The Alliance Awards 2026 shortlists are in: we have 44 incredible shortlisted nominees across 10 categories, representing the breadth of incredible work happening at Alliance universities.
Find all the shortlisted nominees below, including a short overview of their amazing achievements!
Industry Partnerships Award
Professor Marcos Kauffman, Coventry University, and Clean Futures Accelerator
For his work in leading Coventry University’s role in the Clean Futures Accelerator, creating a highly effective university–industry partnership model that has driven innovation, investment, and growth in the West Midlands’ clean transport sector.
Teesside University and Teesside Aviation Skills Academy,
For their work as an innovative, industry‑embedded partnership between Teesside University, Teesside International Airport, and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. They deliver immersive aviation training and equip students with job‑ready skills while helping address critical workforce shortages in the sector.
Dr. Julie Armoogum, UWE Bristol, and NHS England, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Royal College of Nursing and the UK Oncology Nursing Society
For her exceptional leadership in co‑founding and scaling the ACCEND Programme, which has created a nationally adopted, partnership‑driven framework and education ecosystem. The framework has transformed cancer workforce training, strengthened NHS service delivery, and set a benchmark for collaborative impact across healthcare.
University of Hertfordshire and Watford FC Team
For a partnership that brings learning to life by providing students with hands‑on experience through live projects, industry challenges and employment pathways that enhance skills, support community innovation and improve graduate career outcomes.
Research and Innovation Impact Award
W‑ICAD project team, University of Westminster
For pioneering a co‑created, multisensory approach to audio description that has transformed museum accessibility, embedding inclusive practice and reshaping how diverse audiences experience culture across the sector.
Professor Elena Gaura, Coventry University
For leading the development of a globally connected, ethically driven AI ecosystem that integrates education, research and industry collaboration while advancing skills, partnerships and inclusive innovation across sectors.
Dr Lauren Josie Thomas, Jayde Howard and Dr Shehla Khan, University of South Wales
For creating a pioneering evidence‑based framework advancing gender equity that has influenced national policy, leadership development and workplace practice, delivering measurable impact across Wales.
Professor Liza Marzano, Middlesex University
For developing real‑time suicide and self‑harm surveillance systems and evidence‑based interventions that have transformed prevention strategies, informed national policy and enabled more timely, targeted support.
Heroes Award
EDI Team, UWE Bristol
For driving transformational change by developing and embedding a co‑produced, institution‑wide anti‑racism strategy that has delivered measurable improvements in outcomes, accountability and culture while influencing practice across the wider higher education sector.
Black Women Research Collective, University of Hertfordshire
For their driving their work towards meaningful institutional change by creating a pioneering support network that strengthens progression, wellbeing and representation of Black women in academia while advancing equality across the university.
Dr. Julie Jones, Robert Gordon University
For her work creating a sustained, community‑focused programme that integrates teaching, research and clinical practice to transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s while enriching student learning and strengthening wellbeing and social impact across the university and wider community.
The De Montfort University Dubai Team
For their work demonstrated outstanding leadership by maintaining academic continuity, safeguarding wellbeing and supporting their community through a major regional crisis with resilience, compassion and clear, decisive action.
DTA Alumni Award
Jake Milner, Teesside University
For his impactful research on deindustrialisation and decarbonisation in the Tees Valley, combining strong academic outputs with active policy engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration and outstanding leadership within the doctoral research community.
Dr Kumar Shantanu Prasad, University of Hertfordshire
For his interdisciplinary research, mentorship and leadership in engineering innovation, applying doctoral expertise to real‑world challenges and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry and emerging researchers.
Dr Maria Turda, University of Lancashire
For her impactful research and community engagement supporting survivors of trafficking and exploitation, ensuring lived experience informs policy, practice and international collaboration across multiple sectors.
Shehani Pigera, Teesside University
For her outstanding research communication, leadership and contributions to digital health research, translating complex ideas for diverse audiences while supporting interdisciplinary healthcare innovation.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Professor William Schabas, Middlesex University
For a distinguished global career in international law, shaping human rights policy, mentoring generations of scholars and contributing extensively to academic research, public discourse and international justice.
Professor Paul Croney OBE, Teesside University
For a transformative leadership career advancing widening participation, academic excellence and regional impact, demonstrating how universities can drive social mobility, innovation and economic growth.
Professor Alan Winfield, UWE Bristol
For pioneering contributions to robotics and robot ethics, integrating ethical frameworks into technology design while influencing global policy, research and public understanding.
Paul Butler, University of Greenwich
For over three decades of sector leadership in digital transformation, enhancing student experience, institutional performance and national practice through innovative, collaborative IT strategy.
Sharon Harrison Barker, University of Hertfordshire
For exceptional leadership in governance, institutional resilience and professional service culture, shaping a student‑centred university environment through integrity, foresight and sustained impact.
Professor Hanifa Shah OBE, Birmingham City University
For her leadership in advancing interdisciplinary STEAM education, research excellence and inclusive innovation, strengthening industry partnerships and expanding opportunities across the higher education sector.
Professor Socrates Karidis, Coventry University
For sustained leadership transforming higher education delivery and student experience, driving institutional growth, international engagement and employment‑focused learning at scale.
Professor John Latham CBE, Coventry University
For visionary leadership in transforming Coventry University into a dynamic, future‑focused group structure, driving innovation, growth and excellence across education, research and partnerships.
Professional Services Excellence Award, sponsored by Peridot Partners
Edward Boyle, Oxford Brookes University
For pioneering a data‑driven approach to estate management that delivers significant carbon, cost and efficiency gains while advancing sector‑wide sustainability practices.
Marketing Team, UWE Bristol
For transforming student recruitment through an innovative, data‑led virtual tour platform that enhances engagement, reduces costs and delivers measurable institutional impact.
Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy (AREA), Anglia Ruskin University
For delivering sector‑leading enterprise education that supports student entrepreneurship, drives graduate outcomes and generates substantial economic and social impact.
Estates Team, University of Derby
For delivering the Cavendish Building as a net‑zero, industry‑integrated learning environment that enhances student experience, sustainability and regional regeneration.
Regional Impact Award
Dr Ghada Elkhoury, Kingston University
For leading impactful partnerships that amplify migrant voices, improve wellbeing and contribute to Kingston’s recognition as a Council of Sanctuary through community‑engaged research.
Dr Laura Fogg‑Rogers, UWE Bristol
For delivering transformative regional programmes that support a just transition to a low‑carbon economy while advancing inclusion, skills development and community engagement.
ARU Peterborough, Anglia Ruskin University
For driving inclusive regional growth through employer‑aligned education, skills programmes and investment initiatives that support economic development and social mobility.
Leeds Sustainability Institute Team, Leeds Beckett University
For delivering collaborative research that improves housing quality, informs policy and supports scalable solutions for decarbonisation, health and sustainability across the region.
Student Leadership and Enterprise Award
Isaac Nsubuga, University of West London
For founding an innovative aviation technology platform that supports pilot training and demonstrates entrepreneurial impact across multiple countries while still a student.
Sanaa Kazi, University of West London
For creating a high‑impact student business competition that builds employability skills, expands opportunities and directly supports graduate career progression.
Shivali Srivastav, Birmingham City University
For exceptional student leadership and entrepreneurship, combining impactful initiatives, business development and peer support to enhance the student experience and global engagement.
Samuel Spence, Middlesex University
For leading an independent international public health intervention addressing carbon monoxide safety, demonstrating initiative, partnership building and real‑world community impact.
Teaching Innovation Award
The Elevate Team, Anglia Ruskin University
For delivering a large‑scale, experiential business curriculum that integrates real‑world enterprise into teaching, significantly enhancing student engagement, skills and outcomes.
National Institute of Teaching and Education Team, Coventry University
For transforming teacher education through flexible, research‑informed programmes that widen access and improve training quality at national and international levels.
Professor Bhavik Patel, University of Brighton
For redesigning laboratory teaching using inclusive principles, improving student success, accessibility and global adoption of innovative assessment practices.
De Montfort University
For implementing a whole‑institution block teaching model that improves learning, wellbeing and academic outcomes through structured, student‑centred delivery.
Research Communications Award
Professor Iakovos Tzanakis, Oxford Brookes University
For communicating complex environmental engineering research on PFAS in an accessible way, raising public awareness and demonstrating real‑world applications of sustainable water treatment.
Polly Wyatt, University of Brighton
For delivering an impactful media campaign on research exploring how visually impaired people experience open water swimming which elevated underrepresented voices and created lasting partnerships.
Dr Rachel Moseley, Bournemouth University
For high‑impact communication of autism and suicide research that influenced national debate, policy discussions and public understanding through extensive media engagement.
Professor Michael Sweet, University of Derby
For leading the communication of globally significant coral research through a high‑profile campaign that enhanced public engagement, institutional reputation and environmental awareness.