IHE Awards 2024 winners

ESCP Business School won the 2024 Empowering Student Voice award (a new category this year) for its exceptional commitment to embedding student participation and leadership throughout the institution.

At ESCP, students are recognised as the largest stakeholder group and are meaningfully involved in decision-making at all levels. Through roles such as elected programme representatives and student ambassadors, students actively contribute to shaping policies, services, and curricula. The student union, AGORA, ensures that voices from all six ESCP campuses—Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin, and Warsaw—are heard, with students participating in senior management meetings to influence cross-campus strategy.

ESCP’s dedication to fostering leadership extends beyond governance structures. Student ambassadors take on roles that impact various aspects of student life, from careers and marketing to wellbeing and events. This approach ensures diverse representation and leadership opportunities for students beyond traditional academic settings. Programmes such as the Climate Fresk workshops, initially led by staff, now see trained students delivering the sessions to peers, promoting sustainability while building leadership skills in a peer-mentorship framework.

Students also co-create key initiatives and services, including the design of a dedicated student wing with spaces tailored to diverse needs, from conference rooms to collaborative booths. Societies play a crucial role in policy innovation, with initiatives like the GEA Society’s waste management campaign and the Girls Up Society’s successful push for free hygiene products across campuses.

ESCP’s Student Experience department further supports student-led projects, ensuring that student input drives meaningful change. Recent successes include improved campus WiFi, adjustments to cafeteria prices, expanded wellbeing initiatives, and a restructured Careers Centre to better address international employment needs.

Judges praised ESCP Business School for its holistic approach to empowering students, noting its commitment to cultivating leadership skills in academic and non-academic settings. They highlighted the institution’s efforts to involve students in global policy discussions, like the Climate Fresk workshops, and its grassroots, student-driven approach to shaping policy and initiatives. The collaborative and equitable model at ESCP sets a benchmark for embedding student voices in institutional decision-making.

TEDI-London were crowned winners of the 2024 Inspiring Course award for its Global Design Engineering degree.

Created to address the national shortage of engineers, the programme encourages more young people to enter the profession by removing traditional barriers to entry, such as requiring A-Level Physics or Maths. By promoting accessibility and diversity, TEDI-London ensures that students from a range of backgrounds and abilities can contribute fresh perspectives to the field, critical for addressing universal challenges through design.

The degree takes an innovative, project-based approach, with students tackling real-world challenges linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Working in teams, they manage projects end-to-end, including research, prototyping, and pitching solutions to real client briefs. The curriculum spans multiple engineering disciplines and integrates essential professional skills, fostering a multi-disciplinary, problem-solving mindset. Students acquire theoretical knowledge online and apply it immediately to practical projects, reinforcing a ‘just in time’ learning approach.

The programme is closely aligned to industry needs. Experts from a range of sectors collaborate on project design and delivery, offering workshops, feedback, and insights into professional practice. These interactions not only help students build networks but also develop their communication, teamwork, and project management skills. Students graduate with a portfolio of industry-relevant projects and a clear understanding of their career opportunities.

In their third year, students have the option to undertake a placement with an employer, further enhancing their practical skills and industry readiness. Visiting professors, with expertise spanning various sectors, enrich the learning experience and ensure alignment with emerging trends such as sustainability and design manufacturing.

Judges praised TEDI-London for addressing critical challenges in education, including accessibility, employability, and innovative teaching methods. They commended the programme’s focus on developing soft skills alongside technical knowledge, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their careers. The extensive employer input was also recognised, highlighting the programme’s strong connection to industry and its commitment to preparing workplace-ready engineers.

ACM earned the 2024 Technology Enhanced Learning award for its strong commitment to facilitating hybrid learning and collaboration.

At its cutting-edge Brixton House campus, ACM has introduced a fully networked suite of technology that connects over 200 computers across multiple spaces, enabling seamless collaboration in real time. This innovative setup allows students to work together from anywhere in the building, across the UK, or internationally. With features such as motion-tracking cameras, HD screencasting, and advanced audio networking, learners can engage with peers and industry professionals as if they were in the same room. The intuitive push-button interface supports neurodiversity, ensuring accessibility for all students.

Designed to reflect industry practices, this system integrates audio and visual elements for interdisciplinary collaboration. Students across specialisms—such as music, gaming, and production—can engage in real-time projects with input from leading industry figures, fostering skills aligned with real-world demands. By removing logistical barriers like travel and scheduling, the technology maximises the effectiveness of collaborative sessions, preparing students for professional environments.

ACM’s curriculum supports the use of this advanced technology through tailored skills units, allowing students to master the system without requiring specialised engineering knowledge. The plug-and-play simplicity of the setup encourages interdisciplinary collaboration while introducing foundational skills like networking and AV integration. These experiences mirror how modern industries operate, ensuring learners are equipped for the workplace.

The technology also reflects ACM’s commitment to accessibility and innovation in teaching digital skills. Staff and students are supported by a dynamic, award-winning curriculum and access to professional resources. Future plans include integrating machine learning and conversational AI to create a virtual learning assistant, further enhancing the student experience and scaling the technology's benefits globally.

Judges praised ACM for its innovative approach to hybrid collaboration and interdisciplinary skill development. They commended the design of Brixton House as a fully networked space, the integration of cutting-edge technology, and the curriculum’s alignment with industry practices. The planned virtual learning assistant was singled out as an exciting step forward in advancing education through technology.

pointblank Music School clinched the 2024 Supporting Student Success award for its comprehensive and inclusive approach to student support.

pointblank's proactive strategy offers personalised interventions throughout the student journey, starting from entry through to graduation and beyond. Key initiatives include compulsory one-to-one tutorials for every module, providing students with tailored academic feedback and guidance, and additional sessions for wellbeing, technical skills, and career development, all bookable via their user-friendly student dashboard. For students requiring extra support, a custom At-Risk Student Register tracks challenges and ensures timely interventions, significantly improving retention rates.

The school’s foundation year programme provides enhanced support for students with lower entry qualifications, helping them transition smoothly to Level 4 studies. pointblank also addresses financial pressures through cost-of-living consultations, hardship funds, and innovative solutions such as partnering with the Roome app to streamline accommodation searches.

Career development is integrated throughout the curriculum, with initiatives such as Career Accelerator Modules, networking events like Music Futures, and opportunities to work with the in-house record label. These efforts ensure students graduate with practical skills and industry connections.

Inclusivity is a core value at pointblank, with 79% of students coming from underrepresented backgrounds. Tailored one-to-one pastoral sessions support a wide range of needs, including international students navigating UK life and students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The curriculum reflects a commitment to diversity, incorporating a wide range of music genres and showcasing role models from varied backgrounds. To further enhance mental health support, pointblank is launching Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy via virtual reality in 2024, complementing existing free counselling services.

pointblank actively co-creates support services with students, using surveys and focus groups to shape new initiatives such as pastoral sessions and mental health programmes. Collaborative events like Mental Health Week and Students of Colour Network activities are designed with student input, fostering a sense of ownership and community.

Staff across all departments are engaged in student success through regular training, case meetings, and institution-wide collaboration. Interdepartmental sessions ensure comprehensive understanding and coordination, leading to more effective support for every student.

Judges commended pointblank Music School for its well-structured Theory of Change-based approach to supporting student success. They highlighted its inclusivity, collaboration across departments, and innovative use of data and technology to tailor interventions and enhance outcomes.

The University of Buckingham was victorious in the 2024 Outstanding Collaboration award category for its ‘Major Incident’ initiative.

Designed as part of its MB ChB Medicine programme, ‘The Major Incident’ is an innovative interdisciplinary learning event that offers third-year medical students hands-on experience in managing major trauma events. Through realistic high-fidelity simulations, students work alongside emergency services and other professionals, mirroring real-life scenarios. Past exercises have included a structural collapse, a plane crash, and road traffic accidents. In 2024, the simulation expanded to include a rail accident and a multi-vehicle crash, continuing to evolve each year.

The initiative is driven by a core group of individuals and an established network of collaborative organisations, including Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Rapid Response Medical Group, South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Council, and Bucks New University. These partners not only help plan and execute the event but also participate as learners, practising their operational readiness and multi-agency collaboration skills.

Students are allocated roles such as triage teams, field hospital staff, and loggists, allowing them to develop clinical skills, leadership, and teamwork in complex scenarios. Cross-discipline collaboration includes journalism students documenting the event as part of their coursework and make-up artist students creating realistic injury moulage for casualty actors. Junior doctors and healthcare volunteers also participate, enhancing their training in pre-hospital emergency medicine and educational supervision.

The initiative meets local and national skills needs by preparing medical students for uncertainty and complexity in emergency care, as required by the General Medical Council. Beyond the classroom, it fosters civic engagement and provides opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development for all participants.

Judges praised the University of Buckingham for its innovative application of cross-sector collaboration to provide students with critical skills in public service and emergency care. They highlighted the initiative’s broad-ranging partnerships, local skills impact, and dual focus on student education and professional training for external stakeholders.

TEDI-London triumphed in the 2024 Advancing International Education category for its approach to global engineering education.

At the core of TEDI-London’s mission are initiatives that promote international collaboration, hands-on learning, and inclusivity. The TEDI-London Residentials programme, launched in 2021, has welcomed over 300 international students, fostering a global engineering community. Through interdisciplinary projects aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, participants tackle real-world challenges while collaborating with industry leaders and stakeholders. These projects, which include topics such as urban farming and sustainable transport, exemplify TEDI-London’s commitment to impactful, project-based learning.

Building on the success of these residentials, TEDI-London has established a Study Abroad programme. This initiative allows students to spend two semesters at Arizona State University or UNSW Sydney, undertaking 20-week research and design projects on topics such as AI-enabled fault detection, solar-powered cars, and social robotics for neurodiverse children. Funding secured through the Turing Scheme ensures accessibility for students from lower-income households and those with Special Educational Needs (SEN), promoting equity and diversity in international education.

Further expanding its global reach, TEDI-London collaborated with the Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education in July 2024. This partnership supported a two-week residential programme with educators from across Africa to develop a framework for a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development. This initiative, set to pilot in 2025, underscores TEDI-London’s dedication to capacity building and educational innovation in underserved regions.

Judges commended TEDI-London for its practical, impact-driven initiatives that advance international education. They praised the TEDI-London Residentials and Study Abroad programme for fostering cultural exchange and addressing global challenges. The judges also recognised the institution’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring transformative experiences are accessible to a diverse student body, and applauded its partnership with the Afe Babalola Centre for its potential to drive lasting educational impact.

The award was presented in memory of Charlene Allen, co-founder of The IC Global Partnership.

Kaplan International Pathways emerged as the winner of the 2024 Supporting Staff Wellbeing category for its approach to fostering employee resilience and kindness.

Kaplan introduced two impactful programmes designed to enhance staff wellbeing: the Mindfulness-Based Resilience Workshops and The Kindness Curriculum. Together, these initiatives provide both in-person and digital approaches, empowering staff with tools to manage stress, build resilience, and foster positive workplace interactions.

The Mindfulness-Based Resilience Workshops, launched in January 2024, offer a six-week programme combining mindfulness theory, group discussions, and practical techniques. Delivered by Kaplan’s in-house mindfulness and resilience coach, the workshops equip employees with strategies to enhance focus, reduce stress, and improve performance. A follow-up Kaplan Mindfulness Community provides monthly drop-in sessions for continued support and connection. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of attendees reporting immediate benefits and recommending the programme to others.

The Kindness Curriculum, originally designed for students, was adapted for staff as part of Kaplan’s focus on professional and personal development. Centred on 12 attributes of kindness—such as compassion, empathy, and resilience—the curriculum promotes interpersonal skills critical to workplace success. Delivered digitally, the programme offers flexibility and includes gamified rewards like digital badges, incentivising participation. By September 2024, over 1,500 modules were completed by staff, with 103 employees finishing the full curriculum. Feedback highlighted improvements in workplace relationships, job satisfaction, and professional skills.

Judges commended Kaplan International Pathways for its strong commitment to staff wellbeing, inclusivity, and accessibility. The dual delivery format, offering both in-person and digital access, was praised for meeting diverse staff needs. The judges also highlighted Kaplan’s in-house development of programme content, ensuring it was tailored to the organisation’s unique requirements and maximised its impact.

Chris Baynard-Smith and Maria Jackson were recognised as joint winners of the 2024 Rising Star award for their outstanding contributions to the IHE community.

Chris Baynard-Smith, of David Game Higher Education, stands out for his dedication to fostering collegiality and collaboration within the IHE network. Chris has been an active participant across a wide range of IHE events, from data-focused sessions and governance discussions to quality networks. Known for his deep understanding and willingness to share insights, Chris has provided invaluable advice to peers. His role in supporting the IHE community during the transition to Data Futures was pivotal, as he worked tirelessly to coordinate efforts, surface potential challenges, and advocate for solutions that prioritise the student experience. Chris’s approachable nature encourages engagement from new members, making him a key figure in creating welcoming, productive spaces within the IHE community. His passion for ensuring the best possible outcomes for students shines through in all his contributions.

Maria Jackson, of the Bloomsbury Institute, has made her mark through her extensive support across a broad range of IHE initiatives. Maria’s approach is grounded in inclusivity, as demonstrated in her work with the Demonstrating Inclusive Cultures working group, where she set the tone for collaboration and understanding. Her approach to sharing expertise has fostered a culture of openness and collegiality. Maria’s commitment to supporting others is evident in her generous sharing of guidance, including her significant input into IHE’s information resource to support members comply with new regulatory requirements in addressing harassment and sexual misconduct. Her passion for equality, diversity, and inclusion underpins all her work, ensuring that her contributions resonate across the community and positively impact the student experience.

The efforts of both Chris and Maria have not only strengthened their respective institutions but also enriched the broader IHE network, setting a high standard for future leaders in the sector.

The Royal Academy of Dance was honoured with the 2024 Outstanding Provider Contribution to the IHE Community award for the active role they have played in supporting our work as a representative body. 

Over the past six years, the Royal Academy of Dance has helped shape IHE’s community of practice. The institution has contributed Co-chairs to two formal networks and has had team members representing independent providers on national committees and sector working groups, including those led by HESA, the OIA, and QAA. Through these platforms, the Royal Academy of Dance has championed the voice of independent providers, ensuring it is heard in critical policy discussions.

The Royal Academy of Dance has also been a steadfast supporter of IHE’s lobbying efforts, providing evidence, speaking directly to policymakers, and helping to make the case for change in key areas. Their commitment to sharing expertise with fellow members is evident in their regular contributions to IHE events and their willingness to offer one-to-one advice to providers. 

Their generosity in giving time and contributing knowledge, and their active engagement in our work, embodies the community spirit we aspire to foster at IHE.

Lizzie Terry of Accent Global Learning received the 2024 Outstanding Individual Contribution to the IHE Community award in recognition of her long-standing support of IHE. 

Lizzie’s commitment to IHE spans over a decade, during which time she has become one of the organisation’s most trusted supporters and advocates. Following a brief tenure as IHE’s second-ever staff member, Lizzie transitioned to a leadership role as the association’s longest-serving Board Member. Throughout her tenure, she has been a steadfast representative of study abroad providers, ensuring their unique perspective is considered within the independent higher education sector.

Lizzie has consistently demonstrated her generosity and collegiality, responding without hesitation to IHE’s calls for assistance. Whether serving on committees, representing IHE externally, or offering guidance to other members, she has always shared her expertise with warmth and good humour, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Her thoughtful contributions have enriched IHE’s initiatives and strengthened its community.

For IHE Staff and Board Members, Lizzie has been an invaluable confidant and ally, someone whose wisdom and perspective have been instrumental in shaping the association’s work and mission. Her legacy of service is a testament to her deep care for the independent higher education sector and her commitment to its success.

Lizzie was unable to attend the awards ceremony. Her colleague, Jo MacCrimmon, accepted the award on her behalf.