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Engagement and Place Awards 2024

Our Engagement and Place Awards recognise and celebrate great examples of collaboration with different publics. They showcase how the benefits of our research and teaching go beyond the University.

About the Awards

We honour projects displaying the diverse ways University colleagues and students work with external partners and communities.

The awards recognise many innovative collaborations between the University and its external partners. These bring value to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing in our city, region and across the globe.

We're delighted to announce our award winners and shortlisted projects for the Engagement Engagement and Place Awards 2024 below.

Engagement and Place Awards Ceremony

We've honoured projects displaying the diverse ways University colleagues and students work with external partners and communities.

The hosts of our fourth year of the Engagement and Place Awards were:

  • Professor Chris Day, Vice Chancellor and President
  • Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Place

Vice-Chancellor and Presidents Award

The Vice-Chancellor and President's Award celebrates the work of a colleague or team that demonstrates outstanding, sustained engagement practice. The winning project is chosen by the Vice-Chancellor as a exemplar and embodiment of our Engagement & Place Strategy. 

Winner

Insights Public Lectures

INSIGHTS Public Lectures aim to deliver a programme that will inform, stimulate, entertain, and excite. For over 60 years, the programme has attracted leading academics and public and cultural figures to the University.


Engaging for Health, Wellbeing and Societal Benefit

This category celebrates projects that deliver benefits to society through collaboration with partners in the public, health and voluntary sectors.

Winner

The Vanishing Act - Dr Vivek Nityananda

The Vanishing Act is a cabaret show, made with young people and scientists for audiences of all ages. It explores the world of insects and the declines in their numbers.

Shortlisted projects


Engaging Globally

This category celebrates international engagement projects that address global challenges through our research or teaching.

Winner

Following the Flight of the Monarchs - Dr Rob Mackay

This interdisciplinary ecology project brought together artists and scientists. They connected with ecosystems and communities along the migration routes of monarch butterflies between Mexico and Canada.

Shortlisted projects


Engaging for Cultural Benefit

This category recognises collaborative projects that contribute to the vibrancy and cultural richness of our place through our expertise in creative arts practice, culture and heritage.

Winner

Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Vindolanda Trust - Morag Iles

An exploration to see how contemporary art commissioning could diversify Vindolanda’s curatorial approaches and interpretation methodologies.

Shortlisted projects


Engaging with Policy and Practice

This category recognises engagement projects that inform local, national and international policy.

Winner

Tackling Islamophobia through engagement - Prof Peter Hopkins  

Professor Hopkins has been engaging meaningfully to challenge racism and Islamophobia. He uses diverse formats and approaches to promote policy change and to inform practice in diverse areas.

Shortlisted projects


Inclusive Education, Life Long Learning and CPD

This category showcases collaborative projects that support equality of opportunity across the entire student lifecycle. This ensures continued commitment to improving fair access to higher education.

Winner

Music Education Hubs, Newcastle Sings and Futures in Music

An innovative music education outreach and engagement project led by the International Centre for Music Studies. It makes a positive impact on children and young people.

Shortlisted projects


Early Career Researcher

This category recognises the varied engagement practice undertaken by researchers in the early stages of their research careers, either doctoral students or early career researchers.

Winner

Breeding Giants to Rewild the Galapagos - Rachel Gray

Rachel Gray is helping to rewild Floreana Island in the Galapagos by mapping out the future of a unique captive breeding program for giant tortoises.

Shortlisted projects


25 Years of Excellence in Widening Participation

Winner

The Partners Programme

The PARTNERS programme has been running since the year 2000 and is one of the most well-established supported entry routes to higher education of its kind.

Over 9,000 students have studied at Newcastle University via the PARTNERS Programme. It offers a range of support and opportunities to help you make a successful application to Newcastle University.