Clara Mayerl, who is graduating with a BA International Relations with Applied Quantitative Methods, was one of six students who worked with Essex County Council on an innovative research initiative called the Challenge Project.

Clara Mayerl

Together with another student, Clara provided recommendations to enhance civic engagement and participation in the county of Essex.

She said: “The Challenge Project helped me develop important industrial skills, such as attention to detail, professional communication and project management. Overall, this placement has constantly challenged me personally and professionally, which has considerably reinforced my self-confidence and understanding of the professional environment.”

She plans to develop some of the recommendations she made in the final report by testing them in the context of the University where she intends to continue her studies.

Hear Clara talk about the project

• Government students reinvigorate Essex for Challenge Project placement. from University of Essex on Vimeo.

The doors to Graduation 2016 open on 12 July. 4,691 students will graduate, bringing the number of Essex graduates, since 1964, to more than 93,000.

Each and every one of our 2016 graduates has had a life-changing experience. They have risen to the challenge of developing a research mindset, they have been involved in clubs, societies and volunteering, and they have grasped opportunities.

We can’t tell all their stories but our Graduating 2016 student profiles shine a light on the individual experiences that make the Essex family inclusive, international and inspiring.