Q&A with Shanaz Durrant
Shanaz Durrant was an Education, Society and Culture BA student, class of 2017. Shanaz currently works at UCL as a Continuous Improvement Manager.
Why did you choose UCL to study your undergraduate degree?
I have always been interested in the education system and I wanted to learn more about it. At the time of applying, I had the goal of becoming a teacher, and eventually becoming a headteacher in the future. However, as the course went on, and I started to learn more about education in the UK and internationally, I was becoming more and more interested in where the degree could take me beyond becoming a teacher.
What do you miss most about studying at UCL?
Being a student and meeting other students. Being able to have joint study sessions with your peers was great – it may have felt a bit cumbersome at the time, but reflecting back, they were some good times to socialise and share learning techniques. Luckily, I don’t have to miss UCL as I still work here, so I get to still experience UCL as a staff member.
Are there any experiences at your time at UCL that shaped or supported you in your future career?
Having emails circulated with vacancies suitable for students at UCL was a really good way to discover opportunities to work at UCL, it was the way that I received my first job at UCL working in the IOE library part time.
Being a Student Ambassador and working in the library, helped me to explore more of UCL and get to know people in different departments.
Tell us a bit about your career
My Current role is Continuous Improvement Manager in the Professional Services Hub, and my role involves me helping departments within UCL to streamline their processes and provide suggestions for automation (if applicable) to help free up resources in departments. I started this role in 2023 as a secondment. Prior to this, I worked in HR for UCL, starting as a temp straight after graduating through the UOL recruitment agency.
What has been your career highlight so far
My career highlight has been being able to make a difference in processing times and implementing automation where possible, to help relieve resources within teams. I also enjoy the fact that I can bring aspects of my degree into my work as a Continuous Improvement Manager, implementing training materials, and also guiding departments to work more efficiently.
What are your future career aspirations?
I want to explore the world of continuous improvement and eventually move into a more senior role within this field. I believe that there is a plethora of processes to review in UCL to make us more efficient, and I look forward to exploring these in the future.
What makes you most proud to be a UCL alumnus?
I’m proud I have been able to transition from a student to a staff member and be able to share my experiences from both sides. Also, being the second cohort for the BA Education Studies degree, meant that we could pave the way to develop the course into what it is today!
Is there any advice you would like to give future UCL students?
University is a great opportunity to explore your career aspirations. Take advantage of any events, voluntary and job opportunities that are offered to you whilst you are studying. You never know where they may take you!
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Last updated 28 April 2026.