It was my first time attending the Times Higher Awards last night, so a few reflections before I move on to congratulate the winners.
My first impression was just how many people were there. We talk a lot about a big and diverse sector, but seeing it represented there in the Ballroom of the Grosvenor House hotel was definitely impressive.
The second thing that struck me was the buzz in the room throughout the evening. Here was a sector that has been feeling the heat – dipping student numbers fanning the flames of the unsettling change of the HE reforms – coming together to celebrate it’s strengths and successes. In David Willetts’ brief speech, which opened the evening, he focused on this success, in particular how positively the rest of the world views our strong and diverse HE sector. If we had been a room full of Americans, it all would have made a lot more sense, and we would have no doubt cheered and clapped throughout, possibly even given the Minister a standing ovation. But for a room full of Brits, it was a good reminder that even when times are tough we have much to celebrate and be proud of as a sector.
The University of Lincoln collecting their award
My third observation was that we need to be better at communicating our strengths, and in a language that everyone else can understand. While this was an evening where it was OK for the sector to be talking to itself, and in its own language, it was striking how obvious it was that compere David Walliams (whose sole gag of flirting with whichever man he shared the stage with got a little tiring) rarely knew what he was being told to say by the slightly-over-the-top-US-Presidential-style teleprompters. It doesn’t come easily to the British to blow their own trumpet, but at a time when the public purse strings are continuing to be tightened we certainly need to do better at it. It is down to us to demonstrate and communicate the value of the massive contribution we make to society and the economy.
So, to indulge in a little trumpet blowing, I would like to congratulate all those who won awards or were nominated, in particular the members of the Alliance family. Well done to the Times Higher team too, for bringing the sector together to pause, reflect and celebrate.
Congratulations to Alliance winners:
- University of Huddersfield won the title of Entrepreneurial University of the Year
- Northumbria University picked up the title for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts
- University of Glamorgan won the award for Outstanding Support for Students
- University of Lincoln triumphed in the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative category
- Mark Brandon, senior lecturer in environmental science at the Open University, was named Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to all our members who were nominated for awards. All but two categories had an Alliance institution nominated.
Excellence and Innovation in the Arts
De Montfort University
Northumbria University
University of Salford
Most Improved Student Experience
University of Lincoln
Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development
Northumbria University
Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative
Bournemouth University
University of Lincoln
The Open University
Research Project of the Year
De Montfort University
Business School of the Year
Plymouth Business School, Plymouth University
Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
Mark Brandon, The Open University
Paul Tracey, University of Salford
Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
Northumbria University
Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology
Bournemouth University
Outstanding Support for Students
University of Glamorgan
Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year
University of Huddersfield
International Collaboration of the Year
De Montfort University
University of Salford
Entrepreneurial University of the Year
University of Huddersfield
Plymouth University
University of the Year
Plymouth University
