16 | STEPS 2023 University News Outstanding Library Team ‘Connect, Innovate and Include’ Sunway and Lancaster Joint Celebrations Lancaster University won University of the Year at the Educate North Awards in May 2023. The annual winner of Educate North’s University of the Year award is decided by a panel of judges and the award commends leading institutions across the North of the United Kingdom. The judges aim to recognise an institution which is performing well across a range of areas, including teaching, research, student experience, internationalisation, innovation and economic impact. On nominating Lancaster for this year’s award, the Educate North judges said: Students graduating this year from Sunway Business School, the School of Arts, of Engineering and Technology and of Medical and Life Sciences, add to over 9,900 Lancaster University and Sunway (Malaysia) joint alumni who have graduated from the dual programme since it began in 2006. Following the graduation ceremonies, colleagues from Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement hosted a traditional British High Tea event in Kuala Lumpur for 70 alumni. The team welcomed graduates from both the Sunway-Lancaster partnership and from Lancaster University to the event, “The 2023 judging panel consider Lancaster to be an outstanding example of an institution committed to achieving the highest possible standards for its students and for the communities it serves. “It ranks high on key metrics from student satisfaction and expertise of its teaching staff as well as working hard to develop key sustainable and environmental initiatives. “Educate North strives to encourage excellence and continual improvement and in the 2023 winner of University of the Year we have a model to inspire others.” Win for Lancaster at Educate North Awards which was intended to reinvigorate Lancaster’s alumni network in Malaysia. The partnership between Lancaster and Sunway has developed significantly since the initial cohort of just 21 students; there are now over 5,600 students on joint programmes. You can find out more about this partnership on the following web page: www.lancaster.ac.uk/partners/sunway Lancaster University was awarded the Outstanding Library Team trophy at the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards. Andrew Barker, Director of Library Services & Learning Development, said; “It was an absolute honour to win the award for Outstanding Library Team at the THE Awards in London, and I’m still giddy at the news.” The Library team won the award for their aim to “connect, innovate and include”, ensuring that the wider community see the University’s library as a resource they can use. A Library Community Card allows the public to use library services for free and the Library has hosted a threeday Library Festival and the Slavery Family Trees Conference. This was part of the Lancaster Slavery Family Trees Community Project, alongside the Lancaster Black History Community Group, students, schools and volunteers. The judges highlighted the Library team’s “strategic and holistic approach” to delivering culture change. They said: “The work of the Library succeeded in its aim of deepening the connection between the campus and the local community and of demystifying the University by partnership working to both increase access and to develop collections. For alumni library access and free online journals visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/alumni
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