• Bids supported in the 2019/20 bidding process (to commence in 2020/21)

Location of bid

DCDI

The College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries

LAS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

PS

Professional services

SU

The Student Union

UW

University wide

WBS

Westminster Business School

Size of grant

Small

£25,000 or less

Medium

£25,001 - 250,000

Large

£250,001 – 500,000

High

£500,001 and above

Total amount granted 2019/20: £5,102,010

*Bids designed to support responses to the COVD19 pandemic

High grants awarded

  • Title

    Description

    No. Years

  • Student Union Hub Cavendish (SU)

    Following the success of the Regent Street social space (QHT-funded in 19/20) this will create a similar social and study access for students at the Cavendish site. This includes spaces for social learning and group activities, a retail outlet, the Students Union reception, and the live radio broadcast studio.

    1

  • PhD Studentships (UW)

    This builds on previous QHT-funded work by supporting a rolling programme of 10 PhD students per year. The students are provided with a full living stipend, and a partial fee-waiver (the rest is met by the University). They undertake to disseminate their research outcomes across the wider PhD cohort.

    3

  • Job Prospects in Uncertain Times (UW)*

    Recognising the increased challenges in gaining employment this enhances the current strategies to enhance employability. The project will support entrepreneurial skills development, increased mentoring provision and the introduction of digital assessment centres.

    2

Large grants awarded

  • Title

    Description

    No. Years

  • Access and Participation (UW)

    The University will work with the SU to monitor and evaluate the current provision for enhancing opportunities for students from under-represented groups and to develop improved approaches. Pilot projects are designed to improve the academic outcomes for BAME students in Life Sciences and employability opportunities for BAME students in WBS.

    3

  • Let’s Build: Student-Community Collaborations (for employability and widening participation) (DCDI)

    Students will enhance their “live-build” experience by working with Community Hubs and construction firms to design and build a playground for a primary school and a multiuse community space for a local youth organisation.

    3

  • Graduate Digital Learning Assistants (UW)*

    To purchase hand-held, digital audio-visual tools so that all staff can create effective and engaging on-line learning and teaching, in order to meet students’ needs during the Covid-19 epidemic.

    1

  • Quintin Hogg Travel Awards Virtual Field Trips (UW)*

    To provide interactive virtual fieldtrips, where students engage with external organisations, to replace overseas visits. This is a new development within the HE sector. Where possible, later in the year, it is intended that some physical visits will take place.

    1

Medium grants awarded

  • Title

    Description

    No. Years

  • Accelerating 29 Marylebone Road (UW)

    The University plans to develop an employability hub at 29 Marylebone Road. This provides the University with support in the associated fundraising to allow the work to go forward.

    1

  • Sport Participation and EAP Fund (SU)

    This has two aims: firstly, to encourage students to participate in sport even if they do not wish to do so at a University competitive level; and secondly, to develop an innovative programme to help students improve and compete.

    3

  • Prisoner University Partnerships at Westminster (LAS)

    In this programme University students inside and outside the prison study collaboratively; for 3rd year and Masters students this will lead to joint publications. Other students act as administrators, teaching assistants and mentors.

    3

  • Student Driven Digital Teaching Development (PS)

    This will form an annual cohort of student Digital Ambassadors to work with academic staff. This will enhance active digital learning approaches, particularly within the classrooms newly developed with digital capabilities.

    3

  • The 125 Fund (PS)

    This is an extension of the current project in which a matched funding opportunity, with philanthropic income, enables students to apply for funds for projects and activities to enhance their employability and academic development, either individually or in a group.

    3

  • Digital Aided Making Laboratory (WBS)

    This will achieve excellence in the 3D making laboratory, used by a large number of students, by investing in new digital aided making machines. This will aid the students in completing their studies and will enhance their wider employability.

    1

  • Supporting Smaller Projects

    To establish a central funding pot for colleagues to bid for small projects (£3K – £5K) for innovative, student-focussed learning and teaching initiatives, of benefit to students. To be manged by the University.

    1

  • Emergency Well-being Fund (UW)* (commenced March 2020)

    The project includes three schemes to support University of Westminster students affected by Covid-19:
    Stay on Track Scheme - targeted at students facing immediate difficulty paying for day to day living costs including food or medical costs.
    Work with Us Scheme providing employment for students who have lost casual employment and have not been furloughed by their employer.
    Accommodation Bursaries - assisting with rent costs for students in private rented accommodation.

    2

  • PhD Extensions (UW)*

    The QHT-funded PhD students should have finished at the end of 19/20. However due to Lockdown many were unable to complete due to lack of access to laboratories, specialist libraries and other facilities and reduced links to partner organisations. The Research Councils have provided all their students with a six-month extension to enable them to compete and this gives parity to QHT-funded students.

    1

  • Advancing Digital Capability (UW)*

    To purchase hand-held, digital audio-visual tools so that all staff can create effective and engaging on-line learning and teaching, in order to meet students’ needs during the Covid-19 epidemic.

    1

Small grants awarded

  • Title

    Description

    No. Years

  • Sustainable Concrete Technology Lab. (WBS)

    This extends the capability of the existing Fabrication Laboratory by purchasing Sustainable Concrete Technology equipment. This will enable the students, in collaboration with construction companies, to undertake problem-based learning based on real-life projects.

    1

  • Bees in the City (LAS)

    This is a research investigation, instigated by the UoW Environmental Society, of the wild bee populations in London. Students will undertake the study in collaboration with a number of external natural history agencies, and will engage with local schools and colleges.

    2

  • Gene editors of the Future (LAS)

    This enables students to work alongside experts to undertake CRISPR gene editing research, a cutting-edge professional area which is outside the scope of their normal studies.

    1