Double award shortlisting for employability excellence

Published on 4, March, 2025

The University of Sunderland has been shortlisted for not one – but two – national employability awards.

Open to universities in the UK and Ireland to enter, the Academic Employability Awards celebrate academics who have gone the extra mile in embedding employability and enterprise within UK higher education.

The prestigious awards are organised by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) in partnership with Universities UK, GuildHE and the Institute of Student Employers, and supported by Virtual Internships and Gradcore. 

The University’s School of Media and Creative Industries is shortlisted in two categories.

Dan Makaveli, Programme Leader for Media Production at the University, has been shortlisted for the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship award in recognition of a module he developed to equip undergraduate Film and Media Production students with the skills to succeed as a start-up/freelancer in the screen and audio industries.

Dan, who worked in close partnership with the University’s Centre for Graduate Prospects to develop and deliver the module, said: "I am absolutely delighted to hear that our project has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

“Our innovative and thought-provoking learning and teaching content can admittedly be quite challenging at times and students are not always keen to step so far outside of their comfort zones, however through positive encouragement and reinforcement we have seen some tremendous personal growth, increased ambition and magical moments of sudden comprehension within our cohort."

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Dr Adelle Hulsmeier, Associate Professor of Partnerships and Participatory Practice at the University, has made the shortlist for the Curriculum Design for Employability award for a partnership she leads with the Live Theatre, Newcastle.

The partnership aims to enhance the employability-focused curriculum offer for Performing Arts and Screen Performance programmes by connecting them with industry professionals, offering networking opportunities and insights into the workings of a contemporary theatre.

Dr Hulsmeier said: “It is wonderful that this partnership has been able to develop over ten years, with more modules and programmes accessing the expertise of professionals with connections to one of the leading theatres in our region.

“Testimony to the partnership's success is the knowledge, expertise and commitment of former artistic director of Live Theatre and Visiting Professor Max Roberts in helping to guide and steer the offer of the partnership forward.

“The combination of Max's knowledge of this industry combined with his understanding of the professionals who engage with and are influenced and inspired by Live Theatre, has meant that our students are exposed to a wide range of prevalent and relevant practices and professionals.”

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in central London on 24 April 2025.

For more information on the Academic Employability Awards, click here.