The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) has announced the shortlist for awards which will recognise and celebrate the achievements of UK universities and the academics who work in them. A total of 20 awards will be made in The Times Higher Awards 2007, reflecting the whole spectrum of university activity.
The University of Aberdeen is delighted to be shortlisted for two awards:
· Business Initiative of the Year; and
· Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development
The Business Initiative of the Year award is open to spin-outs and licences open for business between July 2005 - June 2006. B1 Medical Ltd is an Aberdeen-based spin-out company from the University of Aberdeen, the Robert Gordon University, and NHS Grampian. Founded in July 2006 with a £1.3 million investment, it already has five new products under development.
B1 Medical is involved with the development of orthopaedic products such as implants, trauma devices and diagnostic instrumentation. Its inventions will make a real difference in the lives of those who, for a number of reasons, require small joint replacements.
The latter award, made in association with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, seeks to recognise and reward imaginative schemes that foster leadership development at any level of management - from governors to departments. The University is committed to leadership development as one of the key platforms of the human resources strategy, which is designed to support the Institution to achieve its strategic aims, in particular to enhance its international standing. The International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP) was developed to strengthen the operational and strategic leadership skills of recently appointed and aspiring leaders as part of the University's succession planning strategy.
More than 90% of UK universities have entered in one category or more confirming the diversity, scope and excellence of the activities in which British universities are routinely engaged.
The shortlisted group that Aberdeen is up against for Business Initiative of the Year includes Queen Mary, University of London; Warwick University; Imperial College London; Nottingham University; and Heriot-Watt University.
The shortlisted group that Aberdeen is up against for the Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development includes the universities of Oxford; Hertfordshire; Derby; Edinburgh; and Teeside.
Being shortlisted for two awards is another positive endorsement of Aberdeen's position as one of the leading universities in the UK. Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University said: "We are proud to be one of the UK's leading institutions and are delighted to be recognised in this way.
"As an ancient, research-driven University, we are committed to exploring and releasing ideas which are valuable to humanity and will promote economic growth. Our spin-out companies are a fundamental part of this strategy.
"As an institution committed to operating globally, it is crucial that we not only attract leading academics from around the world, but also that we strengthen our strategic leadership in an international context."
Gerard Kelly, Editor of the THES, said: "Judging the entries for the third annual Times Higher Awards proved even more difficult this year than last. Not only did the judges have to contend with many excellent entries, they also had a much larger number of them.
"I am grateful to those who took the time to enter and who have made this event what it set out to be - a celebration of the outstanding achievements of British higher education."
The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) is one of the world's most authoritative sources of news, comment and debate on higher education. The Times Higher covers policy issues and intellectual developments world-wide. Its editorial team consists of a specialist staff of reporters based throughout the UK together with a large number of correspondents around the world, and many contributors from within the academic community.
The Higher Education awards, which are in their third year, are the only sector-wide ones in the UK. Their number has been expanded to 20 to reflect the range of activities today's universities are expected to cover.
The award winners will be revealed on Thursday, November 29 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.