The University of Leicester is in the running for a prestigious national University of the Year award.
Leicester has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year title. Widely referred to as the ‘Oscars of higher education’, the THE Awards are the biggest celebration in the higher education calendar, attracting hundreds of entries from individuals, teams and institutions from across the UK and Ireland.
The University of the Year award is the biggest prize on the night, with the winner chosen by a panel of judges including the editor of the publication, senior university administrators, and senior members of research and funding councils.
The University’s award entry contained a number of key highlights from the past academic year and a focus on its strategic commitment to inclusion.
University of Leicester President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “This nomination is testament to the hard work of colleagues right across the University and it’s pleasing to see that the Times Higher Education awards panel members have recognised the strides we’ve made here in Leicester.”
He added: “As an international university in Britain’s most diverse city, we are a University for inclusion. We are a world-leading, research-intensive university that provides higher education to a particularly diverse student body. This unique position means that the education we provide at Leicester really does have the opportunity to transform lives. We remain true to our values of being inspiring, impactful and inclusive while holding fast to our founding principles with humanity and hope.”
Starting with its leadership, which saw the appointment of its first female Chancellor in Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the University has ensured it reflects the super diversity that defines the city of Leicester.
Leicester grew its student intake by 26%, and can now boast an inclusive demography, with 40% of students from disadvantaged areas, 63% from minority ethnic, 40% from Asian and 16% from Black backgrounds.
The University also reshaped the curriculum to make it relevant and inclusive to diverse populations. It reduced the awarding gap between white and Black students by 3.9% and developed a pioneering Racial Inclusivity Toolkit and a Black leadership programme.
THE editor, John Gill, said: “This year’s THE Awards mark the 20th anniversary of the event, which over the last two decades has celebrated the wonderful achievements of a sector that has undergone extraordinary transformation without ever losing sight of the vital role it plays across the UK and Ireland.
“In 2024 it’s fair to say that higher education is going through a challenging period, but these awards are a constant reminder that we should never underestimate the dedication and drive of those who work in our universities to transforming lives for the better.”
The shortlisting adds to Leicester’s growing achievements which include receiving an overall Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, making it one of a small number of institutions nationally to achieve TEF Gold alongside a top 30 REF performance, indicating outstanding performance in both teaching and research.
In July, the University received the news it was ranked in the top 30 UK institutions of the National Student Survey, clinching 27th place according to analysis by the Times Higher Education.
The University of Leicester won the award in 2008, with this year’s winner being revealed at a ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday 28 November.
