With more than 32 years’ experience at London Metropolitan University in careers guidance, overseeing placement experiences together with coaching and mentoring, Neelam Thapar has provided strategic and inclusive leadership in careers education and employability development. She was awarded a University Teaching Fellowship (2022) in recognition of her educational leadership and impact. Her passion for advancing social justice is influenced by her own lived experiences as a first-generation Asian female with a disability, thalassaemia.
Her philosophy of promoting and delivering change in employability learning support for fair graduate outcomes is based on an ethos of social justice. In 2014, she became Head of Careers and Employability, responsible for strategic development of institution-wide services. With 97% of students falling under one or more widening-participation categories, Neelam has been integral in developing London Metropolitan’s Education for Social Justice, ensuring that careers and employability underpinned the pedagogy development of graduate attributes, developing students as inclusive leaders. She achieved this through developing a holistic Careers Education Framework.
Incorporating scaffolding of curricular/co-curricular learning with embedding of timely careers education, information, advice and guidance and has led a programme of careers delivery at every level of study, and graduate support, prioritising compassion and equity in outcomes.
Intrinsic to her success has been principles of access, equity, diversity, inclusivity, collaboration and student partnership to engage with needs of diverse students and enhance changes to pedagogic practice of teaching staff. Neelam actively contributes to university community and sector networks to mentor and is a Social Wealth Champion, recently leading a QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project with six universities to create resources for underrepresented students to build confidence at online employer fairs.
Neelam regularly contributes to external conferences, training events and participates in her own professional development, leveraging her knowledge to inspire others. Neelam spent more than 10 years as a volunteer trustee of the UK Thalassaemia Society and is an ambassador for the charity. Neelam's contributions and ongoing commitment towards developing and driving excellence in teaching and learning have positively impacted pedagogic practices, as well as student progression outcomes not only within her institution but also beyond.