2026 GlobEYs
EY Global Career Services Summit Awards
“EY is proud to support the Global Career Services Summit”
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 EY Global Career Services Summit Awards (GlobEYs)
Best Faculty Program
Debra Easter, Director of Employability, Nottingham Trent University
NTU has transformed its undergraduate curriculum to guarantee assessed work experience for every student, across all 680+ courses. This credit-bearing, employer-connected experience ensures consistency, inclusion, and measurable academic impact, particularly benefiting students from diverse backgrounds. NTU is the only UK university to embed assessed work experience at this scale, setting a new sector benchmark.
Best Student Program
Francesca Saracino, Head of Career Service, Politecnico di Milano
This innovative career framework guides students in exploring careers in innovation and entrepreneurship beyond startups. Using interviews, self-assessments, mentoring, bootcamps, and simulations, the program reached over 2,000 students and PhD candidates, helping many pursue roles in startups, scale-ups, and R&D. The initiative culminated in the Career Day Startup, connecting students directly with innovative companies.
The Bob Athwal and Tom Devlin Founder’s Award for Innovation
Marianna Savoca, Associate Vice President, Career Readiness & Experiential Education, Stony Brook University
A 14-week, project-based FinTech course integrating academic learning, mentorship, and real-world industry projects. Open to all majors, the program develops skills in AI, blockchain, capital markets, and client solutions. Students gain internships and employment opportunities, while the partnership creates a replicable national benchmark for employer-integrated career education.
Best University-Employer Partnership
Sebastian Hagebaum, Manager, BEL Career Services, The University of Queensland
Co-designed with industry, this hybrid program prepares penultimate and final-year students for structured graduate recruitment, including assessment centres, interviews, and professional applications. Students gain real-world, hands-on learning, boosting confidence and clarity about employer expectations, while employers benefit from well-prepared candidates.
Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Program
Trevor Johnston, Head of Careers, Employability & Skills, Queen’s University Belfast
A hybrid, accessible employability program designed for neurodivergent students, those with health conditions, caring responsibilities, or career changers. The program boosts skills, confidence, and employability, with participants reporting improvements of 52–86% across key areas. Career Boost embeds inclusion from design to delivery and has influenced wider employability practice.
Excellence in Technology-Enhanced Career Services (New Category)
Angela Collins, Head of Careers, SETU Waterford
A digital-first, social media-based employer engagement initiative delivering weekly insights on careers, recruitment, and employability. Accessible, flexible, and inclusive, Feature Friday has engaged students across all years, reached over 193,000 Instagram impressions, and expanded employer participation by 55%. Its scalable model is now being replicated in other European universities.
The Kathy Sims Mentoring Award
This award acknowledges a member of the GCSS community who shares their knowledge and expertise to advise, support, or guide another colleague’s professional development.
Trudy Steinfeld
The Special Recognition Award
This award celebrates an individual whose unwavering support has been instrumental in the growth and success of the GCS Summit over the past 10 years. Their commitment, guidance, and leadership have helped the Summit flourish into a flagship event, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence across the sector. Their contribution has left a lasting impact, inspiring both colleagues and students alike.
Gavin Connell