Guardian University Awards 2016: Paul Sinha announces the winners

Awards host Paul Sinha on stage at the Guardian University Awards 2016, held at RIBA in central London. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

The judges have made their decisions, the champagne glasses have been raised and the winners have taken to the stage at our glitzy ceremony to collect their trophies.

The awards, running for its fourth year, recognise excellence in Britain’s best universities and set the benchmark for higher education excellence. This year’s ceremony was introduced by Judy Friedberg, Guardian universities editor, and hosted by Paul Sinha.

Friedberg said: “University professionals around the UK have been collaborating and innovating to change lives on their own campuses, in their regions, and around the world. We’re delighted to be able to recognise their vision and their hard work.”

We can now reveal to you, our readers, the winners and runners-up of the Guardian University Awards 2016:

Inspiring leader

(Sponsored by HSBC)

Ian Dunn, deputy vice-chancellor of student experience at Coventry University, with Paul Sinha and Dan Howlett, head of corporate banking at HSBC. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Ian Dunn, Coventry University

Advancing staff equality

Swansea University’s Paul Robinson and Alison Owen, of the Bay Campus Recruitment Project, with Paul Sinha. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Swansea University

Runner-up: University of Leicester

Buildings that inspire

Professor Tim Thorton and Sarah Wickham from University of Huddersfield with Paul Sinha and their award for Heritage Quay. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: University of Huddersfield

Runner-up: City University London

Runner-up: Plymouth University

Business partnership

(Sponsored by ABPI)

Professor Carl Perrin and James Simester from Coventry University with their business partnership award. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Coventry University

Runner-up: University of Leeds

Runner-up: University of Nottingham

Digital innovation

Professor Diane Houston, Dr Jane Reeves, and Vanisha Jassal from the University of Kent with their digital innovation award, Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: University of Kent

Runner-up: University of Nottingham

Runner-up: Queen Mary University of London

Employability

Rachel Roberts and Hariet Drake from Queen Mary, University of London, with Paul Sinha and their employability initiative award for QConsult. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Queen Mary, University of London

Runner-up: University of Sheffield

Runner-up: Newcastle University

Entrepreneurship

Brian Baillie and Kairen Skelley from University of Leeds with their entrepreneurship award. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: University of Leeds

Runner-up: Royal Agricultural University

Runner-up: University of Wolverhampton

International projects

(Sponsored by IELTS)

Jude Collins, IELTS communication advisor, presents the international projects award to Dr Katie Hampson, Maganga Sambo and Joel Changalucha from the University of Glasgow for the Boyd Orr Centre. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: University of Glasgow

Runner-up: Bath Spa University

Runner-up: University of the West of Scotland

Marketing and communications campaign

Marketing and comms campaign award-winner Sarah Swinnerton (left) and a friend, from Harper Adams University. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Harper Adams University

Runner-up: University of Sheffield

Runner-up: University of Leicester

Research impact

Professor Mary Herbert and Dr Louise Hyslop from Newcastle University with their research impact award for pioneering IVF techniques. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Newcastle University

Runner-up: University of Reading

Runner-up: University of Bradford

Social and community impact

Dr Belinda Winder and Lynn Saunders from Nottingham Trent University with Paul Sinha and their social and community impact award for The Safer Living Foundation. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Nottingham Trent University

Runner-up: University of Manchester

Runner-up: Newcastle University

Student diversity and widening participation

Student diversity and widening participation award-winners Joe Baden and Neil Bradley from Goldsmiths, University of London. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Goldsmiths, University of London

Runner-up: King’s College London

Runner-up: University of Winchester

Student experience

(Sponsored by IELTS)

Fay Wilson, Carlos Gigoux and Tessa Bartlett from the University of Essex with Edgar Maddicott, IELTS marketing officer, and their student experience award for the THINK seminar series. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: University of Essex

Runner-up: Teesside University

Runner-up: Kingston University

Sustainability project

Sustainability project award-winner Pearl Costello from the Royal Agricultural University (left), with a friend. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Royal Agricultural University

Runner-up: University of Edinburgh

Runner-up: University of Bristol students’ union

Teaching excellence

Sean Mackney, Dr Sharon Edwards and Sam McCormack from Buckinghamshire New University with the award for teaching excellence and Paul Sinha. Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Winner: Buckinghamshire New University

Runner-up: De Montfort University

Runner-up: Cardiff Metropolitan University

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• This article was amended on 17 March 2016 to update the photo caption with the item on Digital innovation.