THE Awards 2024: double shortlist success

The University has been shortlisted for two Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Known as the ‘Oscars of Higher Education’, the THE Awards recognise individuals, teams and projects leading excellence and innovation in teaching, research and university life.

After submitting a number of entries this year, Reading has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Estates Team of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion categories.

The winners will be announced at a THE Awards ceremony on 28 November 2024.

Outstanding Estates Team of the Year

The entry for our Estates team highlighted work over the last 12 months to deliver strategic enhancements to our campus, improving staff and student experience and supporting our environmental sustainability objectives.

This work to support our people and the planet included delivering the new Art building on Whiteknights campus, a Clinical Simulations Training Suite to train students and NHS staff, and green technologies such as additional solar panels and heat pumps.

This is in addition to supporting community engagement events hosted on our campuses, and maintaining our green spaces to such a high standard that we achieved our 14^th Green Flag Award in a row.

Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion

A number of projects supporting and celebrating the diversity within our community of staff and students were highlighted in our entry in this category.

These included impactful campaigns around digital accessibility and work to decolonise the curriculum, led both locally and centrally by our Diversity and Inclusion team.

It also described initiatives such as the Inclusion Consultants scheme that allows students to provide feedback on projects from an audience perspective, and our LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Fund which supports inclusive activities.

Achievements noted were Reading securing University of Sanctuary status and receiving Bronze Race Equality Charter and Silver Athena Swan awards from AdvanceHE.