistic, I often struggle meeting new people, but I knew that I had abilities there and wanted to feel more confident in myself. Insights provided an impressive opportunity to do that, with people from a variety of backgrounds, ages and interests. Visits were well organised and meeting the alumni was terrific. Everyone was lovely and very open about everything from their university lives to how they got where they are now.”

Iris believes visiting diverse workplaces was also beneficial: “I really valued the fact that the visits were so different. Being able to experience what it was like to work within a law firm and at the zoo gave me insight into both fields. It genuinely felt like we were part of the working lives there for the day and being able to experience that in both locations was great.

“All the alumni I met were lovely and seemed truly excited to talk to us about what they do. They made it a very comfortable and welcoming environment and easy to start conversations with them, which I appreciated. It can be intimidating to talk to someone new and attempt to ask insightful questions! I also appreciate that they’ve been willing to maintain contact through LinkedIn, which emphasises how they enjoyed us being there and want to see us grow our professional connections and keep in touch.”

Sustainable growth

After seven successful years, Insights has already demonstrated its value to the students who have taken part, and the project team isn’t done yet.

“In an ideal world, we would be able to offer Insights to as many WP students as want to take part,” says Eilidh.

“We are currently focusing on stable and sustained development of the programme to maintain high-quality delivery while further enhancing the alumni and student experience. 

“We want to make sure all our students understand how the alumni community can support them in their career planning and future employment, have the confidence to tap into the insights the community can provide, and visualise themselves in a variety of employment sectors and roles – perhaps even ones they wouldn’t previously have considered.”

A graduate with a microphone speaking to a student audience
Graduate Sin addresses Insights students

MA(Hons) Accounting & Finance graduate Sin, who participated in Insights as a student in 2019, hosted one of this year’s workplace visits at her employers EY in Edinburgh. Summing up the programme’s importance, she reflects: “Insights is a valuable initiative to be part of.

A male student in a suit posed in front of bookshelves in the library
Graduate Josh hosted Insights students to reconnect with the University community

“It provides the chance to support the next generation of the workforce and aligns with the values set out by most larger corporations, and the government, as it encourages social mobility. It can greatly impact a person’s life – whether they realise that during the visit, or years later.”

Back at Amazon in the US, alumnus Josh agrees: “I’m not aware of many programmes like Insights and I wish I’d had access to something similar. Providing these kinds of experiences for the next generation of students is invaluable.”

Acknowledgements:

The University gratefully acknowledges the significant funding for the Insights Programme that is provided by the University of Edinburgh Development Trust. Without the ongoing support from alumni donors, we would not be able to fund this project, which provides support and inspiration to our Widening Participation students.

Please note: at the contributors’ request, students and graduates quoted in this article have been referred to by their first name only.

Image credits: With thanks to the contributors, the Insights Programme team, Chris Close Photography, and Whitedog Photography.


Support the Insights Programme

To learn more about how you might get involved with Insights, please contact the team: insights.programme@ed.ac.uk

Alternatively, you can donate to the Insights Programme.