News | 9 September 2021
Cardiff Met joins the likes of Aston University, the University of York and The Open University who have also been nominated for this award.
This high-profile nomination recognises how Cardiff Met has established itself as a progressive values-driven university with an excellent student experience and staff culture. This has been evidenced by a track record and trajectory of growth, diversification and improvement, supported by sustainable finances with Cardiff Met deemed to be the most financially sustainable university in Wales by the Wales Governance Centre.
The University, under the leadership of Professor Cara Aitchison, has worked towards seven bold priorities which were set out in a values-driven strategic plan in 2016/17 and refreshed in 2019/20 in response to the pandemic.
The 2019/20 academic year saw successes in the development of the Cardiff School of Technologies, the full implementation of the Cardiff Met EDGE (Ethical, Digital, Global and Entrepreneurial) student experience and development of three interdisciplinary Global Academies.
This nomination also recognises how overall student satisfaction improved from 3 per cent below average in the 2015/16 National Student Survey to 2 per cent above average in 2019/20, with the University entering the top 40 in 2019/20. 'Good degrees' increased from 64 per cent in 2015/16 to 80 per cent in 2019/20.
In addition, Cardiff Met has delivered cultural change by prioritising health, wellbeing, equality and diversity with compassionate leadership and evidenced in the 2020 Capita staff survey results. This survey showed how 96 per cent of staff agreed that Cardiff Met is a good place to work – against a sector average of 87 per cent.
Speaking about the nomination, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Professor Cara Aitchison said: "Being nominated for this distinguished award is all due to the hard work and dedication of the staff at Cardiff Met – from lecturers and technical demonstrators, to professional services and support staff.
"The Cardiff Met community has celebrated many encouraging accolades over the past year - on top of encouraging National Student Survey results, we were crowned Welsh University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide and have jumped 24 places in the Complete University Guide – the 2nd highest leap in the UK.
"This nomination is especially encouraging as it shows us to be a high-performing, impactful and collaborative university and recognises that we have made these advances while simultaneously becoming a more compassionate community."
Chair of the Board of Governors, John Taylor added: "I am absolutely delighted to see Cardiff Metropolitan University honoured at this level and for it to be recognised as a progressive and innovative institution.
"Cardiff Met has clearly shone through with its people-centred approach which has enabled the University not just to survive but to thrive as a compassionate community."
THE editor John Gill said: “This is the 17th year that the THE Awards will recognise the best of the best in UK higher education, across 20 categories covering all aspects of university activity. But this year’s awards will reflect a period of turmoil and innovation necessitated by the pandemic, making it quite unlike any previous year.
"For the first time this year, we have also extended our awards to include higher education institutions in Ireland, and we are delighted to say that we have had a record number of entries, reflecting the brilliance of universities across the whole of the UK and Ireland. With almost 600 institutions, teams and individuals nominated, it really is a fantastic achievement to make it onto this year’s shortlist.
"We look forward to celebrating the incredible response of university staff in exceptionally tough circumstances when we gather for the Oscars of higher education in November.”
Now in its 17th year, the Times Higher Education awards are a highlight of the academic calendar and a celebration of the very best establishments within the Higher Education sector
The winner will be announced at what is hoped to be an in-person event in London on 25 November.
