Top 10 highlights of the University of Westminster in 2020

1. Westminster Working Cultures expanded to support thousands of students over the next three years

Following the successful launch of the Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) programme in 2017, the programme has expanded to create further opportunities for hundreds of students annually both abroad and in the UK, with a new innovative iteration which launched in September. The expanded programme now features three branches of activity – International, UK and Professional, which will support hundreds of students each year through offering an unparalleled global and local employability experience. Read the full article.

2. Architecture and Interiors students host successful virtual OPEN 2020 exhibition

In July, the School of Architecture + Cities hosted their first ever virtual OPEN exhibition to celebrate the work of Westminster’s Architecture and Interiors students. Over 700 students and colleagues from the School took part in constructing the immersive experience, assembling all exhibits into a single digital space. As a result of the students’ hard work on OPEN 2020, they were awarded over £15,000 in prizes by corporate donors. Read the full article.

3. Pro bono Westminster Legal Advice Clinic tripled its service provision

Due to its recent expansion, Westminster’s Legal Advice Clinic has more than tripled its services offered to the community, and now has the capacity to assist around 140 clients per year free of charge. The expansion was generously funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust and allowed for the recruitment of 11 new practicing law professionals to act as clinic supervisors. Read the full article.

Following its expansion, the Law Clinic brought together university law clinics, Law Centres, community groups and members of the community to join forces and launch The Windrush Justice Clinic, offering independent free legal advice and assistance to victims of the Windrush scandal in making claims under the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Read the full article.

4. Westminster named the first London university to be awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Gold Mark

The University was proud to confirm its position as a pioneering and socially responsible organisational leader by becoming the first London university to be awarded the Social Enterprise Gold Mark. This prestigious accolade recognises Westminster as a beacon of social enterprise across many business areas central to social enterprise excellence.

The accreditation process highlighted Westminster’s commitment to health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion, and engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Creative Enterprise Centre, Legal Advice Clinic and Westminster’s research communities. Read the full article.

5. University of Westminster’s COVID-19 appeal raises over £470,000 to help students in need during the coronavirus pandemic

The University of Westminster launched its distinctive COVID-19 Response Fund Appeal and was overwhelmed by the level of generosity shown by its supporters, seeing the University raise over £470,000; 30% of which will be received through regular monthly payments to help ensure the sustainability of the fund. The COVID-19 Response Fund Appeal has supported the arising needs of its most vulnerable and deserving students to ensure they could continue to reach their true potential regardless of the obstacles they had faced. Read the full article.

The Westminster community has also maximised its efforts to help fight coronavirus outside of the University, from providing crucial testing equipment to the Government’s testing unit in Milton Keynes, to scientific experts from the School of Life Sciences working on a voluntary basis in the COVID-19 testing facilities to contribute to the 100,000 tests a day target. Read the full article.

6. University of Westminster placed fourth in the UK for International Outlook in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020 

In 2020, The University of Westminster held its place ranking fourth in the UK for International Outlook, and also placed 32nd for International Outlook globally. The Times Higher Education’s Young University league table lists the world’s best universities that are aged 50 or younger. The 2020 ranking included 414 universities, up from 351 in 2019. The ranking reflects the University of Westminster’s embracement of global engagement in all forms through its rich mix of international partnerships worldwide and emphasis on providing international opportunities for students. Read the full article.

7. University of Westminster launches Black History Year 

Commencing in October during Black History Month and continuing throughout the academic year beyond, the University of Westminster hosted an array of events and held space to explore Black history. Westminster’s Black History Year Steering Group, a collective of Westminster’s BME colleagues, allies and the Students’ Union put together a programme of talks, events and launched a blog that spans the academic year to build a sound platform for recognising Black histories. 

The Black History Year initiative has provided opportunities for the Westminster community to engage with Black colleagues’ and students’ histories by reflecting on times past using Westminster’s archival collection while responding to the present with case studies that reflect extraordinary achievements. Read the full article.

8. University of Westminster launches exclusive career support package for Class of 2020

Westminster was proud to offer this year’s graduating students an exclusive careers support package to help their ongoing career journey in the face of challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. The package includes unlimited access to Westminster’s Class of 2020 careers support website, a one-stop shop to key resources and services available to all new Westminster graduates, including handpicked online resources, remote careers appointments and exclusive access to Westminster’s brand-new innovative interview preparation platform Shortlist.Me. Read the full article.

9. Film students collaborate with BBC on expansion of 50:50 Equality Project

Film BA Honours students from the University of Westminster collaborated with the BBC on the expansion of the 50:50 project, a collective action initiative committed to supporting the BBC and other organisations to consistently create media content that fairly represents our world. Nine students from the University were selected to produce video content for the project, where they were involved in filming, scripting, editing graphics, sound, production and photography for the videos. Read the full article.

10. Westminster maximises collaboration with ethical organisations through new Social Impact Hub 

As part of the University’s mission to expand its work-related opportunities for students and to contribute to its communities in positive, impactful ways, the School of Organisations, Economy and Society set up the Social Impact Hub. The Hub will coordinate work experience for students who will collaborate with ethical partner organisations, apply their learning and utilise their research skills in supporting organisations on a voluntary basis. Read the full article.

To further its social impact, the University also launched its brand new Social Enterprise MSc, giving students not only an opportunity to gain a formal qualification but also the tools, knowledge and connections to enable them to make a greater positive difference in the world through social enterprise. Read the full article.