Anglia Ruskin shortlisted for THE Awards 2008

Published: 6 October 2008 at 12:15

Anglia Ruskin University has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Award at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards 2008 (www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/awards).

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Anglia Ruskin University has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Award at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards 2008 (www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/awards).

The University’s Department of Optometry & Ophthalmic Dispensing department - within the Faculty of Science and Technology - has been recognised by the judges for being proactive in this area, providing students with much more than just a set of relevant skills. Anglia Ruskin University is, in fact, encouraging employees within the eye and hearing care sectors to use Foundation Degrees as a springboard to higher-level qualifications and for solid career advancement. The Department began delivering short-courses in optical-dispensing around 20 years ago as part of the University’s self-seeded idea to engage with local employers in order to help educate employees so that major companies like Specsavers could keep the UK competitive by upgrading the skills of its workforce.

The Times Higher Education Awards, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by UK higher education institutions. Categories include Best Student Experience, University of the Year, Outstanding Student Financial Support Package, Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, Marketing Initiative of the Year and Outstanding Support for Disabled Students.

Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Higher Education, commented:

“The Awards recognise the very best in higher education in the UK and we are delighted to announce that Anglia Ruskin University has made it onto the shortlist for the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Award. Our senior advisory panel has been taken from all fields of academia and had to choose from hundreds of first-class entries – only the best made it through to our shortlist.”

Anglia Ruskin University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Michael Thorne commented:

“To be shortlisted for this employer engagement award is an honour and we are proud to be recognised for the efforts we put into making our students feel welcome and creating an atmosphere they will remember for years to come.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 23 October 2008. Last year more than 1,200 people from all parts of higher education gathered to celebrate the sector’s achievements.