The University of Westminster has been shortlisted for three London Higher Awards 2024. Westminster has been recognised in three categories: Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at a London University, Outstanding Contribution to Student Employability and Best Research/Knowledge Exchange Collaboration in London.
The London Higher Awards recognise excellence across 12 categories in London’s higher education sector. This year, the awards received 159 submissions from 38 universities. Westminster was shortlisted in three categories, recognising the University’s outstanding work in entrepreneurship, employability and knowledge exchange. The winners will be announced on 6 June at the London Higher Awards ceremony.
The shortlist for the Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at a London University recognises a London Higher member who has demonstrated an exceptional approach to embedding entrepreneurship within its community. The University of Westminster has been recognised for its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups, through programmes delivered by the Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), which brings students and recent graduates together with industry to develop their entrepreneurship skills. The shortlisted entry for London Higher specifically spotlights WeNetwork’s Elevate business support programme, which launched in 2022-2023 to support alumni business founders from underrepresented communities with tailored mentoring, workshops and funding opportunities.
The University of Westminster has also been shortlisted for its outstanding contribution to student employability, through providing inclusive opportunities to develop the confidence and professional networks of our students. Following the publication of the Being Westminster 22-29 strategy, the University has significantly scaled a series of employability programmes within and outside of the curriculum, including Future Ready Mentoring, Westminster Working Cultures, WeNetwork enterprise activities, the Early Careers Support Package and Westminster Employability Award.
Along with this, Westminster is in the shortlist for Best Research/Knowledge Exchange Collaboration in London. Dr Jay Mackenzie, Reader in Psychology at the University of Westminster, has collaborated with Lisa Marzano from Middlesex University London on research around suicide prevention. Together they have been collaborating for 13 years on research, training and supporting public awareness campaigns to challenge taboos, get people talking and acting to prevent suicides in London and further afield. Their successful collaboration has contributed to a decrease in suicides on the London Underground and is encouraging people to be more open about mental health.
Speaking about the awards, Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, said: “It is fantastic to see the University’s outstanding employability and entrepreneurial initiatives recognised not only for their excellence, but also for our commitment to diversity and inclusion of students from all backgrounds. We are devoted to providing opportunities which enable all students to thrive after graduation, whatever their professional ambitions may be.”
The University’s employability initiatives directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, while Dr Mackenzie's research contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. 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.
Learn more about Employability at Westminster.
Related articles
