The University has been recognised for its commitment to its students and work within the local community and has been shortlisted for; the Most Innovative Contribution to Business-University Collaboration; Outstanding Support for Students and Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.
Work undertaken in the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity was also nominated for its work within the community in 2015/16, which included research into improving the lives of those suffering with dementia through physical activity.
Following a sustained programme of one hour of sport/physical activity per week, dementia sufferers improved their confidence and mood, as well as their sporting skills. The ‘I CAN!’ initiative is now offered across the city, as part of research to develop a dementia-friendly community.
Alongside this, the University also aimed to increase the number of women, BME communities and people with disabilities participating in football through coaching or playing opportunities as well as providing access to sporting activities for disadvantaged young people as a result of the Doorstep Sport initiative.
The winners are to be announced on Thursday 30 November at Grosvenor House Hotel in London, at the annual awards ceremony.
Now in their 13th year, the Times Higher Education (THE) awards celebrate excellence within the higher education sector, across a multitude of university activity.
Sheffield Hallam’s business collaborations has seen the development of a unique partnership with NestléUK and pioneered the first Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship which introduced new opportunities for students in higher education. Launched in September 2015, the three-year programme sees apprentices taking up a full- time, salaried role within Nestlé, spending six weeks a year at Sheffield Business School.
Its nomination for Outstanding Support for Students follows its innovative sexual health campaign for its international students. Upon recognising the need for increased sexual health education amongst this group, and working with sexual health services in the city, the University was the first higher education institution to implement a campaign of this kind. Following its successful results, an International Students’ Sexual Health Project Toolkit was created to enable other universities to incorporate it into their student health services.
Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “It is an honour to have been shortlisted for three categories in this year’s Times Higher Education awards and I am extremely proud of the outstanding work of our colleagues.
“The nominations demonstrate our innovative approach to tackling real world issues; and in particular they highlight the importance to us as an institution to connect with our city, especially by helping to improve the lives of those in the community.” – Professor Chris Husbands
“Providing our students with the best opportunities is at the forefront of how we position ourselves; the introduction of the first Chartered Management Degree with Nestlé reflects our ambition not only to adapt to, but to be a leader in a changing higher education landscape.”
