University of Chester shortlisted in THE Awards

The University has reached the finals in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards in the categories of Business School of the Year and Outstanding Library Team of the Year. 

Chester Business School’s commitment to connecting with the outside world to prepare the School, its people and its students for the future has delivered significant benefits and impact during 2022/23. The School’s work on the crucial industrial decarbonisation agenda has been recognised and has influenced policy nationally via a forward-looking skills study. In addition, the development of an innovative online tool supporting the country’s healthcare workforce has benefitted more than 160,000 professionals. In addition to these activities, the School has continued its work with the local business community and budding entrepreneurs. 

These efforts have resulted in excellent institutional Knowledge Exchange Framework outcomes and evidence of impacts across local and wider economies. Working with key current and future employment sectors has re-purposed Chester Business School’s vision and focus on low-carbon business futures, responsible enterprise and employer connections; through these activities, the School has cemented its role as a catalyst for progress. 

Chester Business School was named Best in the North of England at the Educate North awards earlier this year. 

Supporting the University’s strategy to enhance the student experience, the Library team collaborated with students through the University’s ‘students as partners’ initiative to create a decolonising and diversifying toolkit for reading lists. 

The team worked together focusing on four objectives: conducting a literature review and research on information and toolkits created by other Universities; an audit of a select group of internal reading lists to gain an enhanced understanding of the authors and voices being represented; the creation of the toolkit and a video explaining diversification and decolonisation and how it relates to the library collection. The team has gone on to share their knowledge at external events and work with Faculties to embed the toolkit further within programme delivery.

Widely recognised as the 'Oscars of higher education', the THE Awards attract hundreds of entries each year from all corners of the UK and Ireland, that exemplify the talent, innovation and commitment of individuals and teams across all aspects of university life. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in central London on November 28, 2024. 

Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, said: “This is a tremendous achievement and I am proud to see the hard work and innovation of colleagues recognised in this way. I wish them all the very best of luck for November.”