The UCISA Awards

 

The UCISA Awards recognise, celebrate, and promote the outstanding achievements and innovation of staff working in or supporting technology in UCISA member organisations, and the application of digital solutions which positively transform the experience of students, academics and professional staff. The Awards provide an opportunity to recognise IT professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, acting as role models for peers across the sector.

There are currently 7 categories:

  • CIO/Director of the Year
    The UCISA CIO/Director of the Year Award celebrates outstanding contribution by an exemplary leader who demonstrates vision, innovation, transformation and professional excellence. This individual will be a role model not only within their institution but throughout the wider UCISA community.
  • Diversity and Inclusion
    The Diversity and Inclusion Awards seeks to recognise institutions that can demonstrate a holistic and long-term commitment to diversity and inclusion within your culture. You must be able to highlight your strategy and how it has had a positive impact and is represented through all levels of your organisation and have championed actions to remove barriers and improve the working experience and engagement.
  • Outstanding Corporate Member
    The UCISA Award for the Outstanding Corporate Member recognises a business that has worked in partnership, delivering exceptional services that have positively impacted an institution or the sector.
  • Rising Star
    The UCISA Rising Star Award seeks to recognise an emerging leader in digital technology. Demonstrating ongoing technical and creative expertise as well as growth in responsibility and leadership.
  • Sustainable Digital Project or Initiative
    The UCISA Award for Sustainable Digital Project or Initiative celebrates an innovative activity that not only provides exceptional value to the institution but demonstrates a positive environmental sustainability impact for the future.
  • Supporting Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Research
    The UCISA Award for Supporting Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Research recognises digital innovations which have had a transformative effect on learning, teaching and research activities. Demonstrating the application of innovation in support of how academics research, teach and students learn.
  • Transformation
    The UCISA Transformation Award celebrates groundbreaking digital innovation that has transformed and delivered for the institution and beyond. Contributing to improved processes, better student and staff experiences, management of risk and control of costs. Enabling your institution to make exceptional progress in daily activities.

 

Criteria

The awards look at the projects and nominees’ achievements as a whole, with particular interest in the following criteria.
  • Supporting each other and inclusivity in leading the development of digital innovation, capabilities and technologies to transform education and research.
  • Quantifiable impact – and doing it 'together' / across boundaries. This may be within your organisation, between institutions, with commercial partners or for the sector.
  • Stakeholder Engagement, demonstrating change in attitudes, behaviours, values and outcomes. Measuring and reporting benefits achieved.
  • Value to institutional priorities and stakeholders. Institutional context/support; transformation, impact and return on investment achieved (realised or expected)
  • Delivery of innovation, transformation or positive change through groundbreaking digital technologies, services, or partnerships.
  • Sustainability and scalability of activity that demonstrates positive environmental and financial impact for the long-term.
  • A Model that is motivating, inspiring or being adopted by others.

 

Previous Winners

Every year we are delighted with both the high quality and quantity of entries, and we always look forward to hearing more stories of the incredible work taking place across the sector and the individuals that make it possible.

Previous winners include:

  • CIO of the Year
    • 2023 – Paul Butler, University of Greenwich
    • 2022 – John Hemingway, Durham University
  • Diversity and Inclusion
    • 2023 – University of Bradford
  • Outstanding Corporate Member
    • 2023 – Splunk
    • 2022 – Worktribe
  • Rising Star
    • 2023 – Jacinta Blythe, University of Manchester
    • 2022 – Suraj Uturaju, University of West London
  • Sustainable Digital Project or Initiative
    • 2023 – Nottingham Trent University
    • 2022 – University of Kent
  • Supporting Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Research
    • 2023 – Falmouth University
    • 2022 – Lancaster University
  • Transformation
    • 2023 – University College London
    • 2022 – University of Kent