University of Westminster

Our alumni, Murray Levinson and Elizabeth Walton have been recognised for their work on The Brit List Top 25 Architects of 2024, with Levinson winning Highly Commended Architect of the Year 🙌

The Brit List Awards honour the top interior designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers working in Britain. The Awards, which have been running for seven years, gathered entries from architects across the UK and presented them to the 2024 judging panel. Judges then narrowed them down to a shortlist of nominees for The Brit List and individual awards in 13 categories 💛

The award ceremony took place at the Ministry of Sound, London, and saw Murray Levinson receive the Highly Commended Architect of the Year award, while Elizabeth Walton was featured in the Top 25 List 💫

Murray graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Architecture in 1994. He began his career with Squire and Partners in 1995, advancing to the role of partner by 2000. Elizabeth graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Architecture RIBA Part II Exemption in 2011, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture in 2013. Elizabeth brings over 15 years of expertise in luxury hospitality, residential and commercial projects across the globe, including London, Switzerland, Abu Dhabi and China 👏

🔗 Find out more about Murray Levinson, Elizabeth Walton and The Brit List Top 25 Architects of 2024: https://bit.ly/4anhQ8N

Our Digital Marketing Management students have participated in an engaging Marketing Clinic session in collaboration with Eel-Rides, an innovative sustainable transport business specialising in sustainable transportation through electric vehicles and car-sharing schemes 👏

As part of the Digital Customer Experience module, students applied theoretical concepts to real-world challenges, gaining hands-on experience in customer journey mapping, digital touchpoints and engagement strategies 💛

The session began with the Eel Rides team outlining their business model, target audience and current digital engagement practices. With this information, our students worked collaboratively to analyse various elements of the customer journey, focusing on optimising digital touchpoints such as websites, mobile apps and social media platforms. Our students were tasked with evaluating the company’s existing digital customer experience and proposing strategies to boost satisfaction and loyalty 💫

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4gVYfPK

“My course prepares me to make smart financial decisions while also learning how to manage and lead effectively.” - Jaoued Chettibi

At Westminster, we take a unique approach to education. Our practice-based learning connects students with real-world challenges through collaborations with local businesses, charities, and organisations 🤝

🎓 Gain the skills and confidence you need to succeed in the workplace. Discover more about authentic learning at Westminster here: https://vimeo.com/user222281727

Join our online Open Day to find out all you need to know about studying for a master's degree at Westminster 🎓

During the virtual event, you will have the opportunity to speak to course leaders, support staff and current students 👋

🔗 Book your place: https://bit.ly/4hn0P13

We are proud to have received a 'Good' rating for our degree apprenticeships following our most recent inspection by Ofsted, further solidifying our commitment to providing high-quality education and learner support 🏆

The Ofsted inspection, which evaluates the quality of education, learner welfare and leadership, awarded our degree apprenticeships with a rating of Good in all areas and commended our University for our strong leadership and a clear vision for continuous improvement. The inspectors graded our apprenticeships on five key aspects: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and safeguarding 💛

The quality of education on offer at our University was recognised for providing learners with an engaging curriculum and a supportive learning environment, equipping them with the skills needed for success in the workplace and beyond. Along with this, Ofsted found that our University places a strong emphasis on learner well-being, ensuring that support services are accessible and effective in promoting mental health, inclusion, social mobility and learner engagement 💫

We offer apprenticeships at Levels 4, 6 and 7 to 650 apprentices from across various sectors including Construction, Planning and Healthcare, all of which lead to a professionally accredited qualification. Each apprentice receives their own learning plan which clearly sets out the expectations placed on them as well as their employer. By combining academic study, practical experience and the wider employment skills vital for career success, apprenticeships at our University help to stem the skills gap, support economic growth and act as a productive and cost-effective way for businesses to expand and upskill their workforce 👏

🔗 Find out more about our recent Ofsted rating: https://bit.ly/3DZPmGk

Students from across our College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries attended and participated in the Google Design Sprint Master Workshop Hackathon organised by Savraj Matharu, Programme Director of our Interactive Media Practice course and Principal Lecturer in Digital Innovation 🙌

The design sprint showcased Google’s design methodology used to solve real-world problems. This year, there were four primary challenges the group were able to choose from: supporting young children to read more, managing digital anxiety and overstimulation, tackling a gambling addiction and supporting women in tackling domestic violence 💛

The winning team, comprising Fumi Ono, Service Designer and Project Manager, Yalina Ansari, Marketing Executive Intern and CMS Developer, and Devansh Karia, Software Engineer and UI Designer, tackled the challenge of encouraging young children to read more. The team developed a proof of concept leveraging an Augmented Reality experience, integrating innovative features such as voice detection and generative AI to create engaging visual simulations 👏

Their solution used AR to interpret audio inputs, generate relevant animations and employ speech-to-text tools to enhance the interactive experience. Additionally, the team addressed socioeconomic factors, emphasising the importance of cultivating reading habits, fostering continuous learning and strengthening parent-child bonding 💫

🔗 Find out more in our news story: https://bit.ly/3E114Ar

Our LGBTQ+ Empowerment Programme is back for its second year! 👏🏳️‍🌈

Do you know any second-year students and above who identify as LGBTQ+ and would be interested in connecting with fellow students in a programme that will empower them through joint experiences and collaboration? 💛

This programme will be a transformative experience for our LGBTQ+ students, creating a supportive space to acknowledge their personal and collective growth. They can engage in a series of empowering events, including a Queering Leadership seminar, a Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing session, a dedicated Empowerment Day, a final Awards Celebration event, and more 💫

🔗 Find out more about our LGBTQ+ Empowerment Programme and apply before 26 January: https://bit.ly/4hfCom4

Congratulations to Dr Ihab Tewfik, Senior Lecturer in Global Nutrition and leader of the Community Health, Resilience and Wellbeing Research Group at our University, who was recently awarded an Honorary Membership from the Georgian Society of Clinical Oncology! 🏆

This membership is the GSCO's highest honour to distinguished individuals who have made impactful contributions to cancer research, management and leadership in the field. The GSCO's Honorary membership recognises Dr Tewfik's achievements and contributions to the field of clinical oncology that foster collaboration to advance cancer research 🙌

Dr Tewfik's research portfolio has made substantial impacts in the field of nutritional support for patients living with cancer through the Tailored Functional Recipe concept that he has developed. This sustainable TFR concept employs a simple and low-technology approach by blending locally accessible, affordable, staple and culturally acceptable food ingredients proportionately 💫

With this Honorary membership, Dr Tewfik will receive additional privileges such as a complimentary subscription to the COJ, recognition at the GSCO's annual conferences and a lifelong membership in the GSCO society 👏

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4abDXit

Our Digital Marketing students have gained hands-on experience working with real-life client Blakademik. The collaboration provided our students with the opportunity to develop and apply social media marketing skills through authentic assessments, giving them an insight into the professional world 💛

The module incorporated practical formats designed to engage our students and enhance their skill sets. They had the chance to deliver work based on a live brief and engage in a Q&A session. These components allowed our students to gain insight into the client’s objectives and challenges while refining their understanding of professional expectations 👏

Another highlight of the module was the World Café format session. This was an interactive and practical session where our students worked alongside Blakademik and mentors from both industry and academia. During the session, our students were tasked with a two-hour challenge to research the target audience, identify the most suitable social media platform, develop a marketing message and produce a social media video tailored to the client’s needs. The client was present in the classroom, providing real-time feedback on our students’ work, making the experience both collaborative and dynamic ✨

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/404YssC

Applications are still open for FameLab UK, the country’s largest science communication competition! ✨

We are proud to be the London hub for FameLab, the world's largest science communication competition and training programme aimed at finding and supporting the next generation of science leaders 💛

Founded by Cheltenham Festivals in 2005, FameLab operates in over 30 countries and has engaged more than 40,000 scientists and engineers in science communication. As the London hub, the University will host a FameLab competition, where researchers will get the chance to compete for the title of best science communicator 👏

Applications close soon! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to share your ideas, amplify your voice in STEM, build confidence in presenting complex topics to a broad audience, and connect with scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians across the UK 💫

🔗 Find out more and apply by 30 Jan: https://bit.ly/4gJaMG7

Our Westminster Enterprise Network - University of Westminster has announced the launch of the third cohort of our alumni for its Elevate programme, an innovative business support initiative, which will officially start this week with a networking reception 💫

The Elevate programme is designed to empower our graduates who are founders of businesses registered and operating in the UK. The six-month programme provides tailored guidance and strategic resources to help boost their businesses, with a strong focus on revenue generation and improving efficiency 💛

Key components of the programme include personalised strategic planning with a dedicated Programme Advisor, accountability support, access to subject-matter experts, peer coaching, hybrid workshops and industry-relevant mentoring. A key highlight of the Elevate programme is the provision of up to £10,000 in equity-free funding, enabling founders to invest in areas of their businesses that drive sustainable growth ✨

The Elevate programme offers an environment of collaboration, learning and growth, reflecting our WeNetwork’s commitment to empowering our alumni founders to build sustainable and impactful businesses. The 2025 cohort represents a diverse group of ambitious entrepreneurs from a range of industries, from fashion and beauty to technology and marketing 🙌

🔗 Read more in our news story: https://bit.ly/40euYsr

Our Active Travel Academy hosted an event with transport consultancy Steer to celebrate their recent collaboration. Together, they aim to produce reader-friendly summaries of our academic research, making our Academy’s groundbreaking work more accessible to active travel practitioners worldwide! 🌍💛

Last month, around 70 active travel policymakers and practitioners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking collaboration between our Active Travel Academy, our Press journal Active Travel Studies and the transport consultancy Steer 🙌

Steer is supporting the creation of accessible, reader-friendly summaries of key research papers from the Active Travel Studies journal in English and other global languages including French, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. These summaries can be read by practitioners in just ten minutes, compared to the hour or more it typically takes to navigate an 8,000-word academic paper. Improving accessibility to academic research and breaking down barriers to knowledge will allow busy, active travel professionals such as policymakers and politicians to quickly understand and incorporate evidence-based strategies into active travel initiatives globally, empowering them to drive meaningful change in communities worldwide ✨

At the event, we welcomed attendees alongside representatives from Steer and our University Press. The evening featured a range of presentations, including one from Dr Robert Egan from Trinity College Dublin, who discussed his Active Travel Studies article on why teenage boys cycle more frequently than girls and what can be done to reduce this disparity 👏

🔗 Read more in our news story: https://bit.ly/4gRpuuS

"It was an absolutely incredible experience. I met international students, immersed myself in a new culture, and developed invaluable skills like adaptability and cross-cultural awareness. My advice? Take advantage of the opportunities Westminster offers!" - Jessica Jacobs 🌍

Our Global Exchange Programme supports students in exploring short-term study, research, work, or volunteering opportunities abroad 👏

🔗 Learn more about the Global Exchange Programme, available funding and how to apply here: https://bit.ly/4fW6ABz

We hosted the 2024 Accessibility Symposium, bringing together our colleagues, students, external guests and dynamic speaker panels. The event focused on this year’s themes: the overlap between physical and digital accessibility and the impact of the incoming European Accessibility Act on Higher Education ✨

The day was opened by an emotive speech from Dr Sal Jarvis, our Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education and sponsor of the Digital Accessibility project. She spoke of how accessibility has impacted the lives of her and her loved ones and how these experiences have driven her to ensure Westminster is an accessible place for all 💛

The event not only facilitated important discussions but also kickstarted the creation of shared industry resources that could be used as practical tools. Through the passionate debate and thoughtful workshop contributions of all attendees during the symposium, the beginnings of some of the first sector-wide resources to be shared by the recently formed Association of Learning Technologists Special Interest Group for Digital Accessibility were created 👏

🔗 Find out more about the 2024 Accessibility Symposium: https://bit.ly/3C3Vext

Applications are now open for our students to apply for exclusive internship opportunities with the United Nations! 👏

These internships, located in exciting headquarters and country offices in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central America, are an excellent opportunity to work with a United Nations agency and gain high-level professional experience 💫

Internship positions at the United Nations Migration Agency are now available for our Level 5, Level 6 and Master students to apply for. These opportunities are exclusive to our students thanks to a collaboration agreement signed between our University and the United Nations Migration Agency in 2022 💛

The positions are full-time, and their durations range from 3-9 months, depending on the specific post, with the approximate start dates in May/June 2025. We will also finance a large portion of the cost of the internship to assist with flight and living expenses 🙌

🔗 Find out more and apply before Friday, 24 January 2025: https://bit.ly/3DM7VO6

We are proud to announce our Digital Media and Journalism course has received full accreditation from the Professional Publishers Association, enhancing our students’ career prospects and validating the quality of education offered at our University! 🙌

The Professional Publishers Association accreditation is a recognition of the quality of journalism training and development for those entering the magazine and business media industry. The PPA accreditation process evaluates a number of criteria, including the coverage of essential journalism skills across print, digital and social media platforms, the track record of graduates in journalism-related roles, the effectiveness of media law training and the ability to produce journalists capable of engaging digital audiences 💛

The accreditation will bring significant benefits to our University, strengthening our reputation for producing high-quality graduates ready to enter the industry. This recognition will also enhance connections with the industry, providing access to more guest speakers, improved workplace learning opportunities, and invaluable insights that enrich our students' experience and align our course with industry needs ✨

Our Digital Media and Journalism course has been designed to prepare our students for the fast-changing media and communication industries and digital media roles of the future. Employability and enterprise skills embedded in the modules, through the use of practical tasks and problem-solving exercises that mirror the workplace, give our students the chance to experience the world of journalism head-on 💫

🔗 Find out more: https://bit.ly/4acci0S

Students from our Digital Marketing, International Marketing and Marketing Communications with AI Integration courses have experienced hands-on, work-based learning through our University’s Consumer Insights module. This innovative module facilitated engagement with four UK-based organisations, including Imm Thai Fusion, Metro Coffee, The Dyas and CARVE, who acted as clients for our students 🙌

The module provided our students with the opportunity to step into the role of consumer behaviour analysts at a consulting firm. Through the first assessment, students were tasked to conduct detailed research with the primary focus of exploring how sustainability impacts consumer decision-making processes within specific industries. As part of the module, our students learnt the fundamentals of primary research, such as surveys and secondary research, with a significant focus on online methods to gather and analyse consumer insights that inform marketing decision-making 💛

For the first assessment, our students engaged with businesses via live briefings and Q&A sessions, which culminated in delivering live pitches directly to their clients with the results of their research. For the second assessment, students were tasked to identify and justify an opinion leader for one of the UK-based businesses participating in the module 💫

The collaboration between the businesses and our students was made possible through the efforts of our Westminster Enterprise Network - University of Westminster and the module leader Maria Bortnovskaya. As our University’s entrepreneurial network, WeNetwork connects our students and recent graduates with industry, helping them develop entrepreneurial skills, engage in self-employment opportunities and create businesses. The team helps connect students with the world of work to solve real-world problems and widen participation in entrepreneurship, enterprise opportunities and education 👏

🔗 Read more in our news story: https://bit.ly/424wQ9y