This academic year has been full of incredible achievements, countless awards and many fun and exciting events here at the University of Westminster. While almost impossible to narrow down to just ten, here are some of the highlights from the 2024-25 academic year - in no particular order.
1. Being named University of the Year at 2025 Queer Student Awards
The University of Westminster was named the University of the Year at the 2025 Queer Student Awards (QSAs), a national celebration recognising the impact of LGBTQ+ students, graduates and inclusive institutions across the UK.
Westminster’s recognition reflects a broad and intentional programme of support, visibility and empowerment. Landmark initiatives include the LGBTQ+ Empowerment Programme, an eight-week journey for LGBTQ+ students centred on leadership, wellbeing and self-expression; Open MiQ+ nights, which bring the University community together through inclusive, expressive performances; and the Queering Academia Conference.
Rajat Shah, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Westminster, who led the award submission, said: “When I moved to the UK in 2022, I was searching for belonging. I found that, and so much more, here at Westminster. Not only did I feel a sense of belonging, but I’ve truly begun to thrive.”
2. Celebrating 50 years of Media degrees
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the University’s pioneering Media Studies degree, the first undergraduate course of its kind in the UK. To celebrate the milestone, the University held a celebration event and two-day conference, bringing together students, academics, alumni and global media scholars to honour a half-century of media education.
The festivities also provided the opportunity to look to the future of Media teaching, with the School of Media and Communication set to launch two state-of-the-art virtual production studios, as well as the new Westminster Waves, a next-generation digital station with the infrastructure to grow into a DAB-licensed broadcaster with potential reach of over two million people across West London.
3. Winning Education Facility of the Year at National Fitness Awards
The University of Westminster’s fitness facilities won the Education Facility of the Year category at the National Fitness Awards, a prestigious annual event that recognises and honours the best fitness facilities, gym instructors and health clubs across the country.
Over 100 education facilities entered a nomination for the 2024 Awards and six were shortlisted. To decide a winner, a panel of judges visited each site to look at the institution’s range of facilities, how they engage with students, colleagues and the wider community, and how they are successfully spreading the word about health and fitness to the younger generation.
The standard of Westminster’s facilities, the free membership, access to sports for students and colleagues, and key sporting successes among students played a key role in the win.
4. Financial Times featuring Westminster as only educational institution on UK’s Best Employers 2025 list
This academic year Westminster was the only educational institution to be featured in the Financial Times UK’s Best Employers 2025 list.
Access to free on-site gyms, a generous 35 days’ annual leave allowance in addition to bank holidays and seasonal University closures, generous pension contribution, access to an Employee Assistance Programme, language learning possibilities and a large provision of other employee benefits all contribute to realising these ambitions.
5. Hosting the London Student Sustainability Conference 2025
The University of Westminster hosted the London Student Sustainability Conference 2025, bringing together students from universities across the capital to showcase innovative projects addressing global sustainability challenges.
The London Student Sustainability Conference is a student-led event, organised by eleven London-based universities, including the University of Westminster. Held on 26 February at Westminster’s Little Titchfield Street site, attendees had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of key sustainability challenges, explore potential solutions and network with fellow students, academics and professionals. Launching community programmes with The Rebel School and Netcompany to empower women from marginalised backgrounds
6. Partnering with The Rebel School and Netcompany to empower underrepresented women
The University of Westminster partnered with The Rebel School and Netcompany to launch free digital upskilling and business programmes to empower underrepresented women from diverse backgrounds.
The programme was run by The Rebel School and provided a week-long series of workshops in London and Glasgow where Westminster academics provided expertise in an array of useful topics such as building a website, social media for businesses and using modern digital tools like Artificial Intelligence. Participants also benefited from Q&A sessions with colleagues from international IT consultancy Netcompany where they gained professional insight into the digital business world.
7. Achieving EcoCampus Platinum Award
Westminster’s Environmental Management System (EMS) received the Platinum Award from EcoCampus for its sustainable planning and performance. Having previously received the EcoCampus Gold Award in 2018, which was recertified in 2023, the Platinum certification demonstrates the strong progress the University has made in its journey towards sustainable development.
The use of an EMS helps the University to identify, manage and reduce its environmental impacts, ensure legal compliance and drive continual improvement. The system not only solidifies the University’s Being Westminster 2022-2029 strategic commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment but also helps to reduce waste, tackle emissions and conserve energy.
8. Students embarking on international trips through Westminster Working Cultures programme
During the academic year Westminster students again took part in Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) international and UK trips, where they explored professional environments and learned from industry experts from across the globe.
In September, four separate groups of students embarked on international visits to Dubai, Hong Kong and Toronto, and various locations across the UK. These global experiences continued with trips to Cairo and Mumbai in December, followed by a visit to Singapore in June.
9. Succeeding in the Museums + Heritage Awards 2025
Professor Mykaell Riley’s Beyond the Bassline collaboration with the British Library was named the winner in the Temporary and Touring Exhibition of the Year with a Budget More Than £80,000 category at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2025. It is the first major exhibition to document the 500-year musical journey of African and Caribbean people in Britain.
Along with this, the W-ICAD project (Workshop for Inclusive Co-created Audio Description), led by Dr Alison Eardley, Reader in Psychology, Cultural Heritage and Inclusion at the University of Westminster, was shortlisted for the Sector Impact Award. The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded project challenges the traditional view that audio description is created for the benefit of blind audiences by sighted people. Instead, W-ICAD provides museums with a practical tool that enables them to create audio description, led by blind, partially blind and sighted co-creators, that will benefit all audiences.
10. Supporting disadvantaged young people through education and career transitions
During the 2024–25 academic year, the University of Westminster partnered with FFT Education Datalab and the National Foundation for Educational Research to convene policymakers, academics and key stakeholders from across the UK. Together, they examined data and insights on the “Forgotten Third”, the 16-year-olds who do not achieve a grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSEs. Two dedicated events, held in January and June, focused on identifying effective strategies to support disadvantaged young people as they navigate the critical transitions into further education, training and employment.
Find out about the 2023-2024 academic year highlights.
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