The University of Westminster has run an Elevating Futures Programme for final-year South Asian female students of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage. The programme was initiated in response to research that highlighted the significant disparity in career outcomes for South Asian women in the UK and aims to explore the root causes of these gaps and offer women a safe space to discuss their experiences.
Beginning on 23 October and running until 27 November, participants engaged in a series of creative, exploratory and self-development sessions. These workshops provided a safe and supportive environment where students could openly share their personal experiences, reflect on their challenges and explore strategies for overcoming them.
Despite their academic achievements, research shows that South Asian women experience significant disparity in their career outcomes and often encounter systemic barriers that limit their access to higher-level employment opportunities. Due to this, the programme aimed to explore the root causes of these disparities.
Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability at the University, recognised the critical need for such an initiative and supported it as part of the Westminster for All: Equity, Inclusion and Belonging programme sponsored by the Quintin Hogg Trust.
About the initiative he said: “Elevating Futures was a labour of love and care by various people: Sobia Razzaq, Senior Law Lecturer and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee member, whose vision and dedication brought the programme to life; Zahrah Surooprajally, EDI Event Manager and Programme Coordinator, who oversaw its delivery; and Humera Khan, an EDI consultant with over 35 years of experience of community development and engagement who carefully crafted the programme design and facilitators. As a university committed to challenging prejudices and celebrating diversities, we want to ensure all our students have experiences and outcomes that help them flourish. Listening to the testimonies of student participants at the closing session, I was both delighted that we created this space and opportunity and determined that we have to continue with this and similar empowerment projects.”
EDI consultant Humera Khan said: “It’s been such a great privilege to design and deliver this programme. We showed through the careful curation of the facilitators, the course content and the space given for participants to be their authentic selves, that the excruciating trauma of ‘imposter syndrome’ can be addressed. The important takeaway for institutions and employers is that if they engage positively and without judgement, they will certainly be ‘inspiring’ a better future for all.”
A recurring theme throughout the programme was the continued reality faced by many South Asian women of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage in navigating professional spaces. Participants shared stories of encountering Islamophobia, racism and stereotypical expectations in the workplace. Employers often held low expectations or projected discriminatory views onto them, which hindered their confidence.
Sobia Razzaq said: “I am a keen advocate for academia to empower disadvantaged students to thrive rather than merely survive in professional spaces which is at the heart of this programme’s mission.”
Despite these challenges, the participants displayed remarkable ambition, determination and a strong desire to succeed. They valued the opportunity to reflect on their experiences, gain new insights and develop practical strategies to navigate these barriers. The goal was to enable them to engage in public life and professional settings authentically, without compromising their personal values, identities or cultural heritage.
Maliha Hussain, a student on the programme, said: "I embraced cultural identity as a professional strength and built a valuable network of like-minded professionals. I also gained tools to overcome career barriers and enhanced my confidence in professional settings."
Throughout the six weeks, participants engaged in transformative workshops and discussions led by accomplished professionals from various fields. These sessions covered topics such as confidence building, personal branding and navigating workplace dynamics with a celebratory finale which featured cultural performances by traditional dancers adding a joyful end to the occasion.
The highlight of the day was the programme completion certificate presented by Baroness Manzila Uddin, the first South Asian Muslim woman appointed to the House of Lords, who commended the participants for their dedication and resilience throughout the programme.
She said: “For over 50 years, the contribution of South Asian women in Britain has been immense, too often, without sufficient recognition of this. Regardless of the few in public life, their education, professional background, stereotypes and discrimination permeate every aspect of women's lives, blighting their progress into meaningful leadership. Given this context, the work led by this University of Westminster programme providing a window to this experience, was poignant. Listening to their testimonials was emotional. It suggests that our daughters and granddaughters' generation are still battling overwhelming odds to secure equitable opportunities, and many are still experiencing pernicious discrimination about their cultural heritage, faiths and way of life. Therefore, it was an honour to be able to witness the students complete the Elevating Future Programme. I felt truly hopeful and inspired by the visionary leadership of Sobia and Humera, who worked with the 2024 cohort of students, helping them prepare for their next phase of life.”
Student Nimu Islam said: "This is an amazing programme created to fill gaps for South Asian women. I’ve gained key life skills that will be invaluable for my professional development."
Reflecting on their experience on the programme another student, Mahjurah Begum, added: "Through this programme, I’ve learned that belonging isn’t just about being invited to the table - it’s about knowing that your perspective, voice and presence bring value. The sessions helped me reflect on my journey, embrace overlooked strengths and recognise the power of my story.”
This programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the University of Westminster’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
