Edge Hill students take the lead in exclusive national design partnership
Edge Hill University has joined forces with Can Makers UK to launch a pioneering undergraduate design programme, placing students at the heart of the national drinks packaging industry.
The initiative, which has launched as a formal pilot programme, has been adopted as a core module for second-year Graphic Design and Media students. This campaign is the first of its kind and is expected to serve as a national model with the potential to be rolled out to other universities in 2027.
Undergraduates are currently participating in a bespoke beverage can design competition, supported by masterclasses and one-to-one feedback from leading industry experts. The curriculum focuses not only on visual aesthetics but also on the circular economy, teaching students how to design with sustainability in mind.
Jenna Gardner, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, highlighted the impact of the partnership: “This collaboration provides our students with invaluable real-world experience. By engaging directly with industry specialists, they learn to design with purpose. From judging professional entries in the Design Accolades to developing their own creative briefs, these experiences are crucial for building the skills needed to thrive in the creative industries.”
The partnership also saw Edge Hill selected as the exclusive judging partner for a special category within the Can Makers UK Design Accolades, an industry campaign originally launched in 2022.
Students from the BA (Hons) Media and BA (Hons) Graphic Design programmes acted as the sole adjudicators for the 2025 entries, evaluating professional designs on shelf-standout, originality, and complexity. After a rigorous selection process, Brooklyn Brewery’s Pulp Art Hazy IPA was crowned the winner.
John O’Maoileoin, chairman of the Can Makers UK, said: “This new initiative gives students valuable insight to the application of graphic design in a commercial environment, and will help to equip them with technical expertise that will prove invaluable in their chosen career path.
“By focusing on beverage can design, the competition also provides students with a unique 360-degree canvas to express their creative ability, while learning how to make the most effective use of a specific packaging substrate to help brands differentiate in a mature and highly competitive marketplace.
“Research conducted by the Can Makers UK also confirms that over 70% of younger consumers are more likely to choose a drink because of its packaging design, so I’m looking forward to engaging with undergraduate communities as they bring innovative new concepts to life and explore the ways in which tomorrow’s brands can tap into the possibilities that beverage cans offer.”
The programme will conclude with a final competition at the end of the semester, with an overall winner selected by the Can Makers UK committee.
Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Media or BA (Hons) Graphic Design. at Edge Hill University.
Edge Hill alumna and author Dr Phillipa Holloway to headline Liverpool literary event
Dr Phillipa Holloway will lead a workshop as part of Liverpool’s Writing on the Wall annual literary festival in May.
PhD Alumna Philippa has come full circle at Edge Hill University, returning as a Researcher Development Fellow after transforming her doctoral studies into an internationally recognised creative career.
Dr Holloway’s journey highlights the relationship between academic research and the arts. Her PhD novel, The Half-life of Snails (2022), was inspired by extensive fieldwork in Chornobyl and Ynys Môn, Anglesey.
The work received widespread critical acclaim, earning a spot on the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize longlist and being hailed as “powerful and evocative” by BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.
To mark Chornobyl’s 40th anniversary, Holloway will discuss ‘Cultural Fallout: Writing Chornobyl’ at Writing on the Wall , Liverpool’s longest-running literature festival on Tuesday 12 May. The event features writers exploring the human and environmental legacy of the disaster, with all proceeds benefiting the Clean Futures Fund.
Philippa credits her time at Edge Hill for shaping both her writing and academic career. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, she balanced teaching, research and professional development, gaining invaluable experience and building a strong academic network.
Philippa said: “Edge Hill has a distinctive culture of collaboration, care and academic excellence. You gain far more than a qualification; you become part of a community that supports you long after graduation.”
For those considering postgraduate study, Holloway’s message is simple: “Embrace the opportunities, connect with the community and remain open to where your research might lead.”
Buy your ticket for Cultural Fallout: Writing Chornobyl.
Edge Hill University launches pioneering education hub to drive innovation in the region
Edge Hill University has officially opened its Hub for Evaluation of Applied Education and Innovation (HEAEI), a new initiative dedicated to supporting schools, local authorities and educational charities across the region.
Born from a strategic collaboration between the Faculty of Education and the Knowledge Exchange Office, the Hub serves as a bridge between academic research and frontline practice. It offers accessible, research-informed evaluation support, including data analysis and survey design to help educators understand and amplify their impact.
The Hub works with education organisations, innovators and partners to deliver flexible, real-world evaluation that helps demonstrate impact and support improvement.
The Hub has recently supported The Lancashire Colleges with a research proposal exploring how young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) can be better supported into college.
Paul Smith, Director, The Lancashire Colleges said: “We worked with HEAEI recently on a research proposal to support NEET learners into college. From the outset they understood where we were coming from and quickly helped shape the vision, offering genuine partnership and insight into how we could create real impact. Without their support and understanding of the landscape, the project would not have moved forward.”
The Hub’s mission is rooted in community-focused accessibility. By working closely with schools, colleges, early years settings and Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) providers, the initiative ensures that innovation and creativity are shared across the sector to improve student outcomes.
By leveraging the Faculty of Education’s national reputation, the Hub provides a unique platform for external stakeholders to collaborate with expert researchers and practitioners. These partnerships allow the University to integrate existing projects into a unified system, creating a “northern powerhouse” for educational excellence.
Helen O’Keeffe, Dean of the Faculty of Education, said: “I am pleased to see our Hub for Evaluation of Applied Education and Innovation open. It is a positive step towards working in partnership with external organisations at a local level.
“The new Hub will not only benefit the University but also provide local organisations in our wider community with access to educational resources which will in turn champion best practice within our sector at a local level.
“I would also like to thank the Knowledge Exchange Office for their support and I am looking forward to seeing what can be achieved.”
Now fully open, the Hub is inviting educational organisations and VCSFE (Voluntary, Community, Special, Faith and Ethical) groups to explore how research-informed evaluation can help shape the future of learning in the region.
Find out more about the Hub for Evaluation of Applied Education and Innovation (HEAEI)
May 1, 2026
