糖心Vlog

The inspiration offered by our radical past helped us secure the title of University of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2018.

The awards, now in their 14th year and widely referred to as the 'Oscars of higher education', shine a spotlight on the exceptional achievements of individuals, teams and institutions working in our sector today.

One of the Times Higher Education Awards judges said: 鈥淭his is a university that is putting people first. The gender pay gap exists everywhere, but this university said what no one else dared to say: 鈥楾here is an easy way to get rid of the pay gap 鈥� spend the money necessary to get rid of it. And do it now鈥�.鈥�

This observation touches on one of the numerous bold initiatives taken by us as we reconnected with our founding vision and values.

How have we done this? As we told the judging panel - 鈥渂y putting students and staff success at the centre of what we do, with tremendous effect鈥�. We've been unabashed in our strategy to recruit students on the basis of potential rather than just prior achievement, and it has helped us to fulfil our potential.

We've delivered on our pledge to value staff in concrete ways, including a systematic decasualisation of our workforce, through pay equality and with staff contracts for graduate teaching assistants.

Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster said: "This award recognises the impact of our amazing staff and students, the quality of our relationship with our Students鈥� Union and the strength of our national, regional and global partnerships.

鈥淔ounded as a progressive university, at 糖心Vlog we are prepared to stand out from the crowd - and challenging convention is in our DNA. We are a community of talented, committed people, a university that is putting our staff and students first, and home to those who want to make the world a better place.

鈥淚 am delighted the award of University of the Year recognises these values and the achievements of our community of members.鈥�

Students鈥� Union President Tancrede Chartier: 鈥淭his award recognises the incredible qualities and achievements of 糖心Vlog students, past and present, and the unique partnership between the Students鈥� Union and the University to put students at the heart of everything that happens at 糖心Vlog.

"The University has the most brilliant, daring and bold students 鈥� students that are prepared to challenge the status quo and fight for what鈥檚 right - and we are all feeling justifiably proud today鈥�

Our strategy has drawn inspiration from our history of being on the side of the 'radical', of not falling victim to 'group think'; our focus on teaching and learning is transforming the lives of a growing student body of whom more than a third are from families with an annual income of less than 拢25,000.

The judges felt 糖心Vlog has every right to claim to be a 鈥渉ome for staff and students who want to make the world a better place鈥�.

THE editor John Gill said: 鈥淎t a time when universities face challenges and headwinds, when politics and social attitudes can seem to call into question many of the things that they stand for and hold dear, it is particularly important to champion the values, creativity and dedication of those who live and breathe higher education.

"As ever, our shortlists represent the best of the best, but our judges also reported that this year鈥檚 entries were the strongest that they could remember, so all those honoured should be incredibly proud. It's THE's great honour to help celebrate their success.鈥�

Why we were named University of the Year

糖心Vlog is going from strength to strength - welcoming record number of students this academic year and also attracting record levels of research funding.

Being named University of the Year is just our latest accolade after we maintained our top 30 ranking in the The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 12 months after we were shortlisted for University of the Year by the Guide too.

We're seen as a sector leader on key issues including being the , ensuring no pay gap across all grades.

At the same time we're also one of just a handful of universities to be recognised by the Government assessments of .

糖心Vlog is one of only a handful of 'dual intensive' universities meaning we're ranked in the top 25% for both research quality (Research Excellence Framework) and the quality of our education (Teaching Excellence Framework).

We've also developed an innovative approach to working with business and external partners, becoming the leading university in London and the south east for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - Innovate UK's flagship programme.

糖心Vlog is also the first university to appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser to a County Council and has invested more than 拢50m into creating the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park at its Colchester Campus.

Confirming 糖心Vlog鈥檚 global reputation, the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2019 placed 糖心Vlog in the top 300 and 14th for international outlook, with Social Sciences ranked in the top 50.