The winners of the 2018 THE Leadership and Management Awards held in association with Advance HE, were announced on Thursday 21 June 2018 at a celebration event at the Grosvenor House Hotel London.
The University of Huddersfield was awarded the top prize of Outstanding Leadership and Management Team, sponsored by Advance HE, for the success of its strategy focusing on teaching quality, staff development and financial sustainability.
The judges praised the leadership team for “pulling together to create a truly impressive transformation across the University.”
Following the team’s emphasis on achieving institutional excellence across teaching quality, staff qualifications, financial health and quality of estate, Huddersfield has thrived. In 2017 the University won not only a gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), but also first place in Advance HE’s inaugural Global Teaching Excellence Awards (GTEA).
The University of Derby won the award for Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year, also sponsored by Advance HE, for what the judges called an “excellent example of a strategy and implementation plan around three key pillars of learning and teaching: teaching quality, employability and a research-informed curriculum”.
Among the good practice commended by judges was Derby’s launch of digital badges that recognise staff who have implemented new pedagogic approaches that enhance student learning. Professional development targets have also been set for all teaching staff – two-thirds of staff now hold a teaching qualification – an institution-wide teaching observation scheme has been started, and the university’s internal teaching awards have been upgraded. The University is also making significant progress to build the digital capability of its staff and students, which has included staff training and the appointment of student digital champions.
Derby has already been awarded gold in the first Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and was also named a finalist in last year’s Global Teaching Excellence Awards.
John Gill, THE editor, said that the 10th anniversary of the “Thelmas” had produced a “stellar crop” of winners.
“The members of our judging panel were left inspired by the examples of individual and collective brilliance that shone through from the hundreds of entries for this year’s Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards,” he said.
Alison Johns, CEO of Advance HE, said: “The Thelmas are always a great opportunity to celebrate the world class talent and experience that operates throughout UK higher education. We are thrilled to showcase such commitment to leadership, governance and management through our collaboration with THE.”
The full list of winners can be found on the THELMAs website.