Top award for outstanding student support

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER WINS TOP AWARD FOR ‘OUTSTANDING STUDENT SUPPORT’
Accolade follows outstanding year in which Leicester was selected as University of the Year.  The University of Leicester has been honoured for its Outstanding Support for Students at a glittering awards ceremony in Park Lane, London.

The University was singled out as an example of ‘the amazing display of talent in UK higher education’ at the Times Higher Education Awards held last night (October 15). This follows a triumphant year for the University- last year it was selected as University of the Year by the Times Higher.

Paul Jackson , Director of the Student Support and Development Service, said: “We were delighted to receive this award which recognises the excellent support we offer students at Leicester. Leicester is a university that competes with the best whilst opening up the competition for everyone. This award is further testament to that”.

The University of Leicester has been consistently ranked among the foremost universities in the country for student satisfaction- this year it is the top-ranked multi-faculty university in England, along with Cambridge, for student satisfaction. (National Student Survey)
Praising the University of Leicester for its achievement, the judges stated that the University was engaged in ‘cutting edge work’ to prepare its students for the jobs market.

They said the University ‘demonstrated a thoughtful and proactive approach to tackling the evidenced disadvantages faced by students with disabilities following graduation.”

The report adds: “When the University of Leicester reviewed the statistics on the work destinations of its graduates with disabilities, it found a disparity in the employment prospects of them and their non-disabled peers. To tackle the problem, the University launched a programme called Access to Employability, which aims to dismantle the barriers to employment that confront students and graduates with disabilities.
“(The programme is) is designed to empower students with knowledge, skills and work experience needed to fare better in their careers.”

Professor Bob Burgess, Vice-Chancellor said “This is another splendid achievement by my colleagues that demonstrates how members of the University put students at the very heart of all their work. To gain an award for the work done with students and graduates with disabilities is a great honour as it is an excellent example of how the University tackles disadvantage and empowers our students.”
Richard Mendez, Work-related Learning & Employability Officer said: ‘Access to Employability is an important programme providing employability and work placement support for students with disabilities. The combined efforts and expertise of the AccessAbility Centre and Student Development has ensured that the programme remains specifically tailored to the needs of students who use the AccessAbility Centre. I am delighted that the programme has won the accolade for ‘Outstanding Support to Students’.

Leicester had also been nominated for another award for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation & Technology. This award recognises and promotes technological breakthroughs at institutions in either products or services that have the potential to significantly enhance the operations of the commercial or public sector. The Leicester Space Research Centre’s programme of technology transfer from space astronomy into the life sciences and medicine, a programme begun over a decade ago and now incorporating three spin-out companies, was one of six projects shortlisted in this category.

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