Guardian University Awards 2016: rules for entry

Now in its fourth year, the Guardian University Awards are back to showcase and celebrate the outstanding innovation and impact of UK universities across the higher education sector in delivering world-class teaching, research and engagement.

The awards aim to recognise and reward projects in universities that demonstrate genuine innovation in the sector, collaborative delivery on the ground, and meaningful impact both inside their institutions and beyond, with the potential to inspire others.

We invite entries from UK universities and university professionals across 14 categories, to be shortlisted and evaluated by an expert panel. We also invite nominations for the sector’s Inspiring Leader 2016, voted for by readers of the Guardian Higher Education Network.

A university ideas bank of all winning and shortlisted entries will be published on the Guardian website – what success stories could you be sharing with our global education community?

Judges will assess each entry for:

• Innovation – what makes it new, unique and inspiring in the higher education sector

• Delivery – excellence in planning, teamwork, partnerships and value for money

• Impact – both within the university and beyond (in the sector / community / society)

• Evidence - supporting documentation will back up claims made in the submission

Shortlists will be published online prior to judging. Shortlisted entries in each category will be assessed by a panel of higher education experts from across the UK. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony in March.

Entry questions:

1) Outline the project, its place within your university’s strategy and what makes it innovative and inspiring (max 300 words).

2) Detail how the project was delivered, from the planning stage through to its successful conclusion (max 300 words). Include details of timing* and funding.

3) Outline the project’s outcome(s) within the university and beyond with relevant supporting evidence**, metrics or testimony (max 400 words).

* Project must have started in past 18 months but need not have finished if outcomes can be proved.

* For the buildings that inspire category, the capital project must have been completed within the past 18 months, but need not have started in that timeframe.

* For the research impact category, projects must have finished in past 18 months.

** Evidence must be provided in the text of the application except for the buildings that inspire category where photographic evidence is required. Please send photographs to GUA@theguardian.com. Any appendices sent in for other categories will not be considered.