London Metropolitan University is celebrating national success after winning the Authentic Assessment for Employability category at the Academic Employability Awards 2026
Date: 1 May 2026
London Metropolitan University is celebrating national success after winning the Authentic Assessment for Employability category at the Graduate Futures Institute’s Academic Employability Awards 2026, announced last night at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in London.
The award recognises London Met’s strong approach to embedding employability directly into teaching and assessment, ensuring students gain the practical, industry-ready skills needed to thrive in competitive professional environments.
The winning submission showcased how its Journalism curriculum has strengthened employability through authentic, industry-focused assessment. Led by Dr Wendy Sloane, the programme immerses students in real newsroom environments through live editorial roles, mock interviews, portfolio development, production journals.
Students also benefit from industry-standard publishing via Holloway Express, and work placements supported by the London Met Journalism Diversity Network.
By combining professional practice with inclusive teaching that foregrounds representation and tackles structural inequalities in journalism, the initiative has significantly boosted student confidence, satisfaction, retention, and career outcomes - creating a sector-leading model for preparing diverse graduates to succeed in competitive media industries.
Dr Wendy Sloane, Deputy Dean for the School of Computing and Digital Media, added: "We are immensely proud to receive this award, which recognises the innovative work developed through our Newsroom Production modules and wider employability initiatives.
"Through authentic assessments, live industry projects and opportunities such as Holloway Express and the London Met Journalism Diversity Network, we are preparing students to excel in the highly competitive world of journalism and beyond. This award reflects our commitment to bringing learning to life and ensuring our graduates are fully prepared for professional success."
The Academic Employability Awards celebrate excellence in how universities integrate employability into curriculum design, teaching and assessment. London Met’s success in the Authentic Assessment for Employability category further cements its reputation as a leader in career-focused higher education.
Alexandra Banks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Success), said: "Winning this national award is an incredible achievement for London Met and a testament to the dedication of our academic and professional services colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure our students are career-ready from day one. This award is also a powerful example of the impact of our Skills for Future Success programme, which underpins how we embed employability across the student experience.
"At London Met, employability is embedded throughout the student journey, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering transformational education through Skills for Future Success - equipping students with the confidence, skills and real-world experience they need to succeed."
This latest achievement builds on London Met’s continued commitment to social mobility, inclusive education and graduate success, reinforcing its position as a university where employability is built in - not bolted on.
For more information about London Met’s employability initiatives, visit the University’s careers and employability pages.
