Read: Levelling up champions within universities celebrated at awards
Universities playing a leading role in levelling up the UK have been celebrated at a new set of awards. The Levelling Up Universities Awards recognise those higher education institutions and their staff that are committed to boosting opportunity and being truly purpose-led.
Winners on the night included the University of Bradford, York St John University and the University of Northampton. A range of individuals, teams and projects were highlighted as being at the forefront of the levelling up agenda.
There were also Levelling Up Spotlight Awards for Professor Liz Barnes, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University and Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, for their commitment to, and leadership of, the levelling up agenda within higher education.
The Awards were hosted by former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening and former Skills and Apprenticeship Minister Rt Hon Anne Milton.
The categories are based around the Levelling Up Goals launched earlier this year by Justine Greening. The Goals provide a benchmark for activity focused on driving equality of opportunity from early years through to careers, alongside barriers such as the digital divide, health and infrastructure.
Justine Greening said: “Following on from the success of the Levelling Up Awards earlier this year, we wanted to specifically focus on the amazing work being done in universities across the UK. It was great to see so many inspirational universities and leaders in the sector being celebrated at Levelling Up Universities Awards.
“Accelerated by the pandemic and the challenges that this has brought us, we are seeing a real shift in expectations of universities and their role as anchor institutions with communities. The Levelling Up Goals are a powerful new framework for organisations to map their own impact and identify where more can be done.
“I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and thank them for leading the way on the levelling up agenda.”
The full list of winners are:
Goal 1: Strong foundations in Early Years
Hannah Holdgate from Plymouth Marjon University
Goal 2: Successful school years
Hannah Tebbutt from the University of the West of England
Goal 3: Positive destinations Post 16+
Make Happen UCAS working group
Goal 4: Right advice and experiences
Ansh Sachdara, President of the Students' Union at the University of Bolton
Goal 5: Open recruitment
The University of Derby
Goal 6: Fair career progression
Emma Vincent from York St John University
Goal 7: Widening access to savings & credit
The University of Bradford
Goal 8: Good health and wellbeing
The University of Lincoln’s Mental Health Transitions Project
Dr Melanie Thorley from the University of Greenwich
Goal 9: Extending enterprise
The Fresh Minds for Business Programme at the University of West London
Goal 10: Closing the digital divide
The covid response from Staffordshire University
Goal 11: Infrastructure for opportunity
Professor Kiran Trehan from the University of York
Goal 12: Building homes & sustainable communities
Professor Alister Scott from Northumbria University
Goal 13: Harness the energy transition
Victoria Blake from the University of Northampton
Goal 14: Achieve equality, through diversity & inclusion
Catherine Shillito, from the outreach team at Liverpool John Moores University
Spotlight Award Winners
Professor Liz Barnes - Vice-Chancellor at Staffordshire University
Professor Mary Stuart - Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln