Thurs 16 September 2021, London: Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, held its first ever HE Innovate Awards tonight celebrating success in innovation in teaching, learning and student support in UK higher education.

The Awards and winners are as follows:

• Most innovative approach to supporting students – Coaching for Academic Success, University of East London     
• Most innovative approach to developing employability skills - Creating a sustainable world, University of Manchester
• Most innovative approach to widening participation in the curriculum – Aberdeen Gateway to Medicine Access programme, University of Aberdeen
• Most innovative hybrid or blended learning project - Mixed Reality Technology, Queen Mary University of London
• Most impactful use of a Pearson digital product or service - Engaging Students and Supporting Learning on a non-specialist accounting module, Queens University, Belfast

Covid has forced UK universities to create new and inventive ways of working, teaching and supporting students. The quality we’ve seen across the hundred plus submissions received for our Awards demonstrates how UK universities are more than capable of meeting this challenge.

Tonight's Awards have been designed to showcase the stunning breadth of innovation going on every day in our UK universities, from making learning as engaging as possible, to connecting with as wide and diverse an audience as possible, to ensuring students graduate equipped with the workforce skills they need to succeed in life.

I congratulate every single entrant to these, our first ever Pearson UK HE Innovate Awards. I hope our UK universities take time to look at the impressive range of projects shortlisted and learn from each other and I'm already looking forward to seeing what projects are put forward next year.

All first-place winners received £300 Amazon vouchers or a donation of the same amount to a charity of their choice, an award certificate and trophy.

Pearson is proud to confirm that the awards have been supported by HEPI, Jisc, LinkedIn Learning, NEON, Prospects and Stonewall.

ENDS

About Pearson

Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com.