The Quintin Hogg Trust has generously donated £5.3 million for the following academic year to support Westminster’s teaching and enrich overall student experience.
The Quintin Hogg Trust has worked alongside the University to provide support in a number of different areas to enhance both learning and teaching experiences at Westminster, those of which include funding in: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), the employability sector, and engaging students in Research and Knowledge Exchange.
Through supporting and celebrating diversity at the University, the Trust aims to focus on EDI, continuing Westminster’s dedication to eliminate learning barriers, regardless of background. The proposal is intended to enhance Westminster’s engagement with EDI, build community and communities at the University, and create a space where all students and colleagues feel safe and comfortable bringing themselves to study and work.
The proposed EDI project aims to complement existing work undertaken to tackle access and participation for disadvantaged groups, including two pilot projects to improve opportunities for BAME communities.
Through a programme of related events and activities characterised by collaborative work between students, colleagues and external partners, the funding will also be able to celebrate the University’s commitment to EDI.
The University’s commitment to enhancing both the employability and entrepreneurship skills, and also guide the graduate outcomes of the students, is a long-standing priority.
By placing students as the ‘front-and-centre’ of the projects approved for funding, the Research and Knowledge Exchange strand of the project will develop and support a portfolio of research and community engagement activity to be co-delivered by students in collaboration with both academic and Professional Services teams.
With the funding, the programme aims to create courses and extra-curricular programmes that prepare graduates for future work, increase mentoring opportunities, and position the University at the centre of employer, business and industry networks.
Alongside the development of the 29 Marylebone Road site, the Trust’s donations will also contribute towards allowing students to collaborate with external organisations on specific projects and challenges, creating and running employer and community networks in key sectors, and placing students in local companies to apply their skills and expertise on a specific innovation project.
Funding has also been granted to drastically increase the mentoring opportunities available to students, as well as the upscaling of its entrepreneurial infrastructure to support those that wish to pursue a career in business.
The project will contribute to introducing research internships, allowing students to have the opportunity to publish their work, and enhancing the prospects of students in securing employment by creating paid or experience-based opportunities.
Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising said: “Thank you to the Quintin Hogg Trust for working closely with us over the last nine months to help us introduce some changes to the grant application process. We’ve been encouraged working on the joint bids across the University this year, and are extremely grateful for the recent approval of such a munificent grant for projects commencing this academic year to support our students.”
Marius Brodeala, Development Projects Officer who manages the portfolio of QHT-funded projects added: “We are very grateful to the Trust for their continued support, which is visibly transforming the experience of students at Westminster. This new grant will help accelerate the achievement of key initiatives and help translate our commitments into actions.”
Ann Rumpus, a Trustee from the Quintin Hogg Trust stated: “The Trustees are absolutely delighted to be supporting the University with this award. Throughout the pandemic the University has put enormous effort into supporting its student population and this theme of placing priority on student engagement will continue strongly through these new projects. One of the very appealing aspects of this programme is the extent to which the students are directly involved in the delivery of the initiatives and the Trust welcomes this, and wishes the University well in undertaking the work.”
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