Helping more students build the skills and confidence to succeed, thanks to The Mohn Westlake Foundation.

The Mohn Westlake Foundation is working in partnership with Kingston University London to further evolve and enhance its sector-leading Future Skills approach to education.

Every undergraduate student now benefits from Future Skills as a core, assessed part of each year of their course, through Navigate, Explore and Apply phases, alongside their subject-specific learning. Through the programme, students develop the human-centric skills most valued by employers and gain valuable experience through a range of employer engagement opportunities.

By embedding opportunities usually offered outside the curriculum into every course, Future Skills helps ensure all undergraduate students – regardless of their background – can develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world of work.

The grant will support Kingston University’s sector-leading Future Skills programme and associated activities, enabling more students to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and industry connections needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world of work. It will help ensure that opportunities traditionally accessed through extracurricular activities are embedded within the curriculum and available to every undergraduate student.

Key intended outcomes

• Improve graduate employability and career readiness by equipping students with the Future Skills most valued by employers, including creative problem solving, digital competency, adaptability, resilience, collaboration and self-awareness.
• Increase equality of opportunity by ensuring all undergraduate students, regardless of personal circumstances or prior experience, can access professional development opportunities, employer engagement and skills-based learning as part of their degree programme.
• Enhance student confidence and personal development, supporting students to recognise and articulate their strengths, navigate future challenges and make informed decisions about their careers and wider lives.
• Strengthen connections between students and industry, providing opportunities to engage with employers through live briefs, projects, placements, assessment centres, site visits and mentoring activities.
• Support successful progression into graduate employment or further study by helping students gain practical experience and evidence of the skills employers increasingly seek.
• Evaluate and deepen understanding of the impact of Future Skills through ongoing research.

Wider Institutional Impact
The grant will also contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of Kingston University’s approach to Future Skills education, enabling the University to evolve Future Skills across its undergraduate courses and continuously enhance the student experience.

Long-term Impact
Through sustained investment in Future Skills, the grant aims to create lasting improvements in student outcomes, ensuring all students graduate with the skills, confidence and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work. It will help thousands of students each year benefit from an inclusive educational model that prepares them not only for employment, but for lifelong learning, adaptability, resilience and success.

For more information visit The Centre for Future Skills : Catalysing Progressive Education through Data, Research & Industry Partnerships