Leeds has been named University of the Year at the Education North Awards, which celebrate excellence, innovation and impact across higher and further education in the North of England.
The awards were held on 7 May at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, bringing together more than 700 academics, students, business leaders and politicians.
The honour recognised the University’s combination of global academic excellence, civic leadership and real-world impact delivered at scale. Judges praised the University’s ability to combine international standing with a strong commitment to Leeds, West Yorkshire and the wider North.
Leeds also won the Innovation Award for its VR Trauma NewsDay project and was named runner-up in the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion category for its Care to Go Higher programme.
A tremendous honour
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Shearer West said: “Being named University of the Year and having our innovation recognised in this way is a tremendous honour and a moment of real pride for our entire University community.
“This recognition reflects the extraordinary commitment, talent and ambition of our staff, students and partners, and the impact they make every day through excellence in research and education, our contribution to culture, health and innovation, and our deep commitment to Leeds, our region and wider society.
“What makes this especially meaningful is that it recognises not only academic excellence, but the values that underpin our work: collaboration, civic responsibility and a determination to use our strengths to address the major challenges facing communities locally and globally.
“At a time when higher education faces significant pressures, this award is a powerful endorsement of what universities can achieve when they combine global ambition with public purpose.”
Ranked 86th in the world in the QS World University Rankings and among only 17 UK institutions in the global top 100, Leeds was celebrated for its strengths across disciplines and its international community of students, colleagues and alumni.
The University was also highlighted for its graduate outcomes, with 88% of graduates progressing into graduate-level roles and Leeds ranked among the UK’s most targeted universities by leading employers.
Judges were also impressed by the University’s wider economic and civic contribution, with Leeds generating £1.2 billion for the UK economy and supporting almost 25,000 jobs. Initiatives including Nexus, Northern Gritstone and the Civic Exchange were highlighted as examples of research and partnership activity delivering public benefit at scale.
A night of success
The University also secured the Innovation Award for the VR Trauma NewsDay project, developed by Digital Education Enhancement colleagues Dan McKinnie and Dr Danielle Millea in collaboration with journalism academic Carl Hartley from the School of Media and Communication.
The immersive simulation places journalism students in a realistic breaking news scenario, helping them develop reporting skills, resilience and strategies for covering emotionally challenging stories in a safe learning environment.
Professor Joanne Garde-Hansen, Professor of Culture, Media and Communication and Head of the School of Media and Communication, said: “NewsdayVR takes our students on an engaging journey from problem-solving with journalism skills to critical reflection. It offers a great example of collaboration between academics and learning technologists.
“Any opportunity for students to simulate making decisions and then understand the implications of those decisions leads to good thinking and even better learning.”
In addition, Go Higher West Yorkshire – hosted by the University – was named runner-up in the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion category for its Care to Go Higher programme.
Led by Helen Sykes, Maria O’Sullivan and Jancis Andrew, the CPD-certified initiative supports foster carers, social workers, teachers and other professionals to better guide care-experienced young people towards higher education.
Further information
For further information please contact the University of Leeds press office at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.