Entering the IHE Awards is an opportunity to spotlight excellence within your institution and celebrate the achievements of your teams and colleagues. The awards help raise your institution's profile, share best practice across the IHE community, and showcase the value and impact of independent providers to the wider higher education sector.
This year, awards will be presented to member institutions and individuals across 11 categories, including three new categories for 2026.
Member institution award categories
Empowering Student Voice │Sponsored by Coole Insight
Recognising IHE Members who are empowering students to use their voice to effect change and make a positive difference, either in their institution or the wider community.
Global Graduates - NEW! │Sponsored by Pearson
Recognising IHE Members who are embedding global skills, perspectives and experiences into their UK programmes to produce world-ready graduates.
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Industry Collaboration
Recognising IHE Members who demonstrate innovative, strategic and sustainable approaches to building and maintaining links with industry.
Inspiring Course
Recognising IHE Members who are transforming the learning experience of students and delivering impact through innovative course design, content and delivery.
International Partnership – NEW! | Sponsored by Anderson Quigley
Recognising IHE Members who have developed inspiring collaborations with education, community or industry partners outside the UK that deliver meaningful impact.
Social Impact – NEW!
Recognising IHE Members who show strong leadership through practical, evidence-based initiatives.
Supporting Student Success | Sponsored by Applied Inspiration - SEER
Recognising IHE Members who take proactive approaches to supporting students throughout the student journey.
Technology Enhanced Learning
Recognising IHE Members who are evolving their use of technology to enhance the learner experience.
Individual award categories
Rising Star
Recognising individuals whose sustained engagement, collaborative spirit and growing influence within the IHE community enrich member experience and support the practical delivery of IHE’s work.
Outstanding Contribution awards
We will also be recognising Members’ outstanding contributions to the IHE community at both provider and individual level. Nominations are not open for the provider category, but to propose a nominee for the individual award, please contact [email protected]. Winners will be determined by the IHE Board.
How to enter
IHE Awards are open to IHE Members only. Entries should be submitted via the relevant nomination form by 23:59 on Thursday 3 September 2026.
Terms and conditions
Nominees should read our Terms and Conditions ahead of submitting an award entry.
Judging
Our independent panel of awards judges is formed of representatives from across the higher education community and supporting organisations.
Shortlists and winners
Shortlists will be published by early November. Winners will be announced at the IHE Awards ceremony on the evening of Wednesday 18 November 2026 at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP London) immediately following the IHE Annual Conference 2026.
Award criteria
To read the full criteria for each category and get submission tips, download the information pack below.
Meet the sponsors of the IHE Awards 2026
We would like to thank our sponsors for their valued contribution to the IHE Awards 2026, enabling us to recognise and celebrate the innovation and excellence within the independent higher education sector.
If you would like to sponsor an award, please get in touch at [email protected].
Anderson Quigley
We have a decade of experience in supporting leadership recruitment across the education sector. Our specialist independent higher education practice works closely with independent, private, alternative, and investor-backed higher education institutions, as well as joint ventures, pathways organisations, and ed-tech businesses. We deliver executive search, interim leadership, board appointments, and strategic talent consultancy.
andersonquigley.com
@Anderson Quigley
Applied Inspiration - SEER
Applied Inspiration are experts in access and participation regulation and plans, with decades of experience in strategy, development, delivery, research and evaluation.
Our SEER (Specialist Evidence, Evaluation & Research) service supports smaller, specialist and new providers meet OfS requirements relating to data analysis, monitoring, evaluation and research for access and participation plans.
appliedinspiration.co
@AppliedInspiration
Coole Insight
The home of students’ union development, driving sector improvement through collaboration, expertise, and insight. We work hard in our pursuit of getting the right thing done by people, and by organisations. We embody the transformational power of the student movement, and share our lived and work experience of this power to maximise the potential of elected student leaders, professional staff teams, and students’ unions as organisations.
cooleinsightltd.co.uk
@CooleInsight
Pearson
The world's leading learning company helping people realise the life they imagine through learning. Pearson PTE is a world-leading provider of English proficiency tests, recognised by governments, higher education providers, and test takers worldwide for study, professional and migration purposes. PTE sets the standard for excellence and reliability. Through continuous investment in research and innovation, we ensure our scores are secure, accurate, and trusted.
pearson.com
@Pearson