Member Article

Uni aims to make a world of difference

The region’s shortage of key workers in areas such as health and the hi-tech sector is being tackled by a North East university which has received funding to work with highly skilled foreign nationals. The University of Sunderland is working with overseas professionals who want to settle in the UK to ensure that their skills are not wasted in lower level jobs.

Skilled workers from other countries sometimes have problems with the English written and oral language and are forced to take jobs for which they are over qualified, when with a little help they could fill some of the vacancies, such as doctors, dentists and IT and design specialists, which the region is struggling to fill. The funding, from the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics, has allowed the university to appoint Mirabel Lavelle as a refugee support officer. Mirabel will work with a whole range of foreign nationals to ensure their skills are utilised to the full in the North-East.

Mirabel, who studied at Sunderland, said: “Refugees and asylum seekers can make a big difference to the quality of their life and to the cultural and economic life of the UK. “A good example is a Polish graphic designer I am working with who wants a better quality of life for her and her children. Her skills will add to the North East economy and, of course, she is paying taxes, and employing a local child minder. At the university we look at people’s needs in terms of qualifications, and ensure that they find sustainable employment. “I’m very proud to be working for the University of Sunderland and I hope I’m putting something back into the region. I know that the refugees I’m working with will put something back too. With our help they will make the North East a better place to live.”

The university can help foreign nationals get over language barriers or help them achieve the correct qualifications that are needed to transfer their skills to meet UK guidelines. Mirabel has joined the university’s relatively new Equality and Diversity team, which has already won several awards and accolades for its efforts on issues surrounding equal rights.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .