Today The Herald launches its Higher Education Awards to recognise the outstanding contribution made by colleges and universities across Scotland.

The awards, in association with the Scottish Funding Council, comprise 15 categories which look at how institutions focus on developing innovative partnerships, research and teaching methods.

The celebratory awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 28, at The Doubletree by Hilton, in Glasgow. To be in the running for this year’s accolades we are canvassing for entries across the country.

John Kemp, interim chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Higher education changes lives and drives our economy so we should celebrate it as much as we can.

"That’s what makes the Herald HE awards so important and I’m incredibly pleased that SFC is the title sponsor for the 2018 awards.”

Among the sponsors is the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA )

Its director, Rowena Pelik, said “QAA Scotland is delighted to support this annual celebration of commitment, innovation and creativity by students and staff across Scotland’s outstanding university sector. Each year the entries inspire, impress and delight, I am sure this year will be no exception."

Jason Miles-Campbell, Head of Jisc Scotland and Jisc Northern Ireland, which is also a sponsor, said: “We are very happy to once again be sponsoring the Innovative use of technology award with the Herald Higher Education Awards.

"Scotland’s universities always produce excellent examples of innovation and technology enhanced education, so we look forward to hearing from this year’s entries."

Anderson Strathern is another sponsor. Fiona Killen, the firm's Education Governance Lead and Head of Parliamentary and Public Law, said “We are proud to support these awards for the fourth year running.

"We recognise that Scottish institutions are facing challenging and often uncertain times and are striving to achieve and sustain excellence in teaching and research. Institutions are operating in a global market place and there are impressive examples of innovation to secure sustainable funding and meet student expectations. The many talented people working or studying in the sector, from Scotland and across the world, are worthy of recognition and these awards are one way of doing that.”

** Entries are invited by visiting www.newsquestscotlandevents.com/heawards before the deadline of Friday, May 4. For more information on entering the 2018 awards or to discuss sponsorship opportunities please contact Kerry Medford, Event Manager on 0141 302 7319.