Event

The Awards Ceremony

The Herald Education Awards: For Further and Higher Education 2026 will take place on Wednesday, May 20^th, 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Glasgow.

The evening includes drinks reception, three course meal, half bottle of wine, the awards presentation with official digital event programme, and entertainment.

There is also the fantastic opportunity to network with other attendees working within the sector.

To book your places to attend download the booking form from the BOOK NOW button below and return directly to sharon.franchetti@newsquest.co.uk. Please share your table guests’ names and any dietary requirements via the GUEST INFORMATION FORM also below.

BOOK NOW

GUEST INFORMATION FORM

HOST

Des Clarke

Bio coming soon.

2026 Finalists

Enhancing Student Learning Award – sponsored by QAA

Dumfries & Galloway College – Immersive Learning in Early Years
Glasgow Clyde College – Harris Tweed Reimagined Fashion Project
Glasgow Clyde College – LaunchPad Entrepreneurial Hub
Heriot-Watt University – The Campbell Maths Gym
University of Stirling – International Events Symposium
West College Scotland – Studio by MOYA

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

City of Glasgow College – City Welcomes
Dumfries & Galloway College – DG-PALS Peer Academic & Language Support
Dumfries & Galloway College – Zahra’s Journey
Edinburgh Napier University – Bright Red Triangle – SDG5 Living Lab
Glasgow Clyde College – ESOL 16 Plus Programme
University of Glasgow – The University of Glasgow’s new accessible, inclusive, and compassionate baby loss and fertility treatment guidance.
University of Glasgow – Creatives of Colour Festival

Innovative Use of Technology – Sponsored by Jisc

Ayrshire College Student Association – The Nexus
Dumfries & Galloway College – Constructing Paperless Pioneers
Dumfries & Galloway College – Teaching How2 Pedagogical Innovation
The University of St Andrews Business School – Embedding AI into assessed learning: redesigning finance education for practice
University of St Andrews – SimPatient
University of Stirling – Design for Dementia and Ageing Postgraduate Studio

Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year

Edinburgh College – Experience Edinburgh College
Edinburgh Napier University – Must Be Napier
Glasgow Clyde College – Life Changing Stuff
Queen Margaret University – QMU150 – Acting with Head, Heart and Hand
University of Glasgow – Building a Powerful Chinese Gen Z Community on RedNote at the University of Glasgow
University of the Highlands and Islands – Where learning means more

Outstanding Business Engagement in Colleges

Ayrshire College – Supporting the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster
City of Glasgow College – Scottish Opera & City of Glasgow College
Dumfries & Galloway College – Weld to Work
Glasgow Clyde College – Fastrack to Trade Support Operatives
New College Lanarkshire – Scottish Institute for Dental Education

Outstanding Business Engagement in Universities

Glasgow Caledonian University – Turner and Townsend transforms student prospects through radical scholarship model
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh – Community Wealth Building
Robert Gordon University – RGU Hackathon
Robert Gordon University – RGU Start-up Accelerator
University of St Andrews – Embedding Accessibility into Software Engineering Practice: CS3099 Software Engineering Team Project

Outstanding Contribution from a College Student

Edinburgh College – Oleksandr Shtepan
Glasgow Clyde College – Larysa Dykhner
New College Lanarkshire – Brooke MacFadyen
West College Scotland – Freshta Qaderi

Outstanding Contribution from a University Student

Glasgow Caledonian University – Nayma Sheikh
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh – Aisling Thomas
University of Dundee – Adam Hall
University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School – Laavanya Varadarajan Shanmugapriya

Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member

Abertay University – Professor Mhairi Thurston To be announced on the night
Dumfries & Galloway College – Caroline Barnard
Edinburgh College – Xsara Murray
Glasgow Clyde College – David Butler
Robert Gordon University – Dr Julie Jones
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture – Christine Primrose MBE
UHI North, West and Hebrides – Professor Stuart Gibb
University of St Andrews – Professor Clare Peddie

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community

Glasgow Clyde College – Community Hubs
New College Lanarkshire – Walking football, social medicine
Robert Gordon University – Denis Law Legacy Partnership
Robert Gordon University – Gray’s School of Art – Mobile Art School
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture – Baile na Cille Bige – Kilbeg Village
UHI North, West and Hebrides (UHI NWH) – “For Peats Sake”
University of Edinburgh – Children’s Holiday Venture
University of Glasgow – Byres Community Hub

Partnership Award – sponsored by QAA

City of Glasgow College – Prevention of Gender Violence: Making HE a safe space for all
Dumfries and Galloway College, Ayrshire College and South Lanarkshire College – EcoPreneur
Glasgow Clyde College and Celtic FC: Celtic Coaching Pathway
Glasgow Kelvin College on behalf of the Glasgow City Region Colleges – CLIC (College Local Innovation Centres)
New College Lanarkshire – Brain Health Scotland Centre for Health and Social Care
Robert Gordon University – Denis Law Legacy Partnership

Partnership with Schools Award

Abertay University – Abertay University and Active Schools Dundee
Dumfries and Galloway College – Transformation to Nursing Pathways
North East Scotland College – Life with Sign: School-College partnership leads to innovative sign language game
Robert Gordon University – The RGU Hub Widening Access Model
University of Glasgow – STEM in the Gorbals
University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School – Barefoot in Business Partnership
West College Scotland – West College Scotland – Care Experienced Curriculum Sports Club

Research Project of the Year

Edinburgh College – Addressing Language as a Barrier to Work and Progression – The impact of Edinburgh College’s English for Work programmes
Robert Gordon University – Resilience and Responses to Interconnecting Crises in Informal Settings
SRUC – Green Shed
The Lyell Centre Heriot-Watt University – 3SIP2C – Sources, Sinks and Solutions for the Impact of Plastic on Coastal Communities in Vietnam
University of Aberdeen – Just Transition Lab
University of St Andrews – Third Generation Project – Archival Research Conducted to Explore 20th Century Policies Affecting Gypsy/Traveller Communities in Scotland

Supporting Student Wellbeing Award

Dumfries and Galloway College – Grimdark Gamers of Galloway
Fife College – Supporting Student Wellbeing
Glasgow Clyde College – Stay Well and Thrive at Glasgow Clyde College
South Lanarkshire College – Respect Belongs Here. GBV Does Not
The University of St Andrews Business School – The Essay Gift: A proactive assessment flexibility initiative supporting student wellbeing
University of Edinburgh – PAWS Against Stress®:
University of Stirling – “Help Us Help You”: a campus that talks

Widening Access Award

Edinburgh College – ESOL for Work
Glasgow Clyde College – First Steps to Childcare
Glasgow Kelvin College – Inspiring, Empowering and Connecting Communities
Robert Gordon University – The RGU Hub Widening Access Model
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (School of Dance) – Introduction of BA Dance Artist – one year ‘top-up’ degree
The Open University in Scotland – The Open Enterprise Network
University of Aberdeen – Gateway 2 Medicine (G2M)

Further Educational Institution of the Year

To be announced on the night

Higher Educational Institution of the Year

To be announced on the night

Lifetime Achievement Award

To be announced on the night