Ulster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ was hailed as a?¡°force for good in?fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion¡± as it?won the top prize at?the Times Higher Education Awards?2024.

Ulster was named 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the Year in?recognition of?its role as an?anchor institution in a?region that has undergone rapid change in?the quarter-century since the signing of?the Good Friday Agreement.

The award honoured the completion of Ulster¡¯s ?364?million Belfast campus, creating a vital connection to a historically underserved community, backed up with a schools programme designed to?boost higher education participation among the city¡¯s young males.

The judges were also impressed by the securing of a €44.5?million (?37?million) investment from the Irish government for the development of?Ulster¡¯s Derry/Londonderry campus, making it a groundbreaking cross-jurisdictional project.

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The significance of such efforts to ongoing peace and collaboration were underscored by Ulster¡¯s role as?host to?the US?president, Joe Biden, on?his visit to?mark the Good Friday Agreement¡¯s 25th?anniversary.

The judges said these achievements ¡°demonstrated the university¡¯s growing influence and status in the island of Ireland, and as a force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion¡±.

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This was the 20th anniversary of the awards ¨C dubbed the ¡°Oscars of higher education¡± ¨C which span 20?categories covering the full range of university activities. This year¡¯s ceremony, focusing on achievements at UK and Irish institutions during 2022-23, was held at the ICC in Birmingham.

The THE Outstanding Achievement Award went to Lord Melvyn Bragg, recognising his two and a?half decades at?the helm of BBC Radio?4¡¯s In?Our Time, which brings university expertise on topics spanning history, science, philosophy and religion to audiences around the globe.

Elsewhere, there were two wins each for the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester, which topped the Outstanding Support for Students and the Research Project of the Year: STEM categories, and for RCSI 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Medicine and Health Sciences, which scooped the Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year prize and saw educationalist Jenny Moffett named Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.

This year¡¯s awards attracted more than 700 entries ¨C a new record ¨C with 70?institutions making the final shortlists.

John Gill, THE¡¯s editor, said this year¡¯s winners were ¡°walking in the footprints of an incredible cohort of awards nominees stretching back 20?years¡±, adding that they demonstrated that ¡°even though times are tough, the creativity and energy in UK and Irish universities remain undiminished¡±.

¡°It is a privilege for THE to have the role it does in celebrating your successes, and on the occasion of our 20th anniversary we thank you, and look forward to championing you for years to come,¡± Mr?Gill said.

Times Higher Education Awards 2024: the winners

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the Year
Ulster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

THE Outstanding Achievement Award
Lord Melvyn Bragg

Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of East London

Outstanding Entrepreneurial 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Dundee
Highly commended: Imperial College London

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International Collaboration of the Year
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with external partners

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
London South Bank 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Outstanding Technician of the Year
Jodie Chatfield, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Nottingham

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Research Project of the Year: STEM
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester

Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Stirling
Highly commended: Abertay 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Business School of the Year
Chester Business School, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Chester

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Exeter

Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year
Felix Driver, Royal Holloway, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London
Highly commended: Angela Creese, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Stirling

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cumbria

Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Bradford

Outstanding Estates Team
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Plymouth

Outstanding Library Team
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Edinburgh
Highly commended: Dublin City 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year
RCSI 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Medicine and Health Sciences

Outstanding Support for Students
51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester with the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester Students¡¯ Union
Highly commended: London South Bank 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
Jenny Moffett, RCSI 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Medicine and Health Sciences

Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Bournemouth 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Highly commended: Edinburgh Napier 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Read advice from the THE Awards 2024 winners and finalists on breaking ground in teaching, environmental leadership, research practices, working with communities and organisations beyond their institutional walls, and much more, in this special THE Campus Spotlight collection.

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