Leeds named University of the Year at the Education North Awards

The University of Leeds was named University of the Year at the 2026 Education North Awards, recognizing its excellence in higher education and innovation. The ceremony took place on May 7 at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, attended by over 700 academics, students, and business leaders. Judges highlighted the university’s efforts in championing opportunity, driving innovation, and shaping the future of the North of England. Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West called the award a ‘tremendous honor,’ emphasizing the university’s commitment to research, education, and addressing societal challenges through collaboration and civic responsibility. The award reflects Leeds’ focus on combining global ambition with public purpose, particularly amid pressures facing higher education. Other winners included the University of Sunderland (Medical School of the Year), University of Lancashire (Business School of the Year), and Liverpool John Moores University (Law School of the Year). Leeds Beckett University won the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award for its #WECAN program, which tackles gender inequities in leadership and enterprise. Professor George Lodorfos praised the program’s impact on socio-economic challenges in the region. The University of Leeds also won the Innovation Award for its VR Trauma NewsDay project, developed by Digital Education Enhancement colleagues Dan McKinnie, Dr. Danielle Millea, and journalism academic Carl Hartley. Professor Joanne Garde-Hansen described the project as a collaborative effort enhancing student decision-making and critical reflection through immersive journalism training. Emerita Professor Ruth Ashford, Deputy Head Judge, noted the high quality of submissions, making the judging process challenging. The awards celebrate excellence across higher and further education in Northern England, with judges drawn from sectors across the UK.