THE Awards 2023: advice from the shortlist

Inspiration and ideas from the outstanding faculty and universities in the UK and Ireland

THE Awards 2023 spotlight

Times Higher Education’s annual awards recognise the innovations and successes of universities across the UK and Ireland. In this collection, shortlisted scholars, teams and institutions offer best practice in research supervision, student support, environmental leadership, work towards equity, diversity and inclusion, international collaboration, library practice, community outreach and technological achievement.

How small universities can make big digital changes

Even tiny institutions can punch above their weight when implementing changes. Chris Porter shares the lessons learned from overhauling library digital services at Birmingham Newman University

Chris Porter

Birmingham Newman University

Outstanding research supervisor of the year

Detail of hands collecting river water

Celebrating failure and other advice for PhD supervisors

PhD researchers should be given space to work independently, share their results and test their own limits with the support of supervisors who see them as people first and scientists second, explains Hannah Cloke

Hannah Cloke

University of Reading

Guide leading a tour

Research supervisor or tour guide?

Reflecting on her own PhD journey as a supervisor and student, Ruth Northway offers her key signposts and mapping techniques to help candidates reach their destinations

Ruth Northway

University of South Wales

Young man in conversation with supervisor

Five ways to support PhD students’ well-being

Doctoral researchers are often absent from university discussions around well-being support, writes Jenny Mercer. Here, she argues that their situation requires bespoke attention and sets out ways this might be achieved

Jenny Mercer

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Lighthouse

Advice for supervising a PhD by published works

The route to a PhD by published works requires a different approach to supervision. Here, Alison Brettle provides aspects to consider based on her experience conducting, supervising and developing institutional guidance

Alison Brettle

University of Salford

How to foster PhD excellence

How can PhD supervisors help early career researchers blossom? Support them with finding funding opportunities, understand each doctoral candidate’s motivations and reach out to your own network, suggests Julia Hörnle

Julia Hörnle

Queen Mary University of London

Outstanding support for students

Students sitting together against a wall

Designing 24/7 hubs for students

What does it mean to create student-centric support? Here, Kieron Broadhead outlines the process and challenges in re-imagining a 24-hour student administration system

Kieron Broadhead

University of Southampton

Students in a classroom

A blueprint for supporting students affected by forced migration

Higher education institutions should be places of safety, solidarity and empowerment for people affected by forced migration. Here’s how the Universities of Sanctuary Network is working towards this aim

Madeleine Dutton, Sophie North

University of East Anglia

Students sitting outside Siberrad Student Centre

How pre-arrival courses can support students’ transition into higher education

Dave Briggs explains how a pre-arrival course at the University of Essex is driving engagement and retention and giving students greater confidence

David Briggs

University of Essex

Group of multiracial young people

How can we create accessible and inclusive learning environments for neurodivergent students?

How can we actively engage neurodivergent students in the classroom? This resource offers practical guidance for fostering accessible and inclusive learning environments that honour diverse thinking and learning styles

Emilie Edwards

Middlesex University

How knowledge exchange engages and retains disadvantaged students

Offering disadvantaged students the opportunity to take part in consultancy projects where they can make an impact on complex social issues can boost engagement, says Neale Daniel

Neale Daniel

Anglia Ruskin University

Technological or digital innovation of the year

A student uses a chat bot while she studies

Three ways AI can support student success and well-being

A virtual assistant helped free up human resources at the University of Galway and revealed student issues that staff could not have predicted

Josephine Walsh

University of Galway

Saddle pressure mat used to teach horse riding

Get off your high horse: using technology to make equine courses more inclusive

A group of educators at Scotland’s Rural College have reached more diverse students by using wearable technology to update traditional methods of teaching horse riding

Jennifer Fitzpatrick

Scotland's Rural College

VR can be used to improve students' mental well-being

How the shores of a VR island promote student well-being and social connections

Virtual reality environments can create safe and relaxing spaces for students, offering them mindfulness meditation and social connection, says Pete Bridge

Pete Bridge

University of Liverpool

teamwork concept

The four key steps to writing a successful funding bid

The art to writing successful funding bids lies in your vision – and assembling a crack team to enact it. Rob Waterson offers his tips

Rob Waterson

University of East London

How to co-create learning resources with students

If you want to increase the impact and engagement levels of your learning resources, involve students in every step of the development process, argues Lauren Aspery

Lauren Aspery

Newcastle University

International collaboration of the year

The University of Birmingham hosted over 3,000 athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Transforming a university campus into an athletes’ village

As an official partner of the Commonwealth Games 2022, the University of Birmingham housed and fed over 3,000 athletes from across the globe. Malene Stanley explains how they turned their campus into an athletes’ village in just a few months

Malene Stanley

University of Birmingham

Transparency and trust in international research

The secret to long-term international research projects is trust and transparency

To build an excellent research team you want talented individuals – but they also have to enjoy working together. Christine Raines explains how teamwork and open communication have made Ripe succeed

Christine Raines

University of Essex

Bold research collabortions

To extend your research’s impact, be bold and collaborate widely

International collaborations expose your work to new and bigger audiences and give you unique opportunities for cross-organisational and interdisciplinary engagement, says Catherine Queen

Catherine Queen

University of Liverpool

target on blocks

Case study: how to do an independent evaluation on homelessness on six continents

From working with resident researchers to navigating local salary schemes, Suzanne Fitzpatrick offers lessons on how to carry out a large-scale international evaluation programme

Suzanne Fitzpatrick

Heriot-Watt University

Using partnerships to establish and build on project success

From listening to the student voice to creating joined-up partnerships, success on major capital works depends on teamwork. Here, Dominic Wood outlines key elements to ensure project delivery and reap long-term benefits

Dominic Wood

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

Leadership and community outreach

Student standing outside a university building

How to transform a failing institution

Following the University of East London’s shortlisting for University of the Year award at the Times Higher Education 2023 Awards, Dean Curtis offers advice for driving positive change

Dean Curtis

University of East London

Cathedral Square and Market Hall, Peterborough

Multilayered interventions to foster community relationships

Key components of positive community engagement include institutional-, faculty- and course-level links, writes Tom Williamson. Here, he offers a road map for embedding universities in their local area and regional economy

Tom Williamson

Anglia Ruskin University

Community meeting

Community organising: a case study in parent engagement

Widening participation in higher education and improving the education journeys of young people cannot happen in isolation, writes Michael Bennett. Here, he outlines a programme that connects parents, community groups and the university

Michael Bennett

King’s College London