The annual ceremony recognises how staff as individuals and in teams have demonstrated their commitment to the University aims and values, especially around inclusion.
Over 200 nominees were submitted for 17 awards across six categories related to research and innovation, education and student experience, equity, diversity and inclusion, international engagement and impact, sporting excellence and opportunity, and living the values.
Earlier this year, colleagues from the Engineering Schools collaborated to develop and launch the Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub (IEEH), funded by the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) as part of the Diversity Impact Programme.
Members of the IEEH team led by Dr Liz Ratcliffe, Dr Sheryl Williams, Dr Laura Justham, Professor Tarek Hassan and Professor Ksenia Chmutina received a nomination in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category and won this year's Advocates and Allies award. The team were recognised for their innovative approach to tackling systemic barriers in the engineering community by looking at diversified pathways for minoritised groups through the education and career development cycle.
Lower proportions of engineering students and professionals are female, have one or more declared disabilities, or come from low-socioeconomic or ethnic minority backgrounds. The hub was conceived to better understand and tackle these issues, providing a vision of better education and engagement with minoritised engineering students throughout their higher education experience.
The hub comprises a dedicated study space and common room, with PCs, an accessible workstation, a Lego activity zone, and an area for mindful art, which is open to all engineering students.
The project continues to transform the outcomes and experiences of students from underrepresented groups, provide benefits to the wider engineering higher-education sector and create more inclusive learning environments on campus.
The IEEH will run an annual workshop with industrial participation to develop policy and practical guidance on how to lobby Government, industry, and education decision-makers.
Congratulations to all the nominees, winners and the IEEH team.