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The global challenge of understanding risk, increasing resilience and reducing exposure to hazards has generated demand for professionals who can work across boundaries in every sector.
Based in central London, at the heart of the international hub for global finance, risk management and humanitarian response, the UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR) educates students to meet the growing need for experts trained in disaster risk reduction from industry, consultancies, governments and NGOs.
“London itself is an unparalleled breeding ground of ideas for anyone interested in research” (MSc student 2015/16).
UCL RDR provides unique and dedicated support for traditional careers (i.e., insurance, consultancy, academia, governments and NGOs) and non-traditional careers (i.e., start-ups and independent experts) in risk and disaster reduction for our masters and PhD students, and graduates.
Career support is an essential complement to our academic programmes. The Department's Careers events are led by Sarah Jeal and supported by the UCL careers team. In addition, students have experienced personal tutors to support bespoke career development plans. We help students to identify their career goals and get best prepared to achieve them.
UCL RDR students and alumni receive support on:
- Personal Development
Personal development plan and advice for PhDs
Personal tutorials and advice for masters students
Volunteering for the Humanitarian Institute
- Training
Workshops on entrepeneurship
Workshops on consultancies and job hunting skills
Masterclasses from international practitioners
Autumn 2019 workshops:
- Entrepeneurship for Global Humanitarian Impact
- Making a career and network in the humanitarian sector
- Business Resilience in the Canary Wharf Estate
- Industry insight
Seminars from industry leaders (i.e. RMS, Willis Towers Watson, Resilience Global, UK Cabinet Office, etc.)
- UCL Careers
Information hub and a wide range of careers fairs
Support for career choices and job applications
IRDR enterprise workshop on Entrepreneurship for Global Humanitarian Impact at UCL Business Incubator (BaseKX)
“The workshop on developing entrepreneurial humanitarian solutions was fantastic. It built a great toolbox for working through the basics and clearly leads to a next step which is an idea generation workshop, which could be developed into a few strong commercials, road-tested ideas. Great initiative by UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction” - RDR MSc student
UCL RDR Careers and Opportunities Fair
Our specialist university fair in risk and disaster reduction is held annually at UCL. It is the focal point of our careers support and is normally held in Term 2 (February/ March) over the late afternoon and evening.
It offers expert and targeted advice for students and graduates. Speakers in the talks and Q&A session are from the academic, humanitarian/NGO and commercial sectors. These include our own graduates who are advancing in their careers.
Exhibitor stalls host a range of employers, headhunters and further training providers such as NGOs, companies, consultancies, local and national government and universities. Sectors covered may include insurance, catastrophe modelling, risk management, public policy, humanitarian response, development, business continuity, emergency services, consultancy and academic research.
Attended by 100+ students and graduates, the Fair has real value for employers to meet interested and qualified potential recruits.
Recruit our students:
Selected by rigorous criteria, our global student community can meet the most diverse recruitment needs. Taught by world-class researchers and practitioners, delivering programmes through a combination of lectures, presentations, problem-solving exercises, field trips, etc.; RDR graduates are equipped with excellent scientific knowledge coupled with practical and analytical skills. As a recruiter, you can be confident that much of the initial work has already been done for you.
Ways you can engage with our students:
- Advertise or look for vacancies
Employers: Target your opportunities, internships and placements to specific programmes. We will advertise your opportunities free of charge.
- Raise your profile
Participate in our industry insight sessions and deliver company presentations. You can get involved in these activities throughout the year.
- Masters Projects
Benefit from an independent perspective on strategic issues by harnessing the expertise of our students. We welcome projects from all industry sectors and will be happy to discuss your needs further.
- UCL RDR Careers and Opportunities Fair
Participate in our annual Careers and Opportunities fair in February, present and discuss job opportunities in your organization and meet the talents.
- Summer work placements
Our Global Humanitarian Studies BSc students are encouraged to take a four-week work placement in the summer between their second and third years. We're always looking for organisations that are willing to provide these opportunities, so please contact irdr-enquiries@ucl.ac.uk for an informal chat if you would be interested.
Employers who have engaged with UCL RDR
Commercial
Arup
AXA
Qatar Re
RMS
Willis Tower Watson
Total
EDF
National Grid
Governments
UK Cabinet Office
London Resilience
London Fire Brigade
Met Office
Embassy of Japan in London
MSB Civil Contingencies Secretariat
NGOs
Resilience Global (Rescue Global)
Save the Children
OXFAM
Doctors Without Borders
Catholic International Development Charity
London First
Resilience First
If you are an employer who would like further information on how to engage with UCL RDR, please contact Sarah Jeal, Communications and Events Manager, at irdr-comms@ucl.ac.uk.
UCL RDR Alumni and member network
The UCL RDR is keen to maintain the connection with its alumni and member community and hosts a number of events to strengthen the tie. Alumni are welcome to join RDR public events, masterclasses, seminars, etc.
- UCL RDR Network Roundtable Dinner
The roundtable dinner is held every year in November. All UCL RDR students, alumni and network members are invited to join. The evening also includes the annual prize giving for this year's graduates from RDR programmes. Find out more about the 2018 UCL RDR Network Roundtable Dinner
- UCL RDR Linkedin Community
UCL RDR alumni and network members can join our exclusive Linkedin community which allows you to receive RDR updates, share your updates, catch up on what your fellow alumni are doing, and connect with other alumni and current students.
Some career destinations of recent RDR alumni
Business Continuity & Resilience Consultant, PwC
Business Continuity Consultant, Arup
Catastrophe Analyst, Barbican Insurance Group
Analyst, RMS (Risk Management Solutions)
Reinsurance Claims Management Executive AXA Global Re, Paris
Willis Towers Watson
Emergency Information Management Specialist, Plan Nepal
Coastal Risk Management Officer, Environment Agency, UK
Project Officer, Cairo Local Government
Disaster Risk Management Consultant, World Bank
Project Officer, Global Risk Forum, Davos
Field Delegate, Red Cross
Global Engagement Fellow, Interpeace
Resilience Technical Officer, International Medical Corps
Project Officer, Rescue Global
PhD Student, NERC London Doctoral Training Centre
PhD Student, UCL RDR
Rachel Ewer, UCL RDR Alumna, 2015-16, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Ministry of Defence)