18 June 2010
Sheffield wins two awards for outstanding departments
Staff at the University of Sheffield celebrated a double success last night (Thursday 17 June 2010) after scooping two awards at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (Thelmas), aimed at showcasing the best in administrative excellence in the sector.
Members of staff from the University were commended at the annual ceremony for their hard work after winning the awards for 'Outstanding Student Services Team' and 'Outstanding HR Team.'
Judges were impressed by both teams' commitment to creating an environment for staff and students where everyone can flourish and succeed.
Recent ventures the HR team have undertaken include a bid to ensure the major contribution female academics make to the University is recognised. With women having generated £10.5 million research income during 2008-09, the team implemented a number of initiatives including a 'Women´s Action Plan,' which was launched by the Vice-Chancellor to ensure the needs of female academics are met and their progression is equal to their male counterparts.
The team also implemented a new environmentally-friendly online recruitment system, streamlining procedures, reducing the time to approve and publish staff vacancies by 55 per cent and saving the use of over 100,000 sheets of paper per annum. In addition, the HR team organised a celebratory day of discussions and workshops called Out@Work Day, to raise awareness of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender issues and promote inclusion and respect for diversity.
The Student Services team received recognition for covering the full scope of administrative and support services in a one-stop shop for students.
Recent initiatives undertaken by Student Services, to ensure the highest quality of support is provided for all, include an 'E-support' project, which has delivered new services such as online health promotion using Web 2.0 technologies.
The team´s `Supporting the Supporters´ project has also developed a range of support services for staff across the institution who have a student administration/student support remit.
In addition, Student Services launched a research project on how students find a sense of community and 'belonging' on campus. This was something that attracted national interest and resulted in service improvements at a local level. Internationally, the team have managed to forge some strong links, something that has resulted in an innovative internship scheme which hosts groups of new Student Services professionals from the USA, working on projects in the Department every academic year.
More than 1,000 people gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel for the award ceremony, which is in its second year and is held in association with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and supported by the Joint Information Systems Committee.
The ceremony coincided with Universities Week( 14-20 June 2010), which is being run by Universities UK to highlight the "unsung success stories" of the sector
Dr Andrew West, Director of Student Services at the University of Sheffield, said: "It is great to receive national recognition in this award, particularly because it is an award for the outstanding Student Services team. Student support is a partnership across the campus and I want to pay tribute to all those staff who make such a significant contribution to the wellbeing and success of our students."
Rosie Valerio, Director of Human Resource Management at the University of Sheffield, said: "We are thrilled to win this national award which marks and celebrates the achievements of the whole HR team. I am always so proud to be working alongside such talented colleagues who are totally committed to their work in nurturing a University environment where each person can flourish and succeed."
Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education, said: "The UK´s academics are rightly feted as some of the most creative and innovative in the world. But universities in this country are also host to many hard-working and equally brilliant administrators working behind the scenes to ensure that our sector remains world-class. That is what we aim to recognise at the Thelmas." Notes for Editors: The inaugural Universities Week takes place from 14-20 June 2010, and aims to increase public awareness of the wide and varied role of the UK's universities. Over 100 universities and linked organisations are involved in the week. Nationwide activity will include open days and debates for members of the public to attend.
For further information please contact: Shemina Davis, Media Relations Officer, on 0114 2225339 or email shemina.davis@sheffield.ac.uk
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