ARU academic wins national enterprise award
Dr Asma Rezaei’s innovative approach encourages students to develop start-up ideas
Dr Asma Rezaei with her Academic Employability Award
An Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) academic has been recognised at a national awards ceremony for her innovative approach to preparing students for the world of work.
Dr Asma Rezaei, Lecturer in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy at ARU, was named winner of the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship category at the Graduate Futures Institute Academic Employability Awards 2026, held in London.
Dr Rezaei won for The Entrepreneurial Journey, an enterprise‑focused module that enables students to develop start‑up ideas and work on live consultancy challenges with real businesses.
The module forms part of ARU’s Live Briefs initiative, giving students hands‑on experience of solving genuine business problems while developing teamwork, problem‑solving and strategic thinking skills.
Judges praised the winning entry for its strong structure, interdisciplinary approach and clear evidence of positive student outcomes.
The Academic Employability Awards, run by the Graduate Futures Institute, recognise excellence and innovation in embedding employability across higher education in the UK and Ireland.
This year’s awards attracted more than 200 submissions from universities nationwide, highlighting the growing importance of preparing graduates for an evolving labour market, and Dr Scott Steele and Dr Alessia Mevoli from ARU were also finalists at the awards.
“This award recognises the power of learning through experience and the confidence students gain when they can apply theory to real challenges.
“Enterprise education is not only about starting businesses. It is about developing adaptable, resilient graduates who can thrive in a changing world.”
Dr Asma Rezaei