The University of Glasgow has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year award and in three other categories.

The University is in contention for Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers, International Collaboration of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 27 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. 

Hundreds of nominations for outstanding institutions, departments and individuals were submitted across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “It is very welcome and gratifying to receive recognition for our efforts and achievements.

“We are committed to engaging at a local and global level, for example by working to widen participation in higher education to under-represented groups – and by investing in world-leading stratified medicine which will have an impact globally.

“We very much hope to win these awards, but believe even to be nominated in four categories is testament to the hard work of our colleagues and their dedication to ensuring the University of Glasgow plays a positive role in society.”

The Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers category shortlisted Glasgow’s unique programme for enterprising arts researchers, called ‘A Creative Enlightenment’.

The four day, Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded, programme is intended to bring together arts researchers from across Scotland, providing opportunities to think creatively about how they can apply their skills and experience beyond the PhD, particularly in relation to being self-employed or starting a social enterprise or charity.

In the International Collaboration of the Year category, the Lifelong Learning in Palestine project is shortlisted.

The two-year EC Tempus-funded initiative led by Glasgow aimed at embedding lifelong learning within the academic mission and ethos of Palestinian Education Institutions. The concept of cradle-to-grave learning is of particular relevance in the Palestinian territories where political, social and economic factors create obstacles to learning traditionally linked to universities.

The Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology recognises technology developed at Glasgow which has enabled a step-change in medical devices, through the creation of a novel acoustic hologram ‘toolbox’.

This innovative technology has led to a series of breakthroughs in areas as diverse as diagnostics, drug delivery and blood clotting. The devices are low cost, low power and disposable, meeting three major industry requirements.

John Gill, THE editor, said: "This celebration marks the tenth anniversary of the Times Higher Education Awards, 10 years in which higher education has undergone huge changes but has always risen to the challenges it has faced. Our universities and colleges are among the nation’s most respected institutions, both at home and internationally, and it’s THE’s great privilege to have played a part in celebrating their achievements over the past decade.”

The full shortlist for all 18 categories is published in today’s issue of Times Higher Education, and is also available on the awards website: www.the-awards.co.uk

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Media enquiries: media@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 3535

First published: 4 September 2014