The University of Westminster has been shortlisted in two major categories at the Graduate Futures Institute’s Academic Employability Awards 2026, earning recognition for its sector-leading approach to embedding employability across its courses. The University has been nominated for both the University of the Year and Technology for Employability categories, highlighting its institution-wide commitment to preparing students for the world of work through academic-led teaching and innovation.
The Academic Employability Awards celebrate universities that demonstrate outstanding support for student employability through curriculum design, teaching practices and employer engagement.
The University of Westminster’s nomination for University of the Year recognises a major transformation in how employability is embedded across all undergraduate courses. Guided by its Being Westminster Strategy 2022-2029, the University has introduced a model where every student benefits from structured, work-based learning as part of their degree.
By 2025, 100% of undergraduate programmes had been redesigned to include mandatory Work Based and Placement Learning (WBPL). Each course now offers students at least 35 hours of industry-linked experience, alongside opportunities for placements or study abroad. This shift ensures employability is no longer an optional extra but a core part of the academic experience, led by teaching colleagues across all disciplines.
Academic teams have played a central role in shaping WBPL to suit their disciplines. In courses such as Fashion Design BA Honours, students undertake extended industry placements supported by tailored career preparation and reflective assessment. In Biomedical Sciences, students build professional portfolios that demonstrate both technical expertise and transferable skills. These approaches aim to strengthen students’ professional identity, confidence and readiness for graduate careers.
The University’s employability ecosystem is further supported by initiatives such as Future Ready Mentoring, which delivered over 4,500 hours of guidance in 2024/25, and Westminster Working Cultures, offering students international insights into workplace environments.
Westminster Working Cultures trip to Cairo
With one of the UK’s most diverse student populations, ranking second for social mobility among English universities, according to a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and educational charity the Sutton Trust, the University has prioritised inclusive access to employability opportunities. Students from over 170 nationalities study at Westminster, and targeted initiatives support those from underrepresented backgrounds to build confidence and career readiness.
With Zone29, a new home for careers and enterprise opening in 2026, the University is set to further strengthen connections between students, employers and the wider community.
The University’s second nomination in the Technology for Employability category reflects Westminster’s investment in digital tools and partnerships that support student outcomes, such as its new Games Studio module. The programme embeds authentic work-based learning within the Computer Games Development BSc Honours curriculum.
Established in 2018 and redesigned in 2023, the course immerses students in professional studio environments, giving them the opportunity to use industry tools, take part in live briefs and receive mentorship from senior professionals. This initiative bridges education and industry, building equity through AI-driven interview preparation and diverse team roles. Over two years, 76 students have developed publicly released prototypes, gaining real-world experience and confidence. Graduates have secured industry roles, demonstrating the module’s scalable and inclusive impact on employability in the games sector.
At its core, Games Studio bridges research, knowledge exchange, community impact and education. Students do not merely study game development; they operate within structured studio teams, responding to live industry briefs and delivering publicly accessible prototypes under professional conditions.
The module is delivered by academics with substantial professional games industry experience, several of whom hold certified instructor status with Epic Games. This dual authority ensures teaching is academically rigorous while firmly grounded in contemporary studio practice.
Markos Mentzelopoulos, Course Leader for Computer Games Development BSc Honours, said: “We are thrilled to see Games Studio nominated in the Technology for Employability category. For us as a team of academics, this reflects the value of creating a studio-based learning experience where teamwork, creativity and professional practice sit at the heart of the course. We would also like to recognise the outstanding support of PlayHire and its mentors, whose guidance and industry insight have played an important role in enriching the student experience. This nomination is a celebration of collaborative teaching, ambitious students and the partnerships that help bring employability to life. We are also excited to continue building this collaboration further by engaging more mentors, more companies and more embedded technologies, so that our students remain closely connected to the fast-changing demands of the games and creative technology sector.”
Linsey Cole, Director of Business Engagement and Graduate Futures, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for University of the Year. This nomination recognises our commitment to supporting our students to get jobs by embedding careers and enterprise activities into the curriculum across the University. Supported by strong employer and alumni partnerships, global insights and Zone29, our new home of careers and enterprise, our strategy has ensured inclusive access to opportunities to drive graduate success. This nomination celebrates the dedication of our colleagues, the ambition of our students and the collaboration with our employer partners and alumni community.”
These nominations showcase how the University of Westminster directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
The winners will be announced at the Academic Employability Awards ceremony, which will take place on 30 April at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in London.
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