VCs Awards Open for Nominations, deadline 3 February 2025

The Vice Chancellors Awards for 2025 are now open for nominations.

These awards aim to celebrate and recognise achievements and celebrate success – from our academics and researchers to professional, technical and support staff, whether they are in colleges, divisions, departments, central services, libraries, museums or elsewhere.

There are 11 categories in the 2025 awards across a range of strategically important areas including the following which are relevant to public and community engagement (with research):

Excellence in research and innovation

Awards for colleagues who have undertaken high-quality research and innovation:

• Research Engagement Award: recognising those who have enriched their research through engaging with those outside the University, for the benefits of wider society. It will be awarded to individuals or teams that have made a positive difference to society, researchers and research through engaging with those outside the University, including businesses, policymakers, public and community groups and others.

Excellence across Oxford (and beyond)

Colleagues who have demonstrated excellence in supporting and furthering our academic mission.

• Local Community Engagement Award: recognising those who have worked to make a positive different to the lives of individuals and communities in Oxfordshire. This award will be awarded to colleagues who have worked to make a positive difference to the lives of individuals and communities in Oxfordshire. Examples might include projects and activities designed to increase educational and employment opportunities for young people, increase access to Oxford’s facilities and resources, or support communities through policy development and capacity building. Activities in this category must relate to communities in Oxfordshire. Activities in areas just outside Oxfordshire (particularly those that are very close to Oxford) may also be considered.Please note that this category is for projects and activities that are not predominately related to Oxford research. Research-related engagement activities should be nominated for the Research Engagement Award.
• Making a Difference Globally Award: recognising colleagues who have made a difference to the lives of those outside the UK through University resources, expertise or insights.  This award will be awarded to colleagues who have made a difference to the lives of those around the world through University resources, expertise or insights. This might include shaping global public policy, capacity building, supporting equitable access to opportunities for under-served communities, and building transnational networks and coalitions that make a difference to people's lives.

Please note that this category is for projects and activities that are not predominately related to Oxford research. Research-related engagement activities should be nominated for the Research Engagement Award.

Award-winners will be announced at a special ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chancellor at the Sheldonian Theatre on Thursday 15 May, followed by a reception at the Examination Schools. There will also be a showcase of nominations in the Weston Library once again, providing an opportunity to celebrate together and inspire one another.

Self-nominations are allowed, and nominees can include both internal and external partners. 

Projects and activities nominated should have taken place from July 2023, and can be complete or ongoing.

The deadline for nominations is noon (UK time) on 3 February 2025.

Click here for full details and to submit a nomination