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This category will recognise a college or university that has demonstrated exceptional performance in the past academic year and is open to all higher education institutions in Scotland. The institution’s teaching, research and business performance will be taken into consideration. Judges will be looking for evidence of creative and innovative projects which have enhanced its reputation.

This category will recognise a further education institute that has demonstrated exceptional performance in the past academic year and is open to all further education institutions in Scotland. The institution’s teaching, research and business performance will be taken into consideration. Judges will be looking for evidence of creative and innovative projects which have enhanced its reputation.

This award will be given to a team in a college or university which has made a contribution to enhancing the student learning experience or academic skills. This could be through one-to-one tuition, drop in sessions on essay writing, work to enhance skills of literacy and numeracy or exam preparation and revision. This award will also look for teams who help provide the resources crucial to assist students with their learning. Judges will look for evidence the work has enhanced the student learning experience and/or has been shared or adopted more widely across the institution or by other institutions.

This award will pay tribute to an outstanding individual in higher education whose long-term efforts, dedication and sustained commitment have supported the sector. Judges will look for evidence of how this individual has advanced the field of education and demonstrated innovation.

This award will be given to a project that supports students in a personal capacity to gain the maximum benefit from their experience at university or college. This could be by providing advice and assistance to students on personal matters, family, health, mental health, safety or financial issues. Judges will be looking for evidence that initiatives have had a positive impact on the experience of students.

This award will go to a student who has made an outstanding contribution to their university or wider community including work on or off campus. Judges will be looking for how this person has inspired and motivated others to act philanthropically or made efforts to improve student experiences and that of the local community. This student may also be specifically connected to a sport or leisure activity or one who has overcome hardship, disability or other personal adversity.

This award will go to a student who has made an outstanding contribution to their college and wider community including work on or off campus. Judges will be looking for how this person has inspired and motivated others to act philanthropically or made efforts to improve student experiences and that of the local community. This student may also be specifically connected to a sport or leisure activity or one who has overcome hardship, disability or other personal adversity.

This award will go to a member of university or college staff who has made an outstanding contribution to their institution or wider community, including work on or off campus. Judges will be looking for how this person has inspired and motivated students in their field of expertise either through teaching or research or how they have used their teaching skills or research expertise to inspire and motivate learners in their surrounding community.

This will be awarded to an individual or group of researchers who have undertaken and published an exceptional piece of research in their field. This could be an individual project by an institution or a collaborative project from a number of colleges or universities. Judges will be looking for innovative research that has had significant economic, social, cultural or other public benefit but also which has helped to enhance the reputation of the institution.

In this category we will be looking for a university to demonstrate their innovative approach to working in partnership with business and/or public sector organisations either to help develop an aspect of their business by the use of research or which helps develop training and work experience which aids student employability and improves workforce skills.

In this category we will be looking for a college to demonstrate their innovative approach to delivering employers’ workforce development needs. This should be through partnerships with businesses and/or public sector organisations to develop training which helps student employability, provides them with work experience and improves wider workforce skills.

This award will recognise how an institution is using technology to accomplish new forms of student delivery, learning or research. This could be through a variety of methods, including but not restricted to: innovative teaching techniques; enhanced digital student experience; improved digital literacy; widening access to scholarly communications; use of technology to be more effective and efficient; generation of new business; research data management tools and techniques; and the creation of technology-led spaces to improve learner outcomes. Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of innovation and how this has achieved impact, particularly on students.

This award will be given to an individual, team or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the local community. Judges will be looking for evidence of commitment to areas such as local employment, community volunteer schemes, charity work, environmental initiatives and local product sourcing.

This category is about innovative collaboration between institutions with a transformative impact. We are looking for a college or university which has developed strategic approaches in partnership to effect change and enhance the student experience. This may be through joint initiatives around learning and teaching priorities or development of strategies, policies or governance. This award may also be for a formal research or enhancement project, or innovative working practices.

This award will recognise an institution that can demonstrate the success of a marketing or PR campaign which has successfully engaged its target audience. The subject of the campaign could be anything from attracting overseas students, to promoting safety on campus. Judges will be looking for entrants to demonstrate how their campaigns used a variety of media channels and platforms to meet their aims as well as evidence they were successful in achieving their goals.

In this category we will be looking for a college or university to demonstrate their innovative approach to partnering with schools. This should be through partnerships with schools to help provide students access to further and higher education.

This award will recognise an institution that is making demonstrable progress in achieving the goals of equality, diversity and inclusion. Judges will be looking for evidence of projects that have identified areas of under-representation amongst either students or staff and have made a difference. This could highlight a range of issue including, but not restricted to gender, equal pay, disability awareness, LGBTI and black and minority ethnic under-representation.

This category will explore how both colleges and universities are using innovative methods to widen access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This could include summer schools, talent spotting, top-up programmes or articulation. Judges will be looking for evidence of how institutions have engaged with a specific target group and also how they are providing continued support to the students.