Multi-award nominations for UCLan

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been shortlisted a total of seven times across four different categories at the upcoming 2018 Educate North Awards.

The awards are a celebration of excellence and best practice in the education sector in the North.

The University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Mike Thomas, has been nominated in the UK Leadership category, which recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and an inspirational and innovative approach.

The institution is nominated four times in the Innovation category. The Midwifery lecturing team’s development of a Case Based Learning curriculum, and In The City, a community hub delivered by the Communications and Engagement team to bring local people together through a variety of free events and activities, are both in the running.

Also shortlisted in the Innovation category is the Technology Enabled Learning team’s project Academic Agility – People, Places and Practice, which demonstrated how collaborative working can influence changes in academic practice, while the Interdisciplinary Retail and Architecture project team’s collaboration with AgeUK Wigan Borough to increase community engagement and interactions in Wigan town centre, is also nominated.

UCLan will also be hoping for success in the Student Experience category, as a result of a collaboration between the Leadership Hub within the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise, the Outdoor team within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing and the Careers team, for their work enhancing the leadership capability of undergraduate students.

The University’s final nomination comes in the International Partnership category for UCLan and the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, From Devastation to Preston. The nomination details the supporting work UCLan provided for more than 700 medical students and staff when they were relocated from Dutch St Maarten to Preston to continue their studies when Hurricane Irma struck in October last year.

A judging panel of leading industry professionals and experts will determine the winners of the awards, which will be announced at a ceremony on April 26 at the Radisson Blu, Manchester.

In addition to its nominations, UCLan is sponsoring the University Entrepreneurs Challenge, which is being run in conjunction with the awards and will be presented by David Taylor, pro-chancellor and chair of the University Board. Joel Arber, pro vice-chancellor (external relations) at UCLan said: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted in several categories at this year’s Educate North Awards. They are a fantastic celebration of all things positive happening in the education sector in the North, and we’re looking forward to the ceremony in April and finding out if we’ve been successful.”