Falmouth University wins AGCAS Award for Excellence 2021

Falmouth University has won the AGCAS Strategic Innovation Award for Excellence 2021 for the development of RealWORKS – our innovative employability service. 

The AGCAS Awards for Excellence encourage, reward and share good practice amongst higher education (HE) careers and employability practitioners by promoting quality, innovative and collaborative projects across the full range of HE careers and employability work. 

The Strategic Innovation Award recognises institutions that demonstrate how they have adapted to change and new demands through the effective design or re-design of service delivery. This year, this also included changes implemented in recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Forged in the crucible of lockdowns and launched in September 2020, RealWORKS focuses on a digital-first delivery strategy and harnesses our signature ‘REAL’ employability model to ensure all our students ‘do it for real’. The service, which was designed and implemented in three months, has led to a demonstrable impact on the student experience, strategic buy-in and the development and approval of a ten-year strategy. 

The AGCAS judges commented: "For such a small team, the breadth of impact Falmouth has managed to achieve across the institution is significant and impressive. The strong buy-in from key stakeholders and the clear alignment of the project with the strategic implementation focus of this category is what made them stand out amongst tough competition.” 

In just six months since launching, RealWORKS has developed 70 bespoke e-learning courses that are embedded into the University’s degree courses, connected with over 1300 employers and offered over 2500 paid opportunities.  

We’ve also created a RealWORKS bursary for students who are part of our Widening Participation programme and secured funding to offer a funded internship scheme and enterprise funding. 

We’re delighted to win this national award, recognising our pioneering approach to strategically align employability for all students across the curriculum.

Head of Employability, Robert Ingram is thrilled that the service has been recognised at this year’s AGCAS Awards for Excellence. 

“We’re delighted to win this national award, recognising our pioneering approach to strategically align employability for all students across the curriculum through our ambitious 2030 strategy, Doing It For Real. 

“The award recognises the speed and depth at which we were able make change happen, against a backdrop of a global pandemic – and delivering great and impactful new services to all Falmouth students.” 

Find out more about RealWORKS