Anglia Ruskin named University of the Year 2023 at the Times Higher Education Awards
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has been named the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023.
ARU beat the University of Exeter, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and the University of York to claim the biggest prize in UK higher education.
Vice Chancellor Professor Roderick Watkins said: “Our mission is to transform lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. Receiving the Times Higher University of the Year award is tremendous recognition from within the higher education sector that our work is making a real difference and stands out at a national level.
“My colleagues work tirelessly to deliver first-class education, undertake impactful research, and introduce new initiatives for the benefit of our students and the communities we serve. I’m immensely proud of the difference they’re making to our students’ lives.”
The Times Higher Education Awards are known as the Oscars of the UK university sector and took place in Liverpool last night (Thursday, December 7).
The win is the latest high-profile award for ARU, after being named University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards in October and receiving a Gold award – the highest possible rating – for the quality of its education in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) announced in September.
Praising the successful launch of ARU Peterborough and the university’s leadership on public service education, amongst other achievements, Times Higher Education said: “The impact of the best universities on cities and regions is transformational. A university can be a focal point for community, a hub for innovation, and turn aspiration into reality.
“Anglia Ruskin University does all this, not just in one city but across multiple centres spanning the east of England – with the institution extending its reach and impact significantly in 2021-22.”
The judges of the award added: “Its achievements paint a picture of a university that knows what and who it is for, and one that is delivering – including taking calculated risks to support its region to the full.”
The Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023 award honours “exceptional performance during the 2021-22 academic year”.
Amongst ARU’s significant achievements during that period was the launch of ARU Peterborough, delivered through a unique partnership between ARU, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council.
Also over that period, the UK’s first Samaritans university hub opened on ARU’s Cambridge campus, where trained student and staff volunteers deliver important support to the public.
In addition to winning the University of the Year 2023 award last night, ARU was also shortlisted in the categories of Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, for the Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE) scheme, and Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, for ARU Peterborough.
