The University of Sheffield, Providing Outstanding Support for all Students Across the Globe

15th September 2014

University shortlisted for three national awards for outstanding support for students and researchers Award nominations further strengthen Sheffield's position as a centre of excellence and ambition The University of Sheffield has been recognised for providing outstanding support for international students and early career researchers from all backgrounds after being shortlisted for three prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2014.

The trio of nominations, announced today (Thursday 4 September 2014), further strengthens the University's position as an international centre of excellence and ambition which inspires students to achieve their academic dreams regardless of their backgrounds. The University's pioneering Advanced Apprenticeships scheme based at the AMRC Training Centre was recognised in the Widening Participation category. The nomination reflects the exceptional achievements of the first full annual cohort of Advanced Apprentices employed by high value manufacturing companies within the University's purpose built state-of-the-art Training Centre. The Apprentices are employed by manufacturing companies keen to benefit from the high-quality training in the practical and academic skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally. Companies that work with the University range from global leaders such as Rolls-Royce and TATA to local high-tech supply-chain companies, and the University has agreed progression routes through undergraduate study in Engineering up to doctorate and MBA level. Professor Keith Ridgeway, co-founder of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), said: -The need for high-quality vocational education and skills is fundamental to the ability of our region and of the UK more widely to be internationally competitive in manufacturing and to rebalance our economy. -Our partner companies at the AMRC told us they needed something different to what was already available in either further or higher education, so we designed a new approach to advanced technical education with them. -What we have here is true access a programme in which our apprentices are already employed and yet have the ability to train to the highest standard in an internationally-leading research centre, fully embedded in an advanced manufacturing culture. They also have access to progression into higher education, with the ability to graduate with an excellent degree, industrial experience and no debt. Both the Secretary of State for Business and the Global Director of Engineering at Rolls-Royce recently praised Advanced Apprentices at the National Summit for Apprentices and Higher Vocation Education. University of Sheffield Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Keith Burnett, said: -We are deeply proud of what the AMRC continue to achieve with industry. They are rethinking our whole approach to research and teaching as it relates to manufacturing, and their courage and vision is setting the standard nationally and internationally. The University has also been recognised for leading a ground breaking campaign to highlight the crucial value of international students to the UK which has now been backed by over 100 universities, education institutions and international organisations. The pioneering #weareinternational campaign, which was jointly founded by the University of Sheffield's Vice-Chancellor and the Students' Union President, has been a galvanising force within British Higher Education. As well as international students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the University has also been praised in the THE Awards for its innovative Early Career Researchers Scheme (ECRS) which ensures talented researchers have the very best foundation for their professional careers. The winners of the awards will be announced on 27 November 2014 at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.