Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) has celebrated eight years of supporting students’ professional development, marking the milestone with its Annual Reunion while continuing to expand its global reach through international trips to Cairo and Mumbai.
The WWC Annual Reunion brought together 130 former participants to reconnect, reflect on their experiences and strengthen their professional networks. The event celebrated the impact of the University-wide initiative that has supported more than 1,000 Westminster students and recent graduates through its UK and international programmes.
Designed to develop students’ professional skills and global outlook, WWC offers participants the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of alumni speakers and partner organisations across the world. The programme, funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust, helps students become work-ready, confident and globally minded graduates.
As part of WWC International, 17 students travelled to Mumbai in December and 19 visited Cairo in January. Across 22 sessions, they met 34 alumni and partners working in sectors including entrepreneurship, film, international development, journalism, law and media. Students gained insight into local working cultures and career pathways through visits to organisations such as the Egyptian hospitality brand BirdNest, the British Embassy and British Council as well as hearing from alumni who have founded their own businesses and work in the film industry.
Students also visited local universities: ATLAS SkillsTech University in Mumbai, a longstanding partner of the University of Westminster, and the American University in Cairo, where they toured the campuses and learned about student life. Cultural experiences, including visits to the pyramids in Cairo and Dharavi in Mumbai, complemented the professional programme, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones and reflect on their personal and professional growth.
WWC trip to Cairo
International Business BA Honours student Huseyin Yukselir, who took part in WWC Cairo, said: “This was more than a Westminster Working Cultures trip, it was brain-rewiring. It's completely changed my outlook on a lot of things, and I'm so grateful to have been on this trip and to have made such great friends along the way.”
About the Annual Reunion Economics and Management BA Honours student Adan Suleman said: “It was incredible to reconnect with so many familiar faces at the WWC Annual Reunion. Hearing how this programme continues to boost confidence and transform careers was truly inspiring. Reflecting on my own experience with WWC UK, the biggest takeaway was learning to seize every opportunity and build lasting connections. It has genuinely broadened my professional perspective.”
Alumni continue to play a vital role in the programme’s success. Marketing Communications MA alumnus and Director of Nectwork Foods, Jigar Mehta, who spoke to students in Mumbai, said: "Being an alumnus of the University, it gives me immense pleasure to be invited as a speaker at WWC and share insights from my entrepreneurial journey, especially what it truly takes to build and run a global business.”
"This is a fantastic initiative by the University. Platforms like these encourage young minds to think beyond conventional paths, explore possibilities fearlessly and even consider building something in a completely different country. It opens up perspectives that are so important in today’s world.”
Alyssa Martin, Senior Alumni Networks Manager, added: “At the heart of Westminster Working Cultures is a simple ethos: opportunity changes lives. Seeing our students engage so openly with alumni and partners in Cairo, Mumbai as well as across the world, and then reconnect at the WWC Annual Reunion with such confidence and ambition, reinforces why this programme matters. WWC creates space for students to step beyond their comfort zones, build meaningful connections and see themselves as global professionals. The growth we witness in participants, both personally and professionally, is what makes leading this programme so rewarding.”
Since launching in 2017, WWC International has hosted 38 trips worldwide, while WWC UK, launched in 2020, has delivered 18 programmes and numerous events. Upcoming programmes will take place in the UK, Dubai and Singapore in April 2026.
Westminster Working Cultures 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 to frame strategic decisions that help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Westminster Working Cultures or contact the Westminster Working Cultures Team for further information.
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