Kingston University's award-winning Elevate programme celebrates four years of empowering and supporting Black students

Posted Monday 28 October 2024

Kingston University's Elevate programme, which supports students of Black heritage to achieve their full potential in their career, has celebrated its four-year anniversary.

Staff and students gathered in the University's award-winning Town House to celebrate the anniversary with keynote speaker Eddie Kadi, a comedian and presenter who graduated from Kingston in 2004.

Eddie appeared on Strictly Come Dancing last year and had an inspirational message for the students in attendance. "Look at the gifts you've been given, you are looking at future leaders, influencers, change makers, trailblazers, regardless of whatever steps you take moving forward or where in the world you end up, they will always be a part of your community.

"The main thing is you've walked the journey. Everything, you've done now as a graduate is what you need to go into the next space."

At the event there was also a performance from Solid Steel Band as well as students from Elevate and the International Black Scholars Programme sharing their experiences of the programme.

The programme was launched in 2020 to address the degree awarding gap and disparities in graduate outcomes between Black and White students which is present in all universities.

It enables Black students to gain insight, skills and support in preparation for the competitive graduate job market. They can explore career paths in different sectors, engage in activities that enhance employability, and obtain practical support with planning next steps, applications, and meeting employers.

Rochelle Watson and Shakera Green, Graduate Success Project Officers, and co-leads of the International Black Scholars Programme have organised the programme this year. Rochelle, who is a Kingston alumna, described the purpose of Elevate. "The overall mission of the programme is to advocate for its members, with a long-term vision of seeing them grow into future leaders.

"This focus on identity, community, and leadership development is what makes it such a rewarding and impactful experience for both students and staff."

Shakera explained the success of Elevate and how it has sustained over the last four years. "The student-centred approach, amplifying the voices, experiences, and needs of Black and black-mixed heritage students is a key strength of the programme.

"The focus on working in partnership with students ensures that their opinions shape the direction of the programme, creating a sense of ownership and involvement. The safe, inclusive environment fosters a celebration of identity, enabling students to bring their whole selves to the programme, which contributes to a sense of belonging and community on campus."

Maryam Irekeola, an Elevate member who studies MSc User Experience Design said: "I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the programme and everyone involved. Joining this community has been a game-changer for me. The support, networking opportunities, and skills I've gained have significantly impacted my journey at Kingston University. Thank you to the entire team for your hard work in organizing events, especially Rochelle and Shakera."

Employers such as 10000 Black Interns and UK Black Comms Network were also present at the celebration.

A number of notable Kingston University alumni also attended the event such as Bosun Apata co-founder of Days Like These (DLT), Careeta Robert-Green founder of Born with a GIFT and guest lecturer at Kingston University, Joseph Arday BCS Council Member and computer science educator as well as Clive Sowah and Ali Saad founders of VANTA STEM and keynote speakers at ELEVATE's 3-year anniversary.

Throughout the 2023/24 academic year Elevate had 350 students registered and hosted 17 different events with 27 different speakers.