Initiative co-developed by Sii's Dr Laura McCaughey wins academic employability award
Published: 14 May 2026
An initiative co-led by the School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Laura McCaughey has won an award at the Graduate Futures Institute Academic Employability Awards 2026 in London on Thursday, 30 April. Developed alongside Dr Anna MacGregor, Dr Lesley Hamilton, Fiona Stubbs and six student interns, it came out on top in the Co-created Employability Initiatives category.
An initiative co-led by the School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Laura McCaughey has won a prestigious prize at the Graduate Futures Institute Academic Employability Awards 2026.
Complete Graduate, developed by Dr McCaughey, Dr Anna McGregor (School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine), and Dr Lesley Hamilton (MVLS Education Hub) was shortlisted in the Co-created Employability Initiatives category.
This staff–student partnership embeds visible and equitable skills development across 14 Life Sciences programmes.
Co-designed with six student interns - Kirsty Maciver, Rachel Aitken, Sean-James Brownlie, Austin McCombie, Derbhla Duffy, and Evie MacGillivray - the DNA framing concept (A‑T‑C‑G bases; the building blocks of life) communicates both the Life Sciences context and the integrated nature of the four domains as building blocks of a complete graduate identity:
- (Acquire) Knowledge
- (Track) Transferable Skills
- (Gain) Practical Skills
- (Cultivate) Well‑being
These skills were integrated into core teaching through mapped curricula, reflective activities, and a private digital diary.
Careers and Employability Manager Fiona Stubbs, meanwhile, ensured work by Careers, Employability, and Opportunities was incorporated into the framework.
The awards ceremony, which recognises innovative approaches to embedding employability in the curriculum, took place on Thursday, 30 April 2026 at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in London - where Complete Graduate was announced as the category winner.
Dr McCaughey, a Senior Lecturer in Sii, said: “I am delighted that The Complete Graduate has been recognised by GFI.
"This project brought together academics, professional services and most importantly students to create a framework that students value for recognising and evidencing their capabilities.”
Dr McGregor added: “There are many opportunities for our Life Science students to secure good employment after university, but in order to access these, students need the confidence, experiences and transferable skills to demonstrate their abilities.
"It's been a pleasure to work with employability-focused staff from across the University, and talented student partners, to design and evaluate a framework that should support awareness and effects on learning for our undergraduate students.”
Describing the initiative on the Graduate Futures Website, judges said: “[The Complete Graduate is] an excellent submission showing effective collaboration and impact.”
Martin Edmondson, CEO of the Graduate Futures Institute, said: “These initiatives are not only transforming student futures but also addressing the skills needs of employers and the wider economy.”
First published: 14 May 2026