Emma Pollard

Principal Research Fellow

BA, MA

Emma joined the Institute in 1996. During her time at IES she has worked for a wide range of clients including employers, educational establishments and policy bodies; and has a solid grounding in both policy-focused research and consultancy. She has over 20 years’ experience of researching education and employment issues and now leads the Institute’s work on higher education (HE). Her key research interests include student choices and decisions about undergraduate and postgraduate study, diversity in students’ HE experiences including the experiences of minority groups in HE and the labour market, graduate transitions to the labour market and their early careers, the workings of higher education and further direction of the sector.

Emma is an experienced project manager – leading teams within the Institute; working in partnership with other research organisations, survey houses and academics; and working with sub-contractors to guide research from the development stage through to dissemination. Emma has extensive experience of qualitative research methods and has conducted and managed telephone and face-to-face interviews, and focus group discussions with a range of senior managers, employees, young people, students, undergraduates, graduates, and training providers. She has considerable experience and understanding in collecting quantitative primary data through postal, telephone and online surveys including national large scale surveys, longitudinal surveys, and surveys requiring liaison with a number of organisations to draw a representative sample. She is also very experienced in using large data sets; organising and conducting complex analysis; and working with secondary data sources such as national student or destinations data, sector performance data, and organisational personnel data and records.

Education

2001 University of Sussex MA, Applied Policy Studies
1993 University of Brighton BA, Business Studies

Career

1994‑1996 Research Assistant, Career Development Unit, University of Sussex

 

CV Details

A brief review of policy and practice for careers education

Language programmes evaluation: interim report

Evaluation of the national roll-out of the early career framework induction programme: evaluation summary report

Evaluation of the national roll-out of the early career framework induction programmes: annual summary (year three)

Research into careers in construction 2023 to 2024

The Careers Adviser Workforce 2024: A report for the Gatsby Charitable Foundation

Student income and expenditure survey, 2021 to 2022: Welsh report

Teachers' professional development journeys

Research into careers in construction

Teachers’ professional development journeys

Evaluation of the national roll-out of the early career framework induction programmes: annual summary (year two)

Student income and expenditure survey: 2021 to 2022

Evaluation of the national roll-out of the early career framework induction programmes

Evaluation of the national roll-out of the early career framework induction programmes

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships

Mentor Training Programme Evaluation 2021 2022

New perspectives on recruitment to the construction industry

Enhancing creative education

Career Deflection

Student mental health and wellbeing

From early years to adult learning: IES research to support education and life chances

The professional careers adviser workforce

Covid class of 2020, and beyond

Moving out to move on

Evaluation of the Careers Leader Training

Review of Support for Disabled Students in Higher Education in England

Student income and expenditure survey 2014 to 2015

Impact of the student finance system on participation, experience and outcomes of disadvantaged young people

Alternative Student Finance: current and future students’ perspectives

Royal Society Research Fellowships: Career Pathway Tracker

Developing a survey of postgraduate taught students

Student income and expenditure survey 2014 to 2015: English report

Capturing school-to-work transitions with longitudinal data sources

Models of support for students with disabilities

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2014/15: Welsh-domiciled students

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2014/15: Welsh-domiciled students: Interim executive summary

Credit transfer in higher education

Accelerated degrees in higher education: Literature review

Accelerated degrees in higher education: Case study report

Teachers working longer review: annex B - employment practice

The customer journey to initial teacher training: Research report

The customer journey to initial teacher training: Appendices

The customer journey to initial teacher training: Research brief

Understanding mature entrants’ transitions to postgraduate taught study

Understanding provision for students with mental health problems and intensive support needs

Slides ' Graduate recruitment: trends, issues and effective practices'

Reading list: Graduates & Students further reading

Review of the National Student Survey - Appendix B: The Stakeholder Strand

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2011/12: Welsh-domiciled Students

How should we measure higher education? A fundamental review of the Performance Indicators - Part One: The synthesis report

How should we measure higher education? A fundamental review of the Performance Indicators - Part Two: The evidence report

How should we measure higher education? A fundamental review of the Performance Indicators - Part One: The synthesis report

Working while studying: A Follow-up to the Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2011/12

An assessment of the degree to which rural businesses access national mainstream employer skills and government business support programmes

An assessment of the degree to which businesses access national mainstream employer skills and government business support programmes

Adult Career Decision-Making

Evaluation of the Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note): quantitative survey of fit notes

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2011/12: English-domiciled Students

The feasibility of conducting a national survey of postgraduate taught students

What do researchers do? Early career progression of doctoral graduates, 2013

Jobcentre Plus Employer Satisfaction and Experience Survey 2012

Jobcentre Plus Employer Satisfaction and Experience Survey 2012: Research Summary

Expanding and Improving Part-time Higher Education

What do researchers do? Career paths of doctoral graduates 2011

Volunteering: Supporting transitions

Impact of interfirm relationships – employment and working conditions

Creative Career Stories

Creative Career Stories

Assessing the Impact of the New Student Support Arrangements (NSSA) on Higher Education Institutions

What do researchers do? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on, 2010

The Brighton Factor Revisited

Crafting Futures: Appendices

Crafting Futures

Creative Graduates Creative Futures

The Role of Finance in the Decision-making of HE Applicants and Students

Who is Heading for HE?

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/2008: English-domiciled students

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/2008: Welsh-domiciled students

University is Not Just for Young People

Mapping Provision and Investigating Participation in Postgraduate Art and Design

The Brighton Factor

University is Not Just for Young People: Working Adults' Perceptions of, and Orientation to, Higher Education

Gateways to the Veterinary Profession

Assessing the Net Added Value of Advice and Guidance

Welsh Graduates and their Jobs

Scoping Study into the Lack of Women Screenwriters in the UK

Recruitment and Retention of Staff in Higher Education 2005

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2004/05

An Evaluation of Adult Learners' Week 2005

Beyond the Screen

Gender Segregation in Apprenticeships

Graduate Employment Choices in the East Midlands

Researching the Independent Production Sector

Higher Degrees of Freedom

Occupational Segregation, Gender Gaps and Skill Gaps

Next Choices: Career Choices Beyond University

A Review of Community Race Relations (CRR) Training in the Metropolitan Police Service

Evaluation of Learner Support Funds

Ready, SET Go: A Review of SET Study and Career Choices

Choices and Transitions

Training in Racism Awareness and Valuing Cultural Diversity

A Review of Training in Racism Awareness and Valuing Cultural Diversity

Right Choice?

Exploring e-Learning

Free, Fair and Efficient? Open internal job advertising

Modern Apprenticeships and National Traineeships: Skills, Utilisation and Progression

Making the Right Choice - How Students Choose Universities and Colleges

Making the Right Choice - How Students Choose Universities and Colleges - Appendix 1 The survey of applicants

Making the Right Choice - How Students Choose Universities and Colleges - Appendix 2 The Year 11/S4 survey

Employability: developing a framework for policy analysis

Developing the Key Skills of Young People

Evaluation of Access to Work

What do Graduates do Next?

What do Graduates Really do?

Career pathway tracking of British Academy early-career award alumni

Youth policy journeys

WYCA All Age Careers Blueprint

Focus Groups for Teacher's CPD

ETF Evaluation of mentor training 2

Research into careers in construction

GLA Working Integration Network Academies

YEUK Evaluation of youth employment frameworks

Career Deflection: Research to explore diversity in the engineering sector/profession

Sutton Trust Impact Analysis

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships fund - Evaluation scoping and feasibility study

Evaluation of the Sir Henry Dale Fellowship scheme

Sutton Trust Evaluation

Moving out to move up: Using a mixed-methods approach to understand the link between migration and disadvantage

Evaluation of the Careers Leader Training: Qualitative Research

Survey of EU staff at higher education providers

Developing a survey of postgraduate taught students

Royal Society Research Fellowships Career Pathway Tracker

Scoping longitudinal data sources on school to work transitions

Modes of study in Higher Education: Literature Review and Qualitative Research

Review of the National Careers Service area-based contract funding model

Evaluation of the University of Oxford's outreach work

Evidence on employment practice for the Teachers’ Longer Working Review

Understanding the Customer Journey to Initial Teacher Training

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2014-15

A review of the National Student Survey (NSS)

Review of the Higher Education Performance Indicators 2013

Understanding mature entrants’ transitions to postgraduate study

Understanding employers’ graduate recruitment practices

Qualitative follow-up to the Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2013

Doctoral Graduates Destinations Digest

Assessment of National Employer Skills and Government Business Support Programmes

Research into the feasibility of developing a student satisfaction survey of taught postgraduate higher education courses

Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2011/12

Expanding and improving part-time undergraduate higher education: the feasibility of increasing the numbers of young people in HE studying part-time

Career Patterns of Arts and Crafts Graduates

Analysis of Longitudinal Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (LDLHE)

New Student Support Arrangements: Follow-up to Institutional Case Studies

Understanding Doctoral Graduate Destinations

Creative Graduates - Creative Futures: Survey of the Career Patterns of UK Graduates in Art, Design and Media

Discretionary Learner Support Funds evaluation

Mapping Postgraduate Art and Design Provision

Making the Decision to Enter Higher Education

The Brighton Factor: Graduates Who Stay

The Regional Impact of Graduate Employment Decisions

  • National Institute for Career Education and Counselling Fellow (2016 - Present)
  • Associate of the International Centre for Guidance Studies (2016 - Present)
  • Associate of the Education and Training Foundation (2015 - Present)
  • Member of the Research Advisory Group for the Postgraduate Experience Project (2015 - 2016)
  • Associate Researcher for the Department for Education (2014 - Present)

How do we know what's going on in the labour market?

Pollard E, Hirsh W, CDI/NICEC, April 2022

Student wellbeing and what it means for recruiters

Pollard E, Wilson S, Graduate Recruitment Network seminar on student wellbeing and what it means for recruiters, Graduate Recruitment Network, London, June 2018

Creative graduates: leading the way with new forms of work

Pollard E, ICeGS international conference: Imagining new perspectives on work - the role of career development in shaping futures, International Centre for Guidance Studies, Derby, May 2018

Showcasing research findings, discussing opportunities, challenges and trends

Pollard E, Universities UK conference: Accelerated degrees: understanding the opportunities, Universities UK, London, June 2017

Rethinking the traditional approach to Level 7 study: if we build it will they come?

Pollard E, SRHE Post-Compulsory and Higher Education Network event: In whose interests? Access, participation and progression in a context of changing configuration of HE, Society for Research into Higher Education, London, May 2017

Challenges and changing practices in graduate recruitment: the real experiences of employers

Hirsh W, Pollard E, CIPD Applied Research Conference 2016, CIPD, London, December 2016

Influencing recruitment: changing employer practices in graduate recruitment

Pollard E, Artess J, AGCAS Annual Conference for HE Careers and Employability Professionals, AGCAS, Chester, September 2016

Expert panel

Pollard E, Review of part-time and mature higher education, Universities UK, London, May 2013

What Do Researchers Do? What Do We Understand About Researchers’ Careers?

Mellors-Bourne R, Pollard E, Vitae Researcher Development International Conference, Vitae, London, September 2012

'Creative Career Stories: the reality of Creative Careers'

Pollard E, Creative Journeys, Plymouth University, Plymouth, September 2011

Labour Market Information

Pollard E, Vitae researcher development international conference 2011: realising the potential of researchers, Vitae, Manchester, September 2011

Creative Graduate Stories

Pollard E, Oakley J, Culturing Growth: The contribution of specialist arts education to the UK economy and society. ukadia conference 2011, ukadia, London, February 2011

Doctoral Graduate Destinations: 3.5 years on: Analysis of the Longitudinal Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey

Pollard E, Sixth Postgraduate Careers Symposium, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester, January 2011

Creative Graduates Creative Futures

Pollard E, Regional Careers Advisors Forum, Coventry University, September 2010

What Do Researchers Do?

Pollard E, Hunt W, Vitae Researcher Development Conference 2010, Vitae, Manchester, September 2010

What can Creative Graduates Creative Futures tell us about the role of placements, internships and volunteering for new graduates

Pollard E, Ball L, Playing at Work: Education Briefing, Futurising Conference, London, June 2010

The impact of HE financial arrangements: student perspectives

Pollard E, At what cost? The Impact of Finance on Access to HE, Educational Access Research Network, London, April 2010

The Role of Finance in the Decision-making of HE Applicants and Students

Pollard E, Universities, education and student demand in the post-recession economy, Universities UK Longer Term Strategy Group, Brighton, April 2010

Challenges for creative careers in the 21st century

Pollard E, Ball L, HE and the Creative Economy, University of Southampton, University of Southampton, March 2010

Going into HE

Pollard E, Sumption F, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Research Seminar, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, London, February 2010

Creative Graduates Creative Futures: The challenges for creative careers in the 21st century

Pollard E, Ball L, Moving Forward: 4th Annual National Arts Learning Network conference, United Kingdom Art and Design Institutions' Association, London, February 2010

Student Income and Expenditure: Results from SIES 2007/08

Johnson C, Pollard E, Low N, DIUS Customer Insight Event: Students' financial well-being, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, London, April 2009

Income and Expenditure Among Welsh-Domiciled Students: Results from SIES 2007/08

Johnson C, Pollard E, Parfrement J, Welsh Assembly Seminar, Cardiff, April 2009

What graduates really want (and how do they expect to get there)?

Pollard E, Barber L, Millmore B, The Tough Guide to Graduate Recruitment, AGR Graduate Development Conference, AGR, London, March 2009

Participation in Postgraduate Study: a look at creative arts and design

Pollard E, Hunt W, What Now for Widening Participation in the Arts, 3rd National Arts Learning Network Annual Conference, NALN, London, February 2009

Provision and participation in postgraduate creative arts and design: what do we need to know and why?

Pollard E, The Postgraduate Landscape in Art and Design, National Arts Learning Network, Royal College of Art, London, June 2008

University is not just for young people

Pollard E, Participation Research Group, School of Education, University of Southampton, School of Education, University of Southampton, June 2008

Graduate Choices: University, Living and Working

Cowling M, Pollard E, Universities, Graduates and Innovation – The Regional Impact of Higher Education, ESRC Impact of Higher Education Institutions on Regional Economies Initiative, Cardiff, June 2008

(Widening) routes to postgraduate study: what does the data tell us?

Pollard E, Hunt W, Widening Participation in the Arts: What Next?, National Arts Learning Network, Royal Institute of British Architects, London, February 2008

Welsh graduates and their jobs

Pollard E, Careers Information Conference, Careers Wales West, Carmarthen, June 2007

Evaluating delivery and impact of adult advice and guidance

Page R, Pollard E, NICEC seminar, National Institute for Career Education and Counselling, Brighton, May 2007

The under-representation of Black and Minority Ethnic students in postgraduate creative arts and design

Connor H, Pollard E, Widening participation in the arts - what works?, National Arts Learning Network, London, February 2007

Graduate Employment Choices in the East Midlands

Pollard E, Williams M, Graduate Employment Choices, East Midlands Development Agency, EMDA Conference Centre, January 2005

Choices and transitions: studying and working in the SW

Pollard E, Perryman S, The South West Graduate Labour Market: Unlocking the Potential, University of West of England, University of West of England, March 2003

Schools Access Funds Evaluation

Pollard E, Bates P, Maginn A, LEA Awards Officer Conference, DfES, Birmingham, June 2001

Open Internal Job Markets

Tamkin P, Pollard E, HR Network Seminar, for IES Scottish members, Scottish Executive, Edinburgh, September 2000

Institutional Racism: Where’s the Prejudice in Organisations?

Rick J, Tamkin P, Tackey N D, Pollard E, British Psychological Society Occupational Psychology Conference, British Psychological Society, Brighton, January 2000

Heard it on the grapevine

Pollard E, Regan J, CVCP conference, CVCP, London, June 1999