ENTRIES are flooding in for The Herald’s annual Higher Education Awards which recognise the outstanding contribution to society made by colleges and universities across Scotland.
The awards, in association with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), are made up of 12 categories which throw the spotlight on innovation in teaching and research across the sector.
The awards are also supported by QAA Scotland, Universities Scotland, Anderson Strathern, technology provider Jisc, City of Glasgow College, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) - who all urged colleges and universities across Scotland to get involved.
Professor Craig Mahoney, principal of UWS, said: "We are delighted to continue to support these exciting awards as they celebrate the wide range of successes and achievements made in Scottish higher education.
"They provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the valuable contribution institutions make, both economically and socially to our country."
This year the creative agency ABSOLUTE are sponsoring the awards for the first time and Chris Hodgen, managing director, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the awards and, in particular, the Campaign of the Year category. We urge institutions to enter their fantastic campaigns and highlight the great work going on in Scottish higher education."
Fiona Killen, education governance lead and head of parliamentary and public law at Anderson Strathern said: "We work in partnership with many schools, colleges and higher education institutions to support the fantastic work they do across Scotland.
"These awards highlight the important achievements in this sector and we would encourage institutions across the sector to enter and be recognised."
Jason Miles-Campbell, head of Jisc Scotland, said: “Universities and colleges leading digital innovation in higher education should be proud to shout about their activities, both to celebrate their successes and to share with others so that they might learn from them – ultimately supporting Scotland’s place as a leading education and research nation.”
Rowena Pelik, director of QAA Scotland said: "As champions of enhancement it was natural for us to create and sponsor an award focusing on how institutions are enhancing the student experience and how creative approaches to teaching, and supporting learning, help create a truly excellent experience of what it means to study higher education in Scotland."
Laurence Howells, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: "Last year's awards were a fantastic celebration of what colleges and universities are achieving across Scotland.
"I'm sure this year's awards will shine a light on even more innovation, imagination and forward thinking - showing why Scotland is such a great place to learn, teach and do research."
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, said: “We encourage all institutions to enter these awards and we are particularly excited about the Partnership category.
"It gives our members an opportunity to demonstrate the great breadth of partnerships in the higher education sector and will highlight the difference that collaborative working can make to people’s lives and educational outcomes.”
A spokesman for City of Glasgow College said: "We would encourage all those institutions involved in higher education and their associated partners to get involved and enter. It's a unique opportunity to showcase the exemplary work that goes on across the sector."
For more information on how to enter please visit www.herald-events.com/heawards or contact Claire Hunter on 0141 302 7319.
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