Objectives: Engage in a mentorship relationship within EDI-focused networks, either as a mentor or mentee. This exchange fosters personal, professional growth and strengthens EDI communities through shared knowledge and experiences. 

Introduction: Engaging in mentorship within EDI-focused networks, as either a mentor or mentee, fosters personal and professional growth while strengthening inclusive communities. Through peer support and mentoring groups, you can connect with others facing similar challenges, diversify your networks, and challenge social norms to promote social justice and inclusivity.

Topic: Building inclusive communities through EDI mentorship: fostering growth, networks, and social justice.

Keywords: Mentoring; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Justice; Social responsibility; Collaboration; Ethics; Professional development; Leadership or management.

 

Resources and support

A guide for employers, employees, and future employees on the reasons to implement reciprocal mentoring. Click here to access the PDF guide.

 

Reciprocal mentoring

In the video below, Professor Anne Nortcliffe highlights the concept and benefits of reciprocal mentoring, emphasizing mutual learning, inclusion, and shared growth between junior and senior colleagues.

Video summary:

🎯 Purpose: Reciprocal mentoring differs from traditional mentoring, where typically a senior guides a junior — here, both parties learn from one another.

🔄 Mutual learning: Both mentor and mentee bring valuable perspectives, creating opportunities for shared growth and understanding.

🧑‍🎓🧑‍💼 Generational exchange: Junior staff share insights from their generational and workplace experiences, enriching the senior staff’s awareness and approach.

🗺️ Career navigation: Seniors still provide guidance in navigating career paths and adapting to changing professional landscapes.

❓ Interview tip: During job interviews, ask if the employer has a reciprocal mentoring program — if not, use the provided toolkit to highlight its benefits.

📣 Authentic voices: Socially underrepresented individuals can bring their lived experiences into the conversation, promoting inclusion.

🌍 Inclusive environment: Reciprocal mentoring fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Collaborative impact: Mentors become advocates in senior spaces, amplifying the visibility and contributions of their mentees.

🚀 Opportunities: Mentors may champion their mentees for key projects and leadership development opportunities.

💡 Take initiative: If your workplace doesn’t offer reciprocal mentoring, suggest it to HR and help lead the implementation.

 

Peer support

Organise or join peer support/mentoring groups with fellow graduates or students who may experience similar challenges as you. You can use these groups to hear other people’s experiences relating to employment and how to thrive in the workplace.

Join organisations such as: 

 

Build and diversify your networks 

Build networks and participates in social economic and ecology justice events 

 

Embrace social justice

 

Challenge social norms 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

Please note: Discussions around discrimination, prejudice and bias are highly complex and part of a much wider national and international debate, including contested histories. As such, we have limited the scope of our resources to educating and supporting students.

The resources that the EPC and its partners are producing in this area will continue to expand and, if you feel there is an issue that is currently underrepresented in our content, we would be delighted to work with you to create more. Please get in touch.


Objectives: Engage in EDI events, workshops, and networks to deepen your understanding of diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Gain real-world insights from industry videos and leverage volunteering, placements, and networking to enhance employability and refine career goals. Use diverse work experiences for self-discovery, embrace unexpected roles for growth, and reflect on past experiences to clarify future career decisions. These steps will guide your personal and professional development.

Introduction: Embracing lifelong learning, the journey of understanding and implementing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is continuous. By consistently learning, reflecting, and applying these principles in all areas of life, you foster growth that benefits both yourself and those around you.

Topic: Enhancing career growth and social responsibility through active engagement in EDI events, networks, and diverse work experiences.

Keywords: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Social responsibility; Professional development; Employability and Skills; Collaboration; Leadership or management; Gender; Networking; Neurodiversity; LGBTQ+.

 

Social responsibility

Video summary:

Ammaarah Ravat, a compliance engineer at Cummins, emphasizes community involvement and the value of diverse experiences in shaping career paths.

Key insights:

🌟 Importance of social responsibility: Engaging in community service reflects a commitment beyond job duties, showcasing character and values.

🔍 Role of volunteering: Actively participating in local initiatives can enhance employability and illustrate one’s dedication to societal betterment.

🚀 Value of industrial placements: Gaining diverse experiences during placements enables students to refine their career goals and professional interests.

💼 Self-discovery: Working in varied roles helps individuals identify their strengths and preferences, guiding future career decisions.

🌐 Networking opportunities: Building a professional network during internships is crucial for career advancement and finding new opportunities.

🎯 Open-minded approach: Embracing unexpected job roles can lead to personal growth and a better understanding of the industry.

🤔 Reflection on experiences: Analysing past roles helps clarify what one wants and doesn’t want in their career path, aiding future choices.

 

Resources and support 

To support your journey, we’ve curated resources from Wenite, Equal Engineers. We’ve also developed a University Career Services Library – a curated collection of links to career centers at various universities, providing direct access to valuable tools, guidance, and opportunities to support your career growth.

 

Engage in EDI events, workshops , and networks 

We invite you to participate in upcoming EDI-focused networks, events, and workshops: 

 

Meet some of our industry collaborators  

Getting startedSusan HawkesStewart EyresJordan Hannah

Click on each accordion tab to hear from some of our industry collaborators. These videos offer valuable insights into real-world experiences and perspectives that can enhance your understanding of the field.

Video summary: 

Susan Hawkes, a technician at Berry Range Limited, promotes engineering diversity and emphasizes the importance of mental health within her family-run company. 

Key insights: 

🌟 Technicians matter: Technicians like Susan play a vital role in engineering, yet often lack recognition. Elevating their status can enhance the industry. 

🤝 Diversity drives progress: Promoting diversity in engineering creates innovative solutions and reflects the society we serve, making it imperative for future growth. 

🏢 Company culture counts: A supportive work environment that values mental health contributes to employee satisfaction and retention, which is essential in a demanding industry. 

👩‍⚕️ Mental health focus: Addressing mental health proactively fosters a healthier workforce and can lead to improved productivity and morale. 

🌐 Women in engineering: Encouraging more women to join institutions like ICE can lead to a more balanced workforce and bring fresh perspectives to the field. 

🗣️ Networking opportunities: Engaging in networking events can open doors for collaborations and mentorship, crucial for career development in engineering. 

🌍 Leadership representation: Having diverse leaders in organizations, such as the female president of ICE, inspires future generations and promotes inclusivity in the field. 

Video summary: 

Stewart Eyres discusses the mission of Equal Engineers to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive approach to engineering recruitment and support. 

Key insights: 

🌈 Diversity in engineering: Equal Engineers addresses the need for a diverse workforce in engineering, recognizing varied perspectives enhance innovation and problem-solving. 

🎓 Collaboration with universities: Partnering with educational institutions fosters a pipeline of diverse talent, ensuring that engineering education aligns with industry needs. 

🤝 More Than recruitment: The agency goes beyond traditional recruitment by actively working with companies to make their environments more welcoming for diverse candidates. 

📊 Support for new recruits: Regular follow-ups with new hires help to verify that companies meet their commitments, creating a supportive onboarding experience. 

🌟 Empowering ambition: Stuart encourages aspiring engineers not to settle for their first job but to seek roles that truly fit their skills and aspirations. 

🔍 Job market opportunities: With a shortage of engineers, there is an abundance of opportunities available, inviting candidates to be proactive in their job search. 

💼 Thriving in the workplace: Creating an inclusive environment allows diverse employees to contribute their unique strengths, benefiting both the individual and the organisation.

Video summary: 

Jordan Hannah discusses supporting apprenticeships in engineering, emphasizing the need for employer engagement and practical experience in the field. 

Key insights: 

🌱 Employer responsibility: Companies should actively engage with apprentices, helping with career development rather than just completing their training period. This fosters a sense of loyalty and ensures a skilled workforce. 

🏗️ Diverse engineering paths: Engineering encompasses a wide array of disciplines, from infrastructure to technology. Embracing this diversity can open numerous career opportunities and attract a broader range of talent. 

📆 Structured development: A well-planned apprenticeship program provides a roadmap for apprentices, enhancing their job security and professional growth, which can lead to higher retention rates. 

🧠 Importance of employability skills: Engineers must cultivate soft skills like communication to effectively collaborate with non-technical stakeholders, underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering roles. 

🚀 Encouragement to experiment: Encouraging students to explore various engineering roles can lead to a more informed career choice, highlighting the importance of practical experience in shaping interests. 

🔄 Learning from dislike: Understanding what one does not enjoy can be just as valuable as knowing what one does like, guiding future career decisions and improving job satisfaction. 

📈 Continuous support: Post-apprenticeship support is crucial for young professionals, ensuring they transition smoothly into their careers and feel valued by their employers. 

 

 

Ready to take the next step? 

Your commitment to EDI creates a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse world. Continue engaging with these principles to embrace the challenges and opportunities in both personal and professional life. Let’s move forward together. 

 

Your feedback matters 

Email Crystal Nwagboso for any suggestions and feedback. 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

Please note: Discussions around discrimination, prejudice and bias are highly complex and part of a much wider national and international debate, including contested histories. As such, we have limited the scope of our resources to educating and supporting students.

The resources that the EPC and its partners are producing in this area will continue to expand and, if you feel there is an issue that is currently underrepresented in our content, we would be delighted to work with you to create more. Please get in touch.

Explore how you can enhance your professional journey through our comprehensive University Career Services Library.

This curated resource brings together the full range of career services offered across all EPC member institutions, providing you with streamlined access to tailored support at your university.

Whether you’re seeking one-to-one career guidance, engaging in skills workshops, or exploring placement opportunities, this library equips you with the tools to make informed decisions and maximise the resources available to you.

If you wish to provide an updated link, please contact Crystal Nwagboso – c.nwagboso@epc.ac.uk

 

University Career Services

University name Services
Abertay University Abertay University – Careers Service
Arden University Arden University – Careers and Employability
Aston University Aston University – Careers and Placements
University of Bath University of Bath – Careers Service
University of Bedfordshire University of Bedfordshire – Careers & Employability Service
University of Birmingham University of Birmingham – Careers Network
Birmingham City University Birmingham City University – Careers+
Bournemouth University Bournemouth University – CareersBU
University of Bradford University of Bradford – Careers Service
University of Bristol University of Bristol – Careers Service
Brunel University London Brunel University London – Careers
Buckinghamshire New University Buckinghamshire New University – Career Success
University of Cambridge University of Cambridge – Careers Service
Canterbury Christ University Canterbury Christ Church University – Careers and Enterprise Service
Cardiff University Cardiff University – Careers and Employability
Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff Metropolitan University – Careers Service
University of Central Lancashire University of Central Lancashire – Careers Service
University of Chester University of Chester – Careers and Employability
City St George’s, University of London City, University of London (St George’s) – Careers Team
Coventry University Coventry University – Talent Team
Cranfield University Cranfield University – Careers and Employability Service
University of Derby University of Derby – Careers and Employability
Durham University Durham University – Careers & Enterprise Centre
Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology – Careers
University of East Anglia University of East Anglia – CareerCentral
University of East London University of East London – Your Career
University of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh – Careers Service
Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh Napier University – Student Futures
University of Exeter University of Exeter – Career Zone
University of Glasgow University of Glasgow – Careers Service
Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow Caledonian University – Careers Service
University of Greenwich University of Greenwich – Employability & Careers
Harper Adams University Harper Adams University – Careers and Placements
University of Hertfordshire University of Hertfordshire – Careers and Employment
University of Huddersfield University of Huddersfield – Careers and Employability Service
University of Hull University of Hull – Careers and Employability
University of Kent University of Kent – Careers and Employability Service
Kings College London University King’s College London – Careers & Employability
University of Lancaster Lancaster University – Careers Service
University of Leeds University of Leeds – Careers Centre
University of Lincoln University of Lincoln – Careers & Employability
London Metropolitan University London Metropolitan University – Careers and Employability
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – Careers
London South Bank University London South Bank University – Careers Hub
Loughborough University Loughborough University – Careers Network
Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Metropolitan University – Careers and Employability Service
Middlesex University Middlesex University – Employability Service
Newcastle University Newcastle University – Careers Service
University of Northampton University of Northampton – Careers and Employability
Northumbria University Northumbria University – Careers and Employment Service
University of Nottingham University of Nottingham – Careers and Employability Service
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Trent University – Employability
University of Oxford University of Oxford – Careers Service
Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University – Careers
University of Plymouth University of Plymouth – Careers Service
University of Portsmouth University of Portsmouth – Careers and Employability Service
Queen Mary University of London Queen Mary University of London – Careers and Enterprise
University of Reading University of Reading – Careers
University of Roehampton University of Roehampton – Careers
Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London – Careers Service
University of Salford University of Salford – Careers and Enterprise
University of Sheffield University of Sheffield – Careers Service
Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield Hallam University – Careers & Employability
SOAS University of London SOAS University of London – SOAS Careers
University of Southampton University of Southampton – Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise
Solent University Solent University – Careers and Employability
University of St Andrews University of St Andrews – Careers Centre
St George’s, University of London St George’s, University of London – Careers Service
University of Stirling University of Stirling – Careers Service
University of Strathclyde University of Strathclyde – Careers and Employability Service
University of Sunderland University of Sunderland – Careers and Employability Service
University of Surrey University of Surrey – Employability and Careers
University of Sussex University of Sussex – Careers and Employability Centre
Swansea University Swansea University – Swansea Employability Academy
Teesside University Teesside University – Careers Service
University of the Arts London University of the Arts London – Careers and Employability
University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) – Career Development
University of Warwick University of Warwick – Student Opportunity
University of West London University of West London – Careers and Employment Service
University of Westminster University of Westminster – Careers and Employability Service
University of Winchester University of Winchester – Careers Service

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

Please note: Discussions around discrimination, prejudice and bias are highly complex and part of a much wider national and international debate, including contested histories. As such, we have limited the scope of our resources to educating and supporting students.

The resources that the EPC and its partners are producing in this area will continue to expand and, if you feel there is an issue that is currently underrepresented in our content, we would be delighted to work with you to create more. Please get in touch.

The University Career Services Library was produced by Crystal Nwagboso (Engineering Professors Council).

This post is also available here.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve been working hard behind the scenes on our brand-new Inclusive Employability Toolkit, our resource designed to help engineering educators integrate EDI principles and practices in engineering, computing, design and technology – across education, employer engagement, career preparation, and progression into the workplace.

We will be previewing the toolkit at our in-person event, EAN Congress 2025: Realising the vision, next week (Monday 9th June – Wednesday 11th June 2025), followed by the official launch on Wednesday 3rd September 2025, during our live webinar.

 

What is the Inclusive Employability Toolkit? 

The Inclusive Employability Toolkit, formerly known as the EDGE Toolkit, was originally developed in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, Wrexham University, and Equal Engineers. Following funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the two universities have now collaborated with the Engineering Professors Council to relaunch the resource under its new name. This newly relaunched version has been redesigned and enhanced to improve the toolkit’s usability and ensure wider accessibility for students, educators, and employers alike. 

This toolkit is more than a set of activities – it’s a strategic resource for students, graduates, academics, employers, and managers. It provides tools to develop the employability skills needed for graduate-level roles and long-term career progression in STEM fields. 

At the heart of the toolkit is a focus on inclusion, diversity, and the power of bringing your authentic voice – especially social minority experiences – into the world of work. 

  

What’s available now? 

While we continue to develop some of the toolkit’s additional features, we’re pleased to share that the core activities are ready to use now. These include a range of twelve interactive resources – including a game – labelled Activities A through L, that are ideal for embedding into session planning or curriculum development. Each activity has been thoughtfully designed to deepen your understanding and practical application of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles across a range of academic, professional, and social contexts.   

These activities are intended to challenge you to think critically, reflect on real-world scenarios, and consider your own experiences, assumptions, and behaviours through an EDI lens. Through engaging with these exercises, you will: 

We have also developed a new addition to the toolkit: a University Career Services Library, where you can find direct links to the career services of 96 EPC affiliated universities. This library serves as a valuable starting point for exploring career development support, including workshops, employment opportunities, internships, mentoring schemes, and other services available through your university. 

You can access the available activities and the University Career Services Library here.

Additionally, you can access the Inclusive Employability Toolkit homepage here.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore inclusive employability or looking to enhance your existing practices, these activities provide a strong foundation for understanding and applying EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in your teaching or workplace environment. 

 

What’s coming next? 

We’re currently finalising the rest of the toolkit, which includes: 

This resource will be published in September, following our official webinar launch. 

 

Join us at the official launch 

Date: Wednesday 3rd September 2025 @ 1pm – 2.30pm  

Event: Webinar: Introducing the Inclusive Employability Toolkit and Launching the EPC’s DEI Community of Special Interest

At the webinar, you’ll experience a live demonstration of the Inclusive Employability Toolkit. We’ll walk through the toolkit’s design, showcase the new resources, and share insights from students and partners who helped shape it. It’s a great opportunity to learn more and ask questions. 

We’ll also introduce the DEI Community of Special Interest – a professional network committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research, institutional systems, and engineering culture. You’ll hear more about its aims, upcoming events, and how to get involved in shaping a more inclusive future in engineering and beyond.

Click here to register for the webinar.

  

Looking ahead 

The Inclusive Employability Toolkit marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Beyond September, we’ll be adding more materials, and creating opportunities for users to contribute, collaborate, and share feedback. 

If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, you can register your interest here. We’ll ensure you’re among the first to hear when we begin accepting resources and sharing new opportunities to engage with the toolkit. We’d love to have you on board as we continue working towards a more inclusive and equitable future in engineering and technology. 

  

A shared commitment to inclusion 

At its core, this toolkit reflects our shared belief that diversity is not just an asset – it’s essential to innovation and progress. By engaging with the Inclusive Employability Toolkit, you’re not just using a resource – you’re joining a community committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in engineering and beyond. 

We invite you to explore the activities, join our September launch, and be part of the movement. Let’s work together to build a profession – and a future – that values every voice. 

  

Please note: Discussions around discrimination, prejudice and bias are highly complex and part of a much wider national and international debate, including contested histories. As such, we have limited the scope of our resources to educating and supporting students. 

The resources that the EPC and its partners are producing in this area will continue to expand and, if you feel there is an issue that is currently underrepresented in our content, we would be delighted to work with you to create more. Please get in touch.    

 

This post is also available here.

The EPC’s Inclusive Employability Toolkit is supported by Canterbury Christ Church University, Equal Engineers, The Royal Academy of Engineering, and Wrexham University. This resource is designed to help engineering educators integrate EDI principles and practices in engineering, computing, design and technology – across education, employer engagement, career preparation, and progression into the workplace.

 

Introduction 

This resource was formerly known as the EDGE Toolkit, and was developed in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, Wrexham University, Equal Engineers and The Royal Academy of Engineering. The two Universities have now joined forces with the Engineering Professors Council to launch the newly renamed Inclusive Employability Toolkit, working together to improve usability and ensure broader access to this valuable resource. 

The Inclusive Employability Toolkit supports inclusive employment in engineering, computing, design, and technology, enhancing diversity and authentic voices in the workplace. 

Our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered has led us to develop the Inclusive Employability Toolkit. This comprehensive toolkit is designed to guide students, faculty, and staff in understanding and practicing EDI principles, ensuring that our campus is a place where diversity thrives and every voice is heard. 

The Inclusive Employability Toolkit is more than just a set of resources – it’s a commitment to continuous learning, understanding, and action. We invite you to explore the toolkit, participate in the activities, and engage with the wealth of available resources. Together, we can build an engineering community that truly reflects the world’s diversity, united in our pursuit of equity and inclusion. 

Begin by exploring this page; it provides a comprehensive background on the importance of EDI in the world of engineering and sets the stage for your learning journey. 

 

Welcome 

The world is incredibly diverse, but navigating the complexities of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) can be challenging, especially for minority groups who face significant hurdles. In the video below, Professor Anne Nortcliffe invites you to explore the Inclusive Employability Toolkit, offering guidance on how to make the most of its features and resources. 

 

The Inclusive Employability Toolkit aims to

 

Contents 

How to use this toolkit effectively:  

Embarking on your journey through Inclusive Employability Toolkit is a step towards fostering an inclusive and diverse environment within the engineering community. This guide will help you navigate the toolkit, ensuring you make the most of the resources, challenges, and learning opportunities it offers. 

 

Goals

🌍 Diversity matters: The toolkit emphasizes that diverse voices enrich the workplace, offering unique perspectives that drive innovation and creativity.
💪 Empowering students: By focusing on technical students, the toolkit equips them with the skills and confidence to navigate their career paths successfully.
🎤 Encouraging authenticity: Bringing your authentic voice to work fosters an environment of trust and openness, leading to stronger team dynamics.
🤝 Role of allies: Supporting individuals from minority backgrounds (female, LGBTQ, disabled, mature, low socio-economic status, global majority) not only aids their success but enriches the workplace culture for everyone involved.
📈 Business impact: Companies that prioritise equity and inclusion see improved employee retention and higher morale, translating into better performance metrics.
🛠️ Better solutions: Diverse teams in engineering and technology are proven to develop more effective solutions, addressing a wider range of needs and challenges.
🏛️ Societal benefits: Promoting equity and inclusion not only benefits organisations but also contributes to a more just and equitable society overall. 

 

Licensing

To ensure that everyone can use and adapt the toolkit in a way that best fits their teaching or purpose, most of this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Under this licence you are free to share and adapt this material, under terms that you must give appropriate credit and attribution to the original material and indicate if any changes are made.

 

Further details

CommitmentOur roleWhat we knowChallenges in the industryIndustry EmployersStudent feedback

To leading the charge in creating new opportunities for diversity and inclusion of engineering, technology and design to address regional skills gap. Our vision for all engineering, technology and design students regardless of their background have opportunity to thrive in engineering, technology and design industry.


As game changers we have researched and developed the Inclusive Employability Toolkit to empower students and employers in building bridges between academia, students, and industry to enable gainful graduate employment and more inclusive, dynamic, and diverse opportunities in engineering, technology and design.

A higher proportion of Global Majority and low socioeconomic students’ study at Post-92 universities, and yet, employment outcomes for graduates from these universities often lag behind their Russell Group peers.

Ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic factors continue to shape the employability landscape However more inclusive engineering, technology and design teams create better solutions to problems for all of society.

Gain insights from industry employers as they discuss the toolkit and its impact.


Gain insights from students as they reflect on the usefulness and impact of the toolkit.


Please note: Discussions around discrimination, prejudice and bias are highly complex and part of a much wider national and international debate, including contested histories. As such, we have limited the scope of our resources to educating and supporting students.

The resources that the EPC and its partners are producing in this area will continue to expand and, if you feel there is an issue that is currently underrepresented in our content, we would be delighted to work with you to create more. Please get in touch.   

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

This month marked a milestone for the engineering education community, as the EPC and E-DAP launched their practical, step-by-step Deaf Awareness Toolkit* to a wider audience for the first time.

Designed for engineers at all career stages, the toolkit offers practical training to build inclusive skills, implement meaningful measures, and encourage open participation, ultimately improving engineering outcomes through greater accessibility and communication.

 

Breaking new ground in Engineering inclusion

Hosted by EPC CEO Johnny Rich, the toolkit’s accompanying webinar ‘Being heard: How everyone benefits from deaf awareness’ (available to watch here) brought together over 50 attendees from more than 29 institutions. It marked the first time the UK engineering community has come together in this way to explore how deaf awareness can unlock stronger communication, collaboration and innovation across the sector.

The panel featured voices from RNID, the EPC, E-DAP and professionals with lived experience, offering engineers practical, experience-led guidance grounded in real-world insight—not just theory.

 

Closed captions: a simple shift, a big impact

One key takeaway is that closed captions do more than support communication. They encourage presenters to structure content more clearly, making complex ideas easier to follow. This is especially important in engineering, where technical information needs to be communicated accurately across classrooms, meetings, and fast paced R&D environments.

Lucia Capogna (E-DAP) showed just how simple this can be in practice, giving a live demonstration of how to activate captions in PowerPoint. It is a small shift that can make a big difference, and it is easier to implement than many people realise.

 

Key messages from the panel

Frankie Garforth (RNID)
Frankie addressed widespread misconceptions around deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus, reminding us that over 18 million people in the UK are affected. “You’ll know people living with this,” she said. “It’s good to support them.” She highlighted how deaf-aware technologies like closed captions can significantly improve communication – often in ways people don’t realise until they experience it first hand.

Dr. Sarah Jayne Hitt (EPC)
Sarah Jayne emphasised that some of the most impactful accessibility technologies are already freely available. Many were showcased earlier in the webinar, and others can be explored via the EPC website. These tools, she explained, complement the learning that happens through real human connection – like her own journey learning ASL from a school teacher and later embedding deaf awareness in everyday university life.

Ellie Haywood (E-DAP)
Ellie shared how she took personal responsibility to embed deaf awareness into her workplace a few years ago. Her goal: to make accessibility part of the default way her team operated, so no one would need to ask for special measures. The impact was immediate – improving team efficiency and communication well beyond the deaf community. This inclusive approach proved particularly effective in high-tech R&D projects.

 

Pilot and student feedback

E-DAP piloted the Deaf Awareness Toolkit with nearly 500 first-year students across civil, mechanical and other engineering disciplines. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, particularly among non-native English speakers, who reported being better able to follow lectures and understand the content.

One simple innovation, using a blank PowerPoint slide during Q&A, made a big difference in helping students catch questions that might otherwise be lost in the noise of a busy classroom.

Survey responses showed nearly two-thirds of students felt neutral to strongly positive about captions and wanted to see them used more widely.

 

Resources and tools available now

The Deaf Awareness Toolkit is designed to help educators and engineers improve everyday communication and inclusion. It includes:

 

Beyond communication: safety, inclusion and culture

Deaf awareness goes beyond communication. In engineering environments, visual alarms and clear auditory cues support safety. Inclusive meeting behaviours, accessible research environments, and awareness of hearing health can all contribute to a more inclusive and effective working culture. Clear communication isn’t just a benefit for deaf individuals, it supports better outcomes for everyone.

 

The vision: One Million Engineers

This is just the beginning. Our goal is to engage one million engineers with accessibility.

With the EPC platform reaching 7,500 engineering academics across 82 institutions, and 179,000 students enrolled in those institutions, we are taking our first steps towards that vision.

Accessibility isn’t an optional extra. It’s a core part of engineering education and inclusion that we want to instil in future engineers.

 

What’s next

E-DAP and the EPC are now working together to embed deaf awareness more deeply into engineering practice and culture. Future activities will include:

 

*E-DAP’s Role as an Ally

E-DAP is an active ally to the Deaf and deaf communities. We do not speak for them, but work in partnership with experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experience to improve awareness and inclusion in engineering and education.

We collaborate with the community to learn and co-create. Our goal is to support engineering innovation by enabling better communication for everyone, and to implement inclusion in engineering through technology, tools, learning, and partnerships that embed inclusive practices and create lasting change.

A Note on Language

Language matters. Whether someone identifies as Deaf, deaf, has hearing loss or tinnitus, they are all individuals, and respectful language helps create more inclusive spaces. If you’re unsure how to phrase something, ask. It’s always better to check than assume. Helpful guidance on terminology is available from the RNID.  

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

Overview

The Engineering Deaf Awareness Project (E-DAP) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to making deaf awareness a standard in engineering. E-DAP is a movement for meaningful, measurable change in the number of people who proactively use accessibility tech in their daily lives, supporting everyone around them. By embedding accessibility into the fabric of engineering, E-DAP is breaking down barriers, changing perceptions and creating a future where engineering truly works to make everyone’s lives more effective

Imagine a world where talented individuals and dynamic growth oriented companies are turbo charged by removing barriers in communication and understanding. In engineering—a field where communication is critical to innovation, being proactive and embedding accessibility at the norm is critical. At E-DAP, we believe technology for accessibility is the foundation for accessibility and increased performance and ground-breaking ideas. By fostering technology for accessibility and increased performance, we’re not just improving workplaces—we’re demonstrating how inclusivity fuels economic growth, creativity, collaboration and benefits everyone.

The EPC has published E-DAP resources in a toolkit in solidarity with the Project’s aims.

 

Mission and Strategic Aims

E-DAP’s mission is to embed deaf awareness into the core of engineering practices, ensuring that the profession is accessible and for all . Our strategic aims include:

 

Challenges

The engineering sector has historically faced challenges in creating inclusive environments for deaf individuals, including:

 

Initiatives and Activities

To address these challenges, E-DAP is implementing several key initiatives:

 

Toolkit Content

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

PowerPoint Subtitles Guidelines

 

1. Benefits of subtitles

 

2. Main steps

STEP 1: Activate the subtitles (See section 3)

STEP 2: Customise your settings (See section 4)

2.1. Select the language to be used
2.2. Select the subtitles position
2.3. Customise subtitles appearance (background, text size and colour)

STEP 3: Create your slide to leave room for the subtitles in line with your settings (avoid overlapping)

Note 1: You need to be connected to the internet for the subtitles to work.
Note 2: You need to change your security settings to authorise PowerPoint to access the microphone.
Note 3: You do not have to customise your settings for each presentation unless you wish to change something.

 

3. How do you activate the subtitles?

Open PowerPoint and on the main task bar select “Slide show” and tick “Always Use Subtitles” on the ribbon:

 

4. Subtitles settings

When activated, you can customise the subtitles:

 

Subtitles position

“Below slide” and “Above slide”

If one of the following options is selected

● Below slide
● Above slide

you do not have to worry about the subtitle background overlapping with slide content. However, the overall dimension of the projected slide will be reduced, so please check that it is still ok.

The examples below show the difference between “Bottom (Overlaid)” and “Below slide”.

Bottom (Overlaid)

 

Below slide

 

“Bottom (Overlaid)” and “Top (Overlaid)”

Important: If you select one of the following options

● Bottom (Overlaid)
● Top (Overlaid)

you will need to prepare your slides to leave room for the subtitles in line with your settings, and change the subtitle settings to improve visibility (see “Subtitles” > “More settings”).

The example below uses “Bottom (Overlaid)” and default settings for text and background.

On the above example we can see that the subtitles overlap with both the logo and the contents of the slide, making the visibility poor. In addition, the size of the subtitles text appears to be quite small.

The following example shows how the settings may provide better visibility of the subtitles and the contents of the slide.

More settings: Text size and colour, background colour and transparency

1) Change the settings to use a “Large Text” or “Extra Large Text” and colours that improve visibility (e.g. yellow on solid black)

2) If you cannot rework the master slides and move the logo, select a solid background to provide more visibility to the subtitles. (Although you will make the logo less visible, this should give a better experience to the people attending the presentation.)

 

Subtitles background colour

How can the slide background influence the colour of the subtitles background and text colour?

• What colour is the slide background?

If the slide background is white or a light colour, you should consider using a dark colour as subtitle background to create the right level of contrast and improve the visibility of the subtitles. Similarly, if the slide background is black or another dark colour, you should consider using a light colour as subtitle background.

The subtitles text colour should in turn be in contrast with the subtitles background colour.

• Where is the logo? Are the subtitles overlapping with the logo? Can you re-work the master slides and move it?

If you cannot move the logo, you may want to consider this:

The subtitle background is not a solid colour by default, but has a certain degree of transparency. This may still be ok if there are no other objects (like a logo) under the subtitles background. Otherwise, you may need to update this setting to have a solid colour as background.

 

5. Guidance scope and feedback

Thank you for reading this guide and for your interest in E-DAP. We hope that this guide will help you to implement deaf awareness practises.

If you’d like to be involved in any further E-DAP led events, training materials or to join the E-DAP mailing list, please complete the form via the link below or scan the QR code.

Your feedback is important to us, as it allows us to improve our events and materials for others. Please provide your feedback on this guideline and on the subtitles usage by completing the following form:

Link to form

 

Additionally, to find out more about E-DAP or to contact us, find us on LinkedIn.

You can also downloaded this guide here.

Also see How to add subtitles in PowerPoint: Demo video.

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

This content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Also see How to add subtitles in PowerPoint: Guidelines.

 

 

 

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

This content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Here you will find additional resources related to the deaf awareness.

 

E-DAP resources

 

EPC/E-DAP resources

 

Ellie Hayward blogs 

 

RNID resources

 

Other resources

 

Got a relevant resource to share? Email w.attwell@epc.ac.uk

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.

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