WLVArchitecture wraps up the year with Speed Recruitment and Exhibition

The WLVArchitecture department wrapped the end of the academic year with a Speed Recruitment session for students and a fantastic end of year exhibition.

At the end of May, the WLVArchitecture department once again held the spectacular annual End of Year show. Our exceptionally skilled students enthusiastically presented their creative designs to families, friends, and industry professionals. As in previous years, the 2024/25 session was filled with numerous exciting activities, including working on real world projects with local sites and clients, having engaging guest lectures sponsored by the Wolverhampton District Society of Architects, students undertaking Micro-Placements with local practices, a wide range of guest CPD talks from industry leaders, and an immersive ‘Vertical Project Week’ focused on a Retrofit Design Challenge, that also included students getting hands on experience of historic building methods. All of the staff, visiting tutors and industry collaborators send huge congratulations to the graduating students of the Class of 2025 and look forward to seeing how they influence the architecture profession in the coming years!

In the afternoon prior to the Show, the department once again held a Speed Recruitment event, motivated by our research on the effects of such events on student outcomes. This amazing event provided an alternative to conventional large-scale employment fairs, which can be daunting to many students and often lack inclusivity. Now in its second year, the purpose of the ‘Speed Recruitment’ event enables students to have time-controlled face-to-face discussions with industry practitioners, providing the opportunity for deeper connections, and often also facilitating our micro placements.

Prof. David Heesom, Interim Head of WLVArchitecture said, “The End of Year show is always an exciting event and really showcases the high quality of work that our students produce. This year was no exception and was one of the largest we have had in nearly 20 years. This has been another busy year for the department, with some fantastic activities taking place that really enriches the student experience. The students never fail to amaze us with their dedication and talent and having the ability to share their achievements with family, friends and industry is a fitting end to the academic year. As always, we are extremely grateful to our friends at the Wolverhampton and District Society of Architects, whose constant support is amazing.”

Level 5 student Samatha Elliot said, “The end of year show was a great opportunity to showcase the hard work and commitment of the year. It is a fun, social evening to enjoy all the work across the years and share it with friends and family. I was also offered a work experience week with one of the industry directors that had been invited to attend. 
"The speed recruitment gave me the opportunity to show my CV and sample portfolio off. Gaining feedback on how to design both and how to present them during the interview. “

Level 6 student Raean Mohammad noted, "The End of Year Show was one of the most special moments of my uni journey. It felt amazing to see everyone’s hard work come to life and to just be part of that creative buzz one last time at the end of our uni chapter. It was a beautiful celebration of how far we’ve all come and an inspiring glimpse into the future of our School of Architecture.

"The Speed Recruitment experience gave me valuable insight into the professional world. I learned so much about how to talk about my work professionally and connect with real practices. I left feeling inspired and excited for what's next. It made everything feel that bit more real and gave me that final push to help me prepare for the real world a little bit more."

Speed Recruitment

End of Year Show - Prize Giving 

End of Year Show - Behind the Scenes

Video credit - Paul Boden