IHE Awards 2025: winners announced

ASU London won the 2025 Empowering Student Voice award. The judges noted the clear impact of co-creating initiatives with students, moving from consultation to a sustained collaboration culture to embed the student voice in the institution’s governance. 

ESCP Business School were crowned winners of the 2025 Inspiring Course award for Art Thinking. The judges were impressed by how they bring together two very different subject areas to support learning. Students are encouraged to develop alternative ways of problem solving and embrace new situations beyond subject boundaries. 

SP Jain London School of Management took home the 2025 Technology Enhanced Learning award. They were singled out by judges for their highly innovative AI-tutor ecosystem, which is adapted to the specific needs of their student population, their strong focus on wraparound employability support, and commitment to upskilling staff. 

LCK Academy clinched the 2025 Outstanding Collaboration award for their work with London's Community Kitchen. The judges noted their strong and effective community engagement, along with their commitment to harnessing collaborative partnerships with employers, showing how academia and enterprise can unite to deliver impact.

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) was victorious in the 2025 Advancing International Education award category. Judges were impressed by their innovation, industry links and opportunities provided to students for cultural immersion and integration. This work exemplifies true collaboration, student-centred opportunity, and impactful partnerships. 

NMITE triumphed in the 2025 Supporting Student Success category. Founded on principles of widening participation, staff across the institution work collectively to remove structural entry barriers and provide targeted support to cultivate technical proficiency, reduce financial pressures, and improve student wellbeing.  

Christie Beauchamp, Academic Registrar at pointblank Music School, was crowned winner of the 2025 Rising Star award. Christie shines for her collegial approach and commitment to the IHE community, regularly sharing expertise as a network co-chair, speaking at key forums, and representing IHE Members with insight and integrity. Her trusted voice inspires confidence and her passion for advancing independent higher education makes Christie an invaluable advocate for IHE.

John Fairhurst was announced as the recipient of this year's Outstanding Individual Contribution to the IHE Community award in recognition of his lasting and meaningful imprint on the work of IHE. From shaping policy and challenging regulatory decisions to driving widening participation and forging high-profile partnerships to enhance the student experience, his leadership and commitment to the cause has left a legacy of opportunity and excellence. 

A tireless champion of the student interest, John exemplifies IHE’s value of promoting student choice to ensure that learners from all backgrounds can define and achieve their own version of success.

ION - Institute for Optimum Nutrition was honoured with the 2025 Outstanding Provider Contribution to the IHE Community award. An IHE Member since 2021, ION is a leading advocate for independent providers, representing what’s possible for the future of higher education. Members of the team actively contribute to the IHE community through training, sector discussions, and events, openly sharing best practice and advice on flexible partnerships, regulatory challenges, and innovation in course design and diversification.

The senior leadership team has engaged with representatives from sector bodies and government departments, helping to amplify the voice of independent providers and promote lifelong learning. Despite being a small team, they consistently demonstrate collaboration and creativity - embodying IHE’s core value of innovation.