Higher Education Excellence Driving Student Employability #CMIHECon

The six winners of the HE awards were announced today at the CMI HE Conference in London, an event showcasing the HE Providers that are delivering excellence and achieving outstanding results in driving student employability and career development.

The awards coincide with recent CMI analysis of the 2018 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) which found a 10% employability boost for CMI accredited courses: 58% of graduates from CMI-accredited courses were in professional roles 6 months after graduation, compared to under half (48%) of graduates on non-accredited business courses.

These findings support CMI’s 2018 report, 21st Century Leaders, which highlights the benefits that employers, education providers and students all identified from studying a CMI-accredited course: 90% of HE partners say that CMI has a high level of impact on student employability and  97% of HE partners say their CMI partnerships has a positive impact on student achievement.

The winners were:

• Student of the Year: Student of the Year: Jenna Ross FCMI, Robert Gordon University. This award celebrates outstanding student achievement and contribution in terms of their academic and professional development.
• Apprentice of the Year: Danny Riley MCMI, Anglia Ruskin University. This award celebrates outstanding apprentice achievement and contribution in academic and professional development.
• Student Ambassador of the Year: Danielle Keeling ACMI, University of Derby. This award celebrates outstanding achievement by a student in their role as a CMI Student Ambassador.
• Outstanding Innovation & Delivery: Bob Cryan CBE DL CMgr CCMI FREng, University of Huddersfield. This award recognises outstanding innovation and delivery in the area of student employability, enriched student experience, and professional recognition and development, by a CMI HE Partner.
• International Award: Jonathan Winterton CMgr MCMI, Taylor’s University. This award celebrates outstanding positive impact of a CMI HE partnership in an international context.
• HE Partner of the Year: Susan Barnes CMgr MCMI, Coventry University. This award celebrates outstanding positive impact of a CMI HE Partner on student employability, student experience and professional development.

To be shortlisted, institutions have all been judged by the impact they have made on student employability, professional development and enrichment of student experience. Students who have made the shortlist have shown a high level of academic achievement as well as professional development in management and leadership.

CMI’s CEO Ann Francke said:

“Well done to the award winners, who are all great examples of excellence in management and leadership and show what can be achieved when universities, employers and professional bodies work together.

“The theme of today’s event, “The Emerging Talent of Higher Education”, is reflected in each of the winners. The winning universities have shown an exceptional talent in delivering results – in student experience, professional development and graduate employability. The winning students and apprentice have shown that they will be the talented managers and leaders of tomorrow.  

“These awards are further evidence of the tangible benefits of CMI-accredited courses, and highlight the critical role that CMI plays in driving student employability and student achievement.”