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  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Sustainable development goals
  5. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  6. Education

Education

Making employability part of university learning

Queen Mary’s Employability and Skills Framework, developed in 2025, is designed to make career preparation part of the student experience rather than something students think about only when they are about to graduate. It encourages students to apply what they learn in practical settings, build transferable skills and understand how their degree relates to different careers. 

This work is supported by employer engagement, careers activity and a growing range of work-based opportunities across the University. 

More than 2,700 Aspire placements 

Queen Mary’s Aspire programmes give students opportunities to gain practical experience through mentoring, micro-internships, consultancy, enterprise activities and other employer-linked projects. Across 2024/25 and 2025/26, Aspire delivered more than 2,700 student placements.  

These experiences help students test different career paths, meet employers and professionals, build confidence and develop evidence of the skills they will need after graduation. 

Student Knowledge Exchange Through Community Hubs  

Student Knowledge Exchange Through Community Hubs (SKETCH) is Queen Mary's experiential learning and employability programme, connecting students with businesses, charities, public bodies and community organisations through real-world projects. In 2024/25, 1,376 students worked with 170 partner organisations across 63 knowledge-exchange activities, including 55 interdisciplinary projects, helping students develop professional skills, industry experience and career readiness. The programme has also expanded through specialist initiatives and received the London Higher Outstanding Contribution to Student Employability Award. 

SKETCH is delivered through four specialist hubs: 

  • qLegal – provides students with opportunities to deliver pro bono legal advice and legal support to businesses, charities and community organisations. 
  • qNomics – connects students with organisations on economics, finance and policy-focused consultancy projects. 
  • qTech – enables students to apply digital, data and technology skills to real-world challenges faced by external partners. 
  • qHeritage – supports heritage and cultural organisations through research, consultancy and knowledge-exchange projects. 

Together, these hubs enable students to apply their learning in professional settings while developing employability skills, supporting organisations and contributing to economic and social impact. 

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