Hamza Dalvi (Politics, 2022, Grizedale) tells how supporting young students locally whilst at Lancaster led to retaining links with his University after graduation. He recently assisted the Widening Participation team in organising a University insight session at a mosque in Birmingham.

"My time at university was epitomised by the work I did outside of my studies. I sought out opportunities from my first year of study to support young students in the local area before taking on a role as a Role Model Student Ambassador in my final year. During this year, I also became President of the Islamic Society on campus.

In between my second and third year of study, I undertook a placement year at Burnley College, which provided me with a plethora of useful skills and opportunities, as well as insights into the educational experiences of students from deprived areas, and Muslim students in particular. This heavily informed my final year dissertation, which further explored the Muslim student experience in sixth form colleges across the UK. The opportunities I was exposed to during my time at university have made for a seamless transition into the workplace.

I currently work as a graduate consultant at Mott MacDonald, supporting various infrastructure schemes across the country. I work with clients like National Highways, local councils, and government departments to deliver key projects.

However, I have still maintained a connection with the University and the Widening Participation team in particular. To build on the work I did as a student, I have recently organised a University insight session for young people in a local mosque in Birmingham. The session was a collaboration between Lancaster University and The University of Birmingham and was a brilliant opportunity to share knowledge regarding applying to universities and highlight career options to students who may not have any idea of what direction to take after their time at school.

I hope to use my experiences to inspire young people from all backgrounds and provide them with the skills they need to make the most of opportunities. With this in mind, I have also hosted a session back at Lancaster University providing tips and advice to students who are looking to secure graduate roles. The event, organised by the Islamic Society, was attended by students across a range of subject disciplines and year groups. It was a brilliant chance to share knowledge with students who are going through application processes for internships or graduate roles.

I hope to continue to build on my connection with the university over the coming years and support more and more students."