The 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Glasgow¡¯s sector-leading efforts to tackle modern-day race-based inequalities by addressing uncomfortable truths in its past secured it the top prize at the Times Higher Education Awards 2020.

The Scottish institution was named 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the Year at the 16th annual ¡°Oscars of higher education¡±, which were held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. Across 20 categories, universities and their staff from across the UK were recognised for exceptional teaching, research, student support, entrepreneurship, collaborations and outreach.

Glasgow¡¯s winning entry focused on its decisive response to a report exploring the institution¡¯s historical links with the slave trade, which included a pledge to spend ?20 million in reparations, establishing a Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research with the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the West Indies, scholarships for ethnic minority students, and a far-reaching programme of research collaboration focused on the Global South.

The university¡¯s actions led the way for the UK sector ¨C it is now advising many others ¨C but also fundamentally repositioned the institution, putting issues such as decolonising the curriculum at the heart of its next strategic plan, and setting a high bar for future action demanded on challenges such as climate change.

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The judges hailed Glasgow as a ¡°hugely deserving¡± winner. ¡°At a time when universities are too often on the back foot in public debates about value and relevance, Glasgow stood out as a shining example of what a university should be: institutions of courage and action, uniquely placed to tackle the biggest issues facing the world,¡± they said.

This year¡¯s?event featured a new award, Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, which went to the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Worcester for its ¡°whole institutional¡± approach to the issue, which included action on disabled access and closing the gender pay gap.

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It also included a revamped THE Outstanding Achievement Award, which no longer exclusively recognises a lifetime¡¯s work, but now also a specific piece of work where ¡°the resulting impact has been profound, game-changing, or otherwise remarkable¡±. This year the prize was given to admissions teams from across UK higher education, recognising their collective response to the summer¡¯s examinations crisis.

John Gill, THE¡¯s editor, said that ¡°the brilliance on display in every category, from institutions the length and breadth of the country, is a reminder of the role that universities must, and will, play in guiding the way through [the coronavirus] crisis¡±.

Times Higher Education Awards 2020 winners

THE Outstanding Achievement Award
Admissions teams, UK higher education?

Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Worcester?

Outstanding Support for Students
Nottingham Trent 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ?

Business School of the Year
Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ?

Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year
Tara Moore, Ulster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ?

Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the West of Scotland?

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Exeter?

Research Project of the Year: STEM
Heriot-Watt 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Royal Holloway, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London

THE DataPoints Merit Award
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Surrey?

Outstanding Library Team
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Edinburgh

Outstanding Technician of the Year
John Waters, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Liverpool?

Outstanding Estates Strategy
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Birmingham?

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester?

Outstanding Entrepreneurial 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Aston 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ?

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
Royal Northern College of Music?

International Collaboration of the Year
Swansea 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, in collaboration with UK and international partners?

Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
Staffordshire 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ?

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Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
Judith Francois, Kingston 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the Year
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Glasgow

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