Now in its third 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 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 2015, 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. Evidence should be provided in the text of the entry rather than as an attachment or appendix. This can be in the form of a quote, metric or a link to external media evidence.
Shortlists will be published online line 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). Please note that we are not accepting attachments or appendices and any evidence provided should be included in the word count.
* 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.
Entry fee:
Early bird 22 October - 28 November
One entry £199 + VAT
Full rate after the early bird offer expires:
One entry £249 + VAT
Multiple entries (after first entry) £150 + VAT
Please note that a booking fees will also apply.
If for any reason you are unable to pay via credit card online, please email Hannah Saxby.
Timeline:
22 October, 2014: launch date
22 October to 28 November, 2014: early bird period
26 January, 2015: applications close
24 February, 2015: shortlisted applications notified
18 March, 2015: ceremony
• This article was amended on 12 November to change the terms and conditions for entering the research impact category.
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