Loughborough University: Covid response sees Loughborough shortlisted for higher education’s most sought-after award

The annual THE awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the higher education sector, celebrate outstanding examples of best practice across a range of activity.

Loughborough’s nomination for the top accolade recognises how it successfully managed the impact of the pandemic on its communities during the 2020-21 academic year. Despite widespread disruption the University was able to safely welcome back students to the campus, with many aspects of its Covid management seen as sector leading.

Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, said: “I am delighted to hear Loughborough has been shortlisted for this prestigious award. The nomination recognises the way everybody pulled together to support our communities during the pandemic, from providing free food parcels for students isolating, to organising safe and compliant social and sporting activities. The nomination also recognises our national leadership on issues such as asymptomatic testing, Covid risk assessments and student welfare.

“The pandemic caused widespread disruption across society, but at Loughborough we can proudly say that we did right by our young people at a time of significant crisis.”

Loughborough has also been shortlisted for the Outstanding Estates Team award. The winners for all the categories will be announced at THE awards ceremony, which will take place in London on November 17.

THE editor John Gill said: “This is the 18th year that the THE Awards will celebrate the best that UK higher education has to offer, across 20 categories covering all aspects of university activity.

“Once again, the shortlists reflect universities doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times, during the 2020-21 academic year, when the pandemic continued to force higher education and all who work in it to respond to an unprecedented challenge.

“That universities did so with alacrity and creativity is clear from the truly exceptional stories told in the awards submissions, and we had over 550 in all – among the highest number ever.

“All of us at THE are looking forward to celebrating with those shortlisted when we get together for the ‘Oscars of higher education’ in November.”