Miri Firth, co-editor, introduces our 2026 Case Study Compendium, 'Making the 3Es as easy as A, B, C' which "brings together inspiring case studies from universities that are redefining what the 3Es, Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, mean in practice."
When we gathered online on 1 April 2025 to launch The 3Es: as easy as A, B, C?, it was clear that the employability landscape in higher education is evolving faster than ever before. Across the UK and beyond, educators are working creatively to help students develop the confidence, adaptability, and curiosity they’ll need to thrive in a complex world.
This new Advance HE compendium brings together inspiring case studies from universities that are redefining what the 3Es, Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, mean in practice. The result is a vivid snapshot of a sector in motion: one that’s learning to integrate innovation, digital fluency, sustainability, and inclusivity into every aspect of teaching and learning.
Employability: more than destination data
Employability has always been central to higher education, but in 2026 it feels more dynamic and embedded than ever. It’s no longer about a single module or a short workshop. It’s about creating experiences that empower students to understand themselves, articulate their strengths, and shape their futures.
At the University of Salford, a three-year Personal and Professional Development module sequence ensures that every undergraduate develops the confidence and career literacy to transition successfully into work. Similarly, Manchester Metropolitan University’s transformation of teaching spaces into active, round-table environments has encouraged students to collaborate, question, and practise the professional behaviours that employers value.
These examples highlight a common message: employability isn’t something we teach; it’s something we create together.
Enterprise: creativity with purpose
Enterprise education is about so much more than starting a business. It’s about fostering creativity, resilience and collaboration. At Edinburgh Napier University, a re-accreditation of the MSc Human Resource Management programme became an opportunity to weave work-integrated learning throughout the curriculum. The result is a model of enterprise thinking that blends theory and practice while keeping human values at its core. Meanwhile, the University of Bedfordshire Business School has embedded live projects into its postgraduate programmes, giving students hands-on experience solving real problems for real organisations. Authentic assessment like this not only enhances employability, it strengthens the bond between academia and industry — a crucial partnership in today’s rapidly changing world.
Entrepreneurship: values at the centre
Entrepreneurship, too, is being redefined. The University of York’s work on sustainability and enterprise education shows how students can develop entrepreneurial mindsets while contributing to global goals. Across the social sciences at Nottingham Trent University, the focus is on AI and equity. Exploring how emerging technologies can empower, rather than exclude, learners from diverse backgrounds. And in the creative industries, UCL, the University of Leeds, and Norwich University of the Arts are demonstrating how collaboration and co-creation can spark innovation while nurturing student wellbeing.
Together, these stories remind us that entrepreneurship in education isn’t just about profit, it’s about purpose.
Navigating the age of AI
It’s impossible to talk about employability in 2025 without mentioning AI. The conversation is no longer about if but how we use it ethically, equitably and effectively.
At the London School of Economics, Barnaby Mollett’s “FACE Framework” offers a practical approach to guiding students and staff in using AI responsibly in careers education. The framework’s principles, from security and ethical balance to continuous reflection, capture the kind of critical judgement we’ll all need as technology reshapes the graduate landscape.
AI isn’t replacing the human dimension of employability; it’s amplifying the need for creativity, ethics, and adaptability. These are the qualities that sit at the very heart of the 3Es.
Looking ahead
What unites all these examples is a shared belief that employability is a collective endeavour. It’s built through partnership: between disciplines, between staff and students, and between higher and further education.
As one student recently reflected after completing a live project, “It gave me a glimpse of what it means to think and work like a professional.” That’s the essence of the 3Es in creating the conditions for learners to imagine, experiment and grow. The 2025 compendium, The 3Es: as easy as A, B, C?, celebrates that spirit. It’s not just a collection of projects; it’s a call to action. Whether you’re redesigning a module, developing enterprise initiatives, or rethinking assessment, we invite you to explore these case studies and share your own examples of practice.
Together, we can continue to shape a future where employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship are not three separate goals, but one shared journey.
Access the Compendium here:The 3Es: as easy as A, B, C?
Join us at our Employability Symposium 2026, 10 March.
This symposium offers the chance for colleagues to discover new practices, challenge others to progress, and discuss insights into employability in higher education.
The Employability Symposium 2026 aims to bring together cutting-edge examples – such as these case studies – of how employability can be embedded at school, faculty/college and/or institutional levels.
