NEWS - HE NEWS

East Midlands triumph at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008

University of Leicester amongst East Midlands universities celebrating success at the Times Higher Education Awards

Issued 04 November 2008

Universities across the East Midlands had plenty to celebrate at the recent Times Higher Education Awards on Thursday 23rd October with winners in three categories and an assortment of highly commended and shortlisted entries.

Loughborough University won ‘Best Student Experience’, The University of Nottingham won ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ and the University of Leicester won the highly coveted ‘University of the Year’ award whilst also being shortlisted in the ‘Research Project of the Year’ category.

The University of Lincoln was highly commended in the category ‘Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative’, as was the University of Derby in the ‘Marketing Initiative of the Year’ category. De Montfort University was shortlisted for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology’ and alongside Nottingham Trent University for ‘Outstanding Student Financial Support Package’. Nottingham Trent was also shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’ category.

Loughborough University was awarded ‘Best Student Experience’ for the third year in a row. This award is based on a survey of UK students and recognises universities’ outstanding contributions to the learning experience. David Goss – Loughborough Students Union President – said:

‘The award is a reflection of the well-rounded academic and social experience enjoyed by our students at Loughborough.’

The University of Nottingham won the new award of ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year in a hotly contested category. Ian Robertson – Chief Executive of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship said:

‘A very difficult decision was eased by the breadth and depth of that entrepreneurial culture at the University, from senior management through to staff and student societies.’

The University of Leicester was awarded ‘University of the Year’ in the fourth year of making the category shortlist. The University was also shortlisted in the ‘Research Project of the Year’ for an international project. Looking into the diet of sticklebacks in Nevada 10 million years ago. The judges’ report had this to say about the University of Leicester as the newly crowned ‘University of the Year’:

‘It’s continued commitment to, and real success in, widening access to students from non-traditional groups made it the stand-out choice in a very tough competition. On access Leicester is unique among its research intensive peers – it exceeds its benchmark for widening participation.’

The University of Lincoln’s Holbeach campus received a ‘highly commended’ from judges in the ‘Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative’. Development of the site and the programmes it provides have been driven by business needs, and each year around 2,000 employees from 200 different companies study there.

The University of Derby received a ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Marketing Initiative of the Year’ category, for a pastoral care package for applicants prior to and during the 2007 A-level exams. A pack sent out to the University applicants included a penguin stress toy that has since taken on a cult status.

De Montfort University was shortlisted for two awards: ‘Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology’ for its work with a small business to support the design and manufacture of an in-car grocery transportation aide; and ‘Outstanding Student Financial Support Package’ for an innovative approach to providing financial and pastoral support for students that come from a care background.

Nottingham Trent University was also shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Student Financial Support Package’ for its means tested bursary scheme that encourages more local students into higher education. Nottingham Trent’s wide variety of sustainability projects and leadership of the EcoCampus Initiative led to a shortlisting in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’ category.

EMUA would like to congratulate its member universities on their successes, which reflect the key role that our higher education institutions play in the East Midlands, and raise the profile of our region as a great place to study, work and live.

Notes to editors:

East Midlands Universities Association (EMUA) represents the ten higher education institutions (HEIs) in the East Midlands Region. EMUA endeavours to promote the important role that higher education plays in the East Midlands by encouraging collaborative activities that add value to the work of institutions. We work to enhance the links between universities and business, publicising the unparalleled opportunities for business development that our HEIs are able to offer.

EMUA’s member institutions are Bishop Grossteste University College Lincoln, De Montfort University, University of Derby, University of Leicester, University of Lincoln, Loughborough University, The University of Northampton, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, Open University in the East Midlands.

For further information contact :

Su Strange, Information Officer

EMUA, Unit 3, Loughborough Technology Centre, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire. LE11 3GE

Telephone: 01509 217797

E-mail: s.j.strange@lboro.ac.uk