Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards are a University-wide celebration of our outstanding people
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards 2024. There were 250 award entries across the 11 categories this year, with 1,500 individuals included in the nominations.
The winners and highly commended nominees will be announced at a special ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chancellor at the Sheldonian Theatre on Wednesday 8 May, followed by a reception at the Examination Schools.
Everyone is invited to attend the Awards Showcase at the Weston Library Tuesday 7 May to Thursday 9 May 2024. This is a University-wide opportunity for all staff, regardless of role, to drop in and engage with the shortlisted projects and activities across Oxford. Show your support for your colleagues, network with new teams, and find out more about the award-winning projects.
Please join us in congratulating the success of our colleagues in our community who have gone above and beyond to contribute to Oxford’s mission. Nominations were assessed by stream judging panels made up of colleagues from across the central University, divisions, colleges and GLAM. The shortlists for each category can be found below.
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards Shortlist 2024
1. Support for Students Award
Recognising groups of colleagues who have supported students' development.
- Heritage Pathways: supporting student development through training and sector engagement – Humanities Division
- Hertford Library: the heart of student support – Hertford College
- Oxford SDG Impact Lab – Oxford Department of International Development
- Promoting a 'value added' culture in an undergraduate programme – Regent's Park College
- Somerville Skills Hub: delivering academic, wellbeing and careers support – Somerville College
- Supporting disabled student inclusion through creation of accessible resources – Accessible Resources Unit, Bodleian Libraries
- Tailored SpLD Support Pathway and Student Support Plans – Student Welfare and Support Services, and Centre for Teaching and Learning
2. Innovative Teaching and Assessment Award
Recognising groups of colleagues who have implemented new approaches to education at Oxford.
- Blocking Biochemistry: an innovative immersive approach to teaching and learning – Department of Biochemistry
- First Augmented Reality Experience in MBA Course Worldwide – IT Services, Saïd Business School and Department of Computer Science
- North Korea Crisis Simulation, Master of Public Policy – Blavatnik School of Government
- A comprehensive self-directed online course in statistics for everyone – Nuffield Department of Population Health
3. Inclusive Teaching and Assessment Award
Recognising groups of colleagues who have adopted approaches that make teaching more inclusive for different groups of students.
- Digital Synergy: Unleashing Dynamic and Inclusive Anatomy Education – Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
- Diversification of Assessments in Sleep Medicine – Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
- Diversifying the Curriculum in Biblical Studies at Oxford – Faculty of Theology and Religion
- Training conservation scientists and practitioners from around the world – Department of Biology
4. Research Engagement Award
Recognising those who have enriched their research through engaging with those outside the University, for the benefits of wider society.
- Building sustainable relationships with local Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities – Department of Psychiatry
- Collecting COVID Project: Public and Community Engagement with Research – History of Science Museum and Bodleian Libraries
- Funder co-ordination for clinical trial pandemic preparedness policies – Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness Research & Policy Team, Pandemic Sciences Institute
- Influencing the design and implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain in England – Department of Biology
- REACH improving water security for vulnerable people in Africa and Asia – School of Geography and the Environment
- Sensing volcanoes: public and community engagement with volcanic risk – Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford; University of East Anglia; University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory
- Your Amazing Brain: A University and Regional Museum Partnership – Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging and Banbury Museum
5. Innovation and Commercialisation Award
Recognising individuals or teams undertaking research-led innovation or commercialisation.
- Brill Power – Making Batteries Better
- The Global Dissemination of Effective Psychological Treatments – Department of Psychiatry
- Improving Global Epilepsy Diagnosis Through Interdisciplinary Research and Technologies – Epilepsy Pathway Innovation in Africa, and the Oxford Martin Programme on Global Epilepsy
- Refeyn – Development and commercialisation of mass photometry: single molecule mass measurement
- The R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine Clinical Development Programme – Nuffield Department of Medicine
6. Research Culture Award
Recognising those who have contributed to a positive, inclusive, and equitable research culture.
- Developing an Ethical Fieldwork Code of Conduct for Oxford University – School of Geography and the Environment
- Growing an inclusive research team at the Pitt Rivers Museum
- Improving Research Culture in NDORMS, Oxford, and in the UK – Anjali Shah, NDORMS
- Hope into Action: Social Sciences Impact Conference 2023 – Research Impact and Engagement Team, Social Sciences Division
- The Hitchhiker’s guide to a Happier Lab – Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging
- XNET: Removing barriers for collaborative & inclusive interdisciplinary research – Oxford University (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and the Kavli Institute); University of Edinburgh; University of Aberdeen; University of Dundee
7. Community Partnership Award
Recognising colleagues who have partnered with others to make a positive difference locally, nationally or globally.
- Africa Oxford Initiative: Transformational impact via pan-university partnerships with African institutions
- Global Leadership Challenge: Empowering the next generation of responsible leaders –Department of Politics and International Relations
- Inclusive Programming for Adults with Learning Disabilities in GLAM
- Supporting young people from African families in accessing science capital – The Kennedy Institute, NDORMS, History of Science Museum and MPLS scientists
- Tackling childhood malnutrition in Oxfordshire: From Grassroots to Policy Actions
- Ten-Minute Book Club – English Faculty
8. Enhancing Oxford’s Professional Services Award
Recognising professional and administrative staff who support the University's academic mission through delivering effective professional services.
- Continuous improvement and collaborative working – Graduate Admissions team, UAS
- Cross-Departmental Collaborative Partnership Undertaking HR Service Review – NDORMS and the Department of Paediatrics
- Planning the shared building operations model for the Life and Mind Building – Biology and Experimental Psychology teams
- Innovative Leadership in Transformation and Delivery of Professional Services – Lesa Levett, Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health
- IT Professionals Working Together to Deliver IT & AV Systems for Reuben College and GLAM
- Resilience and professionalism under challenging circumstances – Cassie Sprules, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, UAS
- Supporting a healthy environment for University staff and students – Occupational Health team, UAS
9. Environmental Sustainability Award
Recognising colleagues who have furthered work to support the University’s Environmental Sustainability strategic goals and commitments.
- Advancing cycle safety through the Vision Zero Working Group – Ed Wigzell, Environmental Sustainability team, Estates Services
- Biodiversity Friendly Futures for the Highlands of Ethiopia – Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology
- Driving multiple colleges’ sustainability progress – Peter Nitsche-Whitfield, Lincoln College
- Everything is Connected season – Humanities Division Cultural Programme
- Global Youth Climate Training – School of Geography and the Environment
- Supporting prospective international undergraduate applicants sustainably – Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach team, UAS
10. Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award
Recognising colleagues who role model equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through their work, and have made a difference to EDI at Oxford.
- Championing EDI and role-modelling best practice – Fadi Issa, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences
- Increasing African student representation in Oxford's postgraduate studies – The Oxford Africa Society / Africa Oxford Initiative
- Commitment to Equality and Diversity in Data Science – Sara Khalid, NDORMS
- Medical Sciences Division Inclusive Leadership Programme
- Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team Gold Award – Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
- Taboos and Transitions Seminar – Dr Sarah Cullinan-Herring, Faculty of Classics
- "We Are Our History" project – Bodleian Libraries
Awards Showcase
Tuesday 7 May to Thursday 9 May 2024
Blackwell Hall, Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG
All staff are invited to join the Vice-Chancellor's Awards Showcase 2024, a multi-day celebration of the shortlisted teams in this year’s awards.
The showcase gives you a chance to find out more about the talented teams and individuals that have been shortlisted, and learn about the diverse array of projects and activities taking place across Oxford.
You'll have the chance to meet the nominees, learn more about their work, engage with various activities, and ask questions.
Accessibility: Step-free access and a quiet area is available at Blackwell Hall. Please get in touch with vcawards@admin.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions about the showcase.
Event programme
Tuesday 7 May
10:00–16:00 Staffed exhibition, Blackwell Hall
10:00–15:30 Programme of flash talks (details below), Lecture Theatre
Wednesday 8 May
10:00–15:00 Unstaffed exhibition, Blackwell Hall
15:00–16:00 Quieter session with a guide to talk through the unstaffed exhibition, Blackwell Hall (NB: if this time does not suit, please contact vcawards@ox.ac.uk to arrange an alternative time).
Thursday 9 May
10:00–12:30 Focus on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion nominations,
Blackwell Hall
12:30 Exhibition closes
Programme of flash talks
Time | Tuesday 7 May |
---|---|
10:00 | The Global Dissemination of Effective Psychological Treatments – Department of Psychiatry |
10:15 | Cross-Departmental Collaborative Partnership Undertaking HR Service Review – NDORMS and the Department of Paediatrics |
10:30 | Supporting a healthy environment for University staff and students – Occupational Health team, UAS |
10:45 | Funder co-ordination for clinical trial pandemic preparedness policies – Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness Research & Policy Team, Pandemic Sciences Institute |
11:00 | Building sustainable relationships with local Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities – Department of Psychiatry |
11:15 | The Hitchhiker’s guide to a Happier Lab – Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging |
11:30 | IT Professionals Working Together to Deliver IT & AV Systems for Reuben College and GLAM |
11:45 | Increasing African student representation in Oxford's postgraduate studies – The Oxford Africa Society / Africa Oxford Initiative |
12:00 | Inclusive Programming for Adults with Learning Disabilities in GLAM |
12:15 | Supporting disabled student inclusion through creation of accessible resources – Accessible Resources Unit, Bodleian Libraries |
12:30 | Tailored SpLD Support Pathway and Student Support Plans – Student Welfare and Support Services, and Centre for Teaching and Learning |
12:45 |
Improving Global Epilepsy Diagnosis Through Interdisciplinary Research and Technologies – Epilepsy Pathway Innovation in Africa, and the Oxford Martin Programme on Global Epilepsy |
13:30 |
Blocking Biochemistry: an innovative immersive approach to teaching and learning – Department of Biochemistry |
13:45 | Commitment to Equality and Diversity in Data Science – Sara Khalid, NDORMS |
14:00 | First Augmented Reality Experience in MBA Course Worldwide – IT Services |
14:15 | Diversifying the Curriculum in Biblical Studies at Oxford – Faculty of Theology and Religion |
14:30 | Diversification of Assessments in Sleep Medicine – Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences |
14:45 | Influencing the design and implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain in England – Department of Biology |
15:15 | Improving Research Culture in NDORMS, Oxford, and in the UK – Anjali Shah, NDORMS |
Awards Ceremony
A special awards ceremony will take place on 8 May at the Sheldonian Theatre, followed by a reception at the Examination Schools. At this invitation-only event, the winners and highly commended nominations for each category will be announced. The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution will be announced for a colleague or team that has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to supporting the University’s mission.
Wednesday 8 May 2024 from 14:30–15:45
Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ
Followed by a celebratory Drinks Reception from 16:00–17:30
Examination Schools, 75–81 High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG
If you have any queries, please contact: vcawards@admin.ox.ac.uk.