VC Awards

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence

Our people are at the heart of all that is good at the University. The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence celebrate students, staff, alumni and members of the community who have made an exceptional contribution to the University, its values, its ambition and its success, as set out in the University Strategy.

Winners of the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence will be announced at a celebratory event on 28 November 2023. This year's awards — the sixth annual awards — sees the introduction of 10 new award categories aligned with the University Strategy. Details of each category and its criteria are set out in the FAQs below.

Nominations must be received by Friday 13 October 2023.

Make a nomination

The Volunteering Roll of Honour

In support of the sixth annual Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence, we would like to acknowledge and show recognition for all the amazing volunteering work that our colleagues undertake in their spare time.

Although not an award in itself, the volunteering role of honour is an opportunity for staff to be recognised for their contribution to our communities.

A volunteering 'Roll of Honour' will be displayed at the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence celebratory event and posted on the University's website.

To share any current volunteering activity you're engaged with, submit our form below.

Submit the Volunteering Roll of Honour form

Awards categories

This year's awards sees the introduction of 10 new award categories aligned with the University Strategy. Details of each category, and the criteria set for each category, are set out below.

Internationalisation

Awarded to an outstanding education, research or innovation project, venture or collaboration that shows the University operating with global vision and ambition.

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Sustainability

Awarded to a project or initiative that demonstrates clear leadership on environmental issues, encompassing innovative approaches and showing clear evidence that the work is transferable across the sector.

Outstanding Contribution to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

This award recognises an initiative through which colleagues and/or students are treated fairly and with respect, and where diversity is championed. Initiatives may focus on colleagues or the student body, or both, and can be either innovative in themselves, or based on implementing ideas or practice from within or outside the University.

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community

This award will be given to an individual or team that has made the most imaginative attempt to aid the wider community, whether socially, culturally or economically.

Partnerships and Collaboration

Awarded to an outstanding partnership with a business or an industry – regional, national or international – where knowledge is applied and resources are shared for the benefit of the wider economy.

Professional Services Excellence

Awarded to an individual or professional services team which is making a significant contribution to achieving our University Strategy.

Research Impact

Awarded to a research project that demonstrates either academic impact through advancing knowledge, or which results in measurable benefits to wider society and/or the economy.

Student Experience and Outcomes

Awarded to an innovative project, initiative or action that has positively enhanced the academic and/or personal experience of our student body, including enhancing our student outcomes or helping our students develop and demonstrate the Hallmarks of a Portsmouth Graduate.

Teaching Excellence

Awarded to an outstanding teaching initiative or learning support that inspires student learning and attainment through innovative pedagogy.

Technological or Digital Innovation

This award recognises the innovative use of digital technology to improve any function at the University, be that at institutional, departmental or faculty level. Entries may therefore focus on leadership, management, administration, teaching, research or knowledge transfer.

Making a nomination

You can nominate University students or staff, or any community members who work in partnership with the University, who have made an exceptional contribution to the University, its values, its ambition and its success, as set out in the University Strategy.

Your nomination:

Can recognise an individual or a team — you can only select one award category per nomination, but you can submit more than one nomination
Must nominate a student or staff member at the University, an alumnus/alumna, or a member of the local community who supports or works in partnership with the University
Should highlight an exceptional contribution over the previous or current academic year i.e. 2022-2023 — although the contribution could have started earlier
Must nominate a project must that has not already been recognised by a University Recognition Award or a Students' Union Award
Must include the nominee's email address or the details of a lead nominee if nominating a team

Nominations must be received by 4:00pm on Friday 13 October 2023.

Make a nomination

Nominees must not be made aware of their nomination — and as such, you cannot self-nominate.

A panel of staff and students from the University will evaluate nominations and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor. Nominations will be assessed on their innovation, engagement and impact.

You'll be informed about the outcome of your nomination after the panel has met in October, and we will contact successful nominees if they have been shortlisted for an award to invite them to the awards event.An awards event is planned for Tuesday 28 November 2023 on campus. Nominees shortlisted for an award and their guests, as well as nominators, will be invited.

The nominated project must not have already been recognised by a University Recognition Award or a Students' Union Award. They can be nominated if they have received a VC Award previously for another project but if they are being nominated for the same project significant progress must have been made since the last nomination. You can nominate someone if they were previously nominated but weren’t successful.