Pictured: Event host Rob Brydon with Tom Williamson (Senior
Lecturer in Entrepreneurship), Dr Mark Evans (Associate Dean of
Coventry School of Art and Design) and Paul Hannon (Director of
Research and Education, National Council for Graduate
Entrepreneurship)
Coventry University has been crowned the 'Entrepreneurial
University of the Year' at the 2011 Times Higher Education (THE)
Awards, and has also won the 'Outstanding Support for Students'
award for a joint submission with Loughborough University in
recognition of the institutions' collaborative maths support
centres.
Coventry was chosen from a shortlist of six other universities
for the prestigious 'Entrepreneurial University of the Year' award,
which commends the institution that has best demonstrated that it
encourages its students, staff, and others to be enterprising in
what they do and how they do it.
The THE Awards judging panel was particularly impressed with the
level of student engagement demonstrated by the University, and it
also praised the positive impact Coventry University has had on
local businesses, which has seen the institution work with almost
9,500 small and medium enterprises and help 300 companies start-up
through its Business Innovation Centre.
Speaking about Coventry's 'Entrepreneurial University of the
Year' award, David S. Frost, executive chairman of the National
Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) and member of the
THE judging panel, said:
"It was clear from all the staff interviewed that an
entrepreneurial culture permeates at all levels of Coventry
University.
"A combination of interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial
institutes, physical developments, strong leadership, exciting
international activity and lively engagement by staff and students
provided the basis for selecting Coventry for this award."
The 'Outstanding Support for Students' accolade was awarded
jointly to Coventry and Loughborough universities for their
pioneering work through the SIGMA Centre for Excellence in Teaching
and Learning. The centre runs mathematics drop-in classes which
have been a hit with students from a range of disciplines.
SIGMA's classes attracted over 12,000 students between September
2010 and May 2011 and offered around 50 hours of drop-in support
each week for undergraduates and postgraduates who are either
struggling with maths or who would like extra help to achieve
excellence.
Two quotes from the citation show how highly regarded their work
is within higher education. Professor John O'Donoghue, the director
of Ireland's National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and
Science Teaching and Learning, said:
"We stand on the shoulders of giants. Coventry and Loughborough
and Sigma are the giants. We have unashamedly copied our ideas from
them."
And the president of the National Union of Students, Liam Byrne,
said:
"Loughborough and Coventry should be incredibly proud of
delivering support for students in a positive, innovative and
transferable way."
Professor Madeline Atkins, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry
University, said:
"This is a very proud day for Coventry University. We are
thrilled that the Times Higher Education Awards has chosen to
recognise our institution's efforts not only to support our
students in effective ways, but also to encourage the creativity
and entrepreneurial flair of those studying and working here."
"The awards are a fitting tribute to our commitment to students,
and to the enterprising attitude of our staff, our current and
former students, and of everybody who works for the University on a
day-to-day basis."
"It is an outstanding way to mark what has been a very
successful year for Coventry University, which has seen our
best-ever student satisfaction survey results, a significant
improvement in our position in the university league tables, and
the launch of our new student building, The Hub - all of which
ensures that we will continue to provide our students with a
high-quality, academic and social experience."
Earlier this year Coventry University's strong National Student
Survey results made it the highest-rated modern university in the
Midlands and the second best in the UK, and helped the institution
achieve a 30 place rise to 53rd overall in the Sunday Times
University Guide 2012.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk