York wins ‘University of the Year’ award
Image credit: YUSU
The University of York was awarded the title of University of the Year at the 2010 Times Higher Education Awards last night.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Cantor, accepted the award at the London ceremony, after York beat rivals Newcastle, Lancaster, Birkbeck (University of London) and Edge Hill.
Judges praised York’s record in scientific discovery and achievements in combining academic excellence with social inclusion, as more than 80% of the University’s undergraduates come from the state sector.
Campus investment, particularly the expansion to Heslington East was applauded as the University delivered the first stage of the on time and under budget.
Professor Cantor commented: “This is brilliant news for everyone at York. It is a tremendous tribute to the hard work, dedication and ability of staff, students, alumni, friends, colleagues and partners, here in York and throughout the world. They have all contributed to this success.
“The University of York’s success is founded on three principles: we are an academic community dedicated to excellence; we have a deep commitment to social equity; and we have an exciting, modern and innovative spirit. It is a privilege for me to work for such an outstanding University.”
At a time when university teaching budgets are facing cuts of up to 80%, the judges commended the University’s investment in the Arts and Humanities with its £11 million project to house its Humanities Research Centre and Institute for Effective Education.
YUSU President, Tim Ngwena, was present at the ceremony, since commenting that “it’s great to see recognition for the continued hard work the University has put into improving the University, especially in the last two years. It’s important that as a student body we continue to provide feedback on our experiences, through surveys such as the NSS, to ensure the University can continue to offer value to it’s students, whilst simultaneously campaigning when we, as union feel the university has gone awry.”
Shearer West, one of the judges at the event, stated: “York has an impressive record for outstanding research, high-quality teaching and social inclusion.
“It has been undergoing a period of physical expansion, with improvements to its student and research facilities. It is also leading the way in reinforcing its fine track record in the humanities through major investment.”
Judges were also impressed by the awarding of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize to the York this year, for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall.
Over 1,000 staff from universities and colleges across the country attended the event at Grosvenor House Hotel, which was hosted by the former Conservative minister Michael Portillo.
Dr Nicola McDonald, of the Department of English and Related Literature, was also shortlisted as Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.
York won a similar University of the Year award from the Sunday Times in 2003.
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Whoops, sorry guys. Forgot about graduate employment! That’s the next one on the list.
’80% of the University’s undergraduates come from the state sector.’
Is that true? Doesn’t particularly feel like that.
The more interesting stat is how many of the supposed 80% came from comprehensives, rather than grammar schools…
I was at a GTA training course the other day and I couldn’t believe that stat either. But, surprisingly, it’s the truth.
I’d like to say well done to the university. It’s a fairly decent award, we’re doing well for things like Athena Swan awards and Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, we can be proud. Yes there are more important things for us to achieve and we need to work on them but well done.
I do hope that we don’t start throwing around the title though, it’s a good reward for us but nothing huge. As for the high state school numbers, I recognise it and from my experiences, the 80% seems about right, although there seemed to me a higher proportion of privately educated students in Alcuin when I was there in my first year (2007), and all three people who came to York from my school, which was private, were put in Alcuin, the so called ‘posh’ college. Coicindence? Maybe the people from presumably better off families chose the more expensive colleges, I don’t know, I thought I’d throw it out there as the only time in York I’ve seen any difference between state and privately educated people. Make of it what you will.
Still, onwards and upwards. There’s still graduate prospects to improve, I don’t know what can be done centrally about that and we can always try to break off from the pack of universities around the 8-15 national rank and move into St Andrews and Warwick territory. Cantor is doing a good job in my eyes.
PS I may have been at that grad course, if it was on the 18th I was the annoying idiot at the front.
Cheers Chris, really appreciate it.
We’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for your congratulations.
Will this title be added to the university logo too?
Well I don’t just put my seal of approval on any old product or institution. Brian did ask to put it on the front page, I’m still pondering.
It’s an award. If you appreciate it then good. If you don’t then fine, who cares?
Well this is the icing on the cake for me, I left a rubbish University on the edge of windsor after my first year there back in 2007 (otherwise know as Royal Holloway). All the complaints I hear from students about York feel so petty when compared with the horrendous state of my last Uni. Thats not to say it isn’t perfect. But well bloody done, I for one popped open a bottle of Champagne when I heard it and coming to my third year with a postgrad lined up in London and I am sure gonna miss it.
Im sure this award will do much to improve graduate prospects from our institutions which are still a little behind, but meh, we’ve had a particularly good year. Our location in a town like city away from most major city centres with commerce could have something to do with it, certainly its nothing to do with our reputation which is world class.
Congratulations to the University of York!
As an alumnus I’m very proud of the achievements of the university and I do believe that the university is one of the best in the UK.