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The University of Nottingham has won one of the most prestigious awards in UK higher education.
Nottingham was singled out for its 'Outstanding international strategy' at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards.
The honour recognises the work of the University's Asia Business Centre, which has helped to identify £25m in commercial funding for the institution through joint research programmes, training and corporate philanthropy.
The Centre works with Chinese and Malaysian companies on joint research programmes that can develop new products for the market. The Centre also works to secure jobs with major Asian firms for Nottingham graduates, and helps small and medium-sized businesses in the East Midlands to help them develop commercial opportunities in Asia through providing specialist support and market intelligence.
International vision
Jason Feehily, head of the Asia Business Centre (pictured above, centre), said: “We’re absolutely delighted to win this award. The Centre is an expression of the University’s vision for international engagement, and shows the enormous power of working internationally – and the benefits it can bring on both sides. It’s fantastic that this has been recognised by the Times Higher Education award judges.”
The Times Higher award is the second such accolade of 2013 – the University also won the international category at The Guardian University Awards in February.
Nottingham has a unique international footprint, with full campuses in Ningbo, China, and Semenyih, Malaysia.
Knowledge exchange
Knowledge Without Borders, the University’s international strategy, embeds an international dimension in all of its activities – producing graduates who are empowered to excel in a global environment and delivering world-changing research. The Asia Business Centre puts internationalisation at the heart of the University’s global knowledge exchange strategy in Asia.
Developed to capitalise upon the University’s unique presence in Asia, the Centre operates highly successfully in both the business and higher education sectors. It identifies new collaborations to create solutions that meet the needs of Asian industry, and is part of the University’s Business Engagement and Innovation Services (BEIS) team.
Mike Carr, Director of BEIS, said: “I am very pleased that the work of the University and the Asia Business Centre, in particular, has been recognised through this award. Our campuses and our mature relationships in Asia represent a tremendous opportunity to enhance the reputation of the University and our partnerships with Asian businesses.”
Creating links
Joanna Newman, director of the UK Higher Education International Unit and one of the judges of the Times Higher Education Awards, said Nottingham's entry was outstanding and had built “...on its trusted international reputation and established presence in Asia to create a knowledge exchange strategy that is... creating vital links between the university and business in the UK and Asia.”
The Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards recognise best practice in the administration and management of the UK's universities.
John Gill, editor of Times Higher Education, said: “Hard work, creativity and a steady nerve are essential qualities for those leading our universities, and the winners of our awards have all three in spades. Our universities are fortunate to have such superb individuals and teams leading the way, and it is a privilege to bring them into the spotlight at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards.”
The University of Nottingham was also shortlisted in the categories of ‘Outstanding Fundraising Initiative’ and ‘Outstanding Departmental Administration Team’.
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PICTURED ABOVE are (l-r): event compere Dara O'Briain; Junyi Liu (Asia Business Centre); Na Han (Asia Business Centre); Jason Feehily (Asia Business Centre); Professor Karen Cox (Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham); Min Rose (Asia Business Centre); and Jane Bristow (Managing Director, Sodexo, one of the award sponsors).
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was ‘one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education’, according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…