The University of Westminster’s Centre for Social Justice Research (CSJR) has been recognised for its outstanding work-based learning projects in the national Academic Employability Awards Employer and Community Partnerships category.
Westminster is one of just eight institutions across the UK who have been shortlisted for the award, which recognises the outstanding contributions from academics across the UK and Ireland in embedding employability within higher education. The winners will be announced on 24 April in an award ceremony in London.
Established in 2023, the CSJR at Westminster aims to understand contemporary social inequalities and challenge the power relations and institutions that sustain them to bring about meaningful social change.
Led by Dr Jac St John, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, and Dr Naomi Oppenheim, Team Lead for the CSJR work-based learning projects, the Centre developed a series of collaborations with social justice partners which seek to introduce students to careers in the social justice sector and enable them to explore a meaningful career that works to change the world.
Dr Naomi Oppenheim and Dr Jac St John
As part of the projects, students at the CSJR can apply to internship programmes with a number of the UK’s leading social justice organisations, which provide opportunities to develop important research and employability skills by collaborating on a variety of research and public engagement activities. Over the course of the 12-week projects, students undertake training workshops and attend institutional visits to learn about the work of the partner organisation, hearing from experienced professionals and lifelong campaigners about the different aspects of their work.
Students also get the chance to undertake a variety of individual and group projects designed to support and amplify partners in their social justice work. The projects are designed to provide a supportive pathway for students interested in working in the civil society sector, with students given the opportunity to apply for paid internships over the summer with the partner organisations.
Students undertaking a group project
The work-based learning projects at the CSJR are enabled by funding from the Quintin Hogg Trust, which supports widening the opportunities for students and strengthening the knowledge exchange and community impact activities being developed at the Centre.
About the award Dr St John said: "It is brilliant to receive this kind of recognition, which is the result of a huge amount of work in recent years by colleagues, partner organisations and students. The support we’ve received for these projects speaks to the University’s commitment to research and knowledge exchange, community impact and education, as well as the CSJR’s mission to challenging the power relations and institutions that sustain social inequalities to bring about meaningful social change."
The CSJR work-based learning projects directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. 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 the Centre for Social Justice Research at the University of Westminster.
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