Top 10 highlights of the University of Westminster in 2024

1.    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. 

2.    Westminster students singing to music legend Billy Ocean

Singer and Westminster Honorary Doctor Billy Ocean visited the University of Westminster to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his album Suddenly. During the day he had the chance to see his portrait as part of the University’s new Black History Year mural and listen to Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours students perform.

Student and singer Sarah Adesiyan said: “Getting the chance to perform and talk to a legend within my field was incredibly special for me! It gave me that extra boost of reassurance that I am on the right path. Having similar thought processes in regards to managing a creative project allowed me to believe in myself more than ever before.”

3.    Launching the University’s own circular economy marketplace to shop and sell preloved and homemade items

The University of Westminster has partnered with Hazaar to give students and colleagues the chance to buy and sell preloved and homemade items online and at in-person pop-up markets. The move also boosts sustainability on campus. The Hazaar app creates university-specific marketplaces without the need for postage, as students and colleagues can buy and sell online and meet to trade items, offering the chance of same day delivery. It also provides an opportunity to meet new people and create a more connected campus community. Students can find a range of items including clothes, artwork, sports equipment, fancy dress outfits, homeware and unique hand-made accessories.

Hazaar are also working on learning and teaching innovations with the University, sharing their work through case study material, creating client briefs and setting business problems for Westminster students to attend to. The platform also gives students the chance to boost their employability by taking on paid ambassador roles, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills through managing events and promoting the sustainability-focused marketplace.

4.    Celebrating five years of Black History Year with series of eye-opening and engaging events

The University of Westminster celebrated its five-year anniversary of the launch of Black History Year (BHY), an initiative that celebrates Black history, stories, lives, politics, creativity and achievement all year round. To celebrate the milestone the University hosted a variety of events including talks with historian, freelance journalist and author Dr Miranda Kaufmann and a Westminster Conversations event that explored agitation and allyship to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the University’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network. 

Westminster Honorary Doctorate Levi Roots also visited Regent Campus to unveil the University’s new BHY wall mural. The wall is one of two murals around the University’s campuses designed to mark Black History Year and features notable Black Honorary Doctorates such as Roots, The Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and Billy Ocean.

5.    Celebrating alumni’s BAFTA success 

Two Westminster alumni have taken home BAFTAs at this year’s awards ceremonies. Journalism BA Honours alumnus Jack Rooke (above right) was awarded Best Comedy Writer at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2024 for his show Big Boys. As both writer and narrator, Rooke tells the story of two misfit guys becoming best friends at university and was inspired by his time at Westminster. Along with his BAFTA he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster for his services to equality and mental health.

University of Westminster Film and Television Production BA Honours alumnus David Thompson (above left) also won a BAFTA this year. He won the award for best Single Documentary for his work as an Editor on Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family. The documentary reveals that the Paralympian is adopted and follows her journey to find her biological family. Simmonds is often seen in the pool winning medals for Team GB, collecting five Paralympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals in her career, but the documentary shows a whole new side of the athlete as she embarks on the emotional road to be reunited with her birth mother. 

6.    Westminster’s innovative Future Ready Mentoring programmes winning Best of Europe Region Award from Council for Advancement and Support of Education

Westminster’s Future Ready Mentoring (FRM) Team was awarded the Best of Europe Region Award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the student engagement category. This award recognises the innovative group mentoring programmes delivered at the University since 2023.

The award-winning FRM programmes at the University provide students and recent graduates with opportunities to connect with industry professionals and improve their employability through long and short-term career mentoring and in-curriculum group mentoring. 

7.    Hosting National Student Pride for tenth time

In 2024 Westminster hosted National Student Pride for the tenth time. The three days of celebration, music, awards and parties were made for students by students and aimed to improve the queer student experience across the UK. Guests and performances included Joe Lycett in conversation with Comedian and Writer Suzi Ruffell, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and British Ru Paul Drag Race star Tia Kofi. Attendees also had access to a party at G-A-Y Heaven and panels focused on LGBTQIA + issues, including a Queer Question Time event with a panel of politicians. 

8.    Westminster Students’ Union being named Students’ Union of the Year and getting gold accreditation

The University of Westminster Students’ Union (UWSU) earned the title of Students’ Union of the Year by the National Centre for Diversity in their Top 100 Inclusive UK Employers Index 2024. Along with this, the UWSU was included in the top 30 most inclusive employers in the UK. 

The SU runs regular campaigns to engage with the diverse demographic of students at Westminster and hosts annual events such as celebrations for Black History Month, Disability History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month and Women’s History Month. These events are often run in collaboration with the University’s colleague networks. For example, the Q+ Network helped organise an open miQ+ night earlier this year.

The UWSU is accredited by both the Investors in People (IiP) and Investors in Diversity (IiD), which reflects its ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). It was also awarded a gold accreditation and certificate of achievement for their commitment to welfare and wellbeing as part of the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Best Bar None scheme.  

9.    Being named in the top 15% of universities worldwide for sustainability

Due to the University’s constant efforts to combat climate change and further social causes across its campuses and further afield, Westminster has been recognised as one of the top 15% out of over 1960 universities from around the world for its work on contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, according to the Times Higher Education (THE)’s Impact Rankings 2024. This is the fifth year in a row that the University has maintained its high overall ranking with notable achievements across several individual SDGs, contributing to the exceptional performance of the UK in the league table. 

The recently published Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report 2023-2024 outlines how the University has embedded SDGs into teaching, research and operations over the academic year to help support a more sustainable society. Key events and initiatives include hosting the World Public Health Nutrition Congress, supporting the Cavendish Living Lab with £40,000 of funding and installing solar panels across Westminster campuses.

10.    Westminster students embarking on international trips through Westminster Working Cultures 

In 2024 Westminster students again took part in WWC International trips, where they explored professional environments and learned from industry professionals from across the globe. They visited a variety of countries and cities including Washington DC, Berlin, Barcelona, Dubai, Hong Kong, Cairo, Mumbai, Toronto and Singapore, with each trip providing inspiration for their careers and next steps.

+1. His Majesty, King Charles III becoming Patron of the University of Westminster 

Following a large review of Royal Patronages, King Charles III has become the University’s Royal Patron, continuing a long history of royal connections.

King Charles III has visited all the University’s campuses on several occasions. He first came to Westminster in June 1980 and since then has attended many events, including the opening of the Polyclinic, a ground-breaking teaching and research clinic for complementary medicines, and the Centre for Community Care and Public Health.

Explore the top 10 highlights of the 2023-2024 academic year at the University of Westminster.