Double recognition for Brighton in 'Oscars of higher education'

The Times Higher Education (THE) Awards attract hundreds of nominations each year across 20 categories, and are considered among the most prestigious awards in the higher education sector.

The team shortlisting for the Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year category is for Clean Growth UK, a business-innovation network with over 2,500 members led by University of Brighton's Green Growth Platform. The team links member companies into our academic expertise to help them develop and commercialise environmental solutions and transition to net zero.

There is also an individual nomination for Lyvia Royd-Taylor - Principal Lecturer in the university's School of Business and Law – as Most Innovative Teacher of the Year. Lyvia's THE Award shortlisting highlights the final year undergraduate model she developed which includes a live-client group project that has for many years allowed students to gain invaluable practical insights and experience providing support to a host of external charities.

Zoe Osmond, Director of Clean Growth UK

Lyvia Royd-Taylor

Clean Growth UK was launched in 2019 as a partnership between the Universities of Brighton (lead), Portsmouth and Liverpool John Moores, supporting businesses to undertake the innovation needed to decarbonise their operations, products and services. Businesses get access to academic expertise, university facilities and equipment, as well as R&D funding.

With over 2,300 members from both the private and public sector, Clean Growth UK has developed over 400 innovation/Knowledge Exchange projects, contributed to the development of over 260 new products and services, and helped create over 720 jobs.

Zoë Osmond, Director of Clean Growth UK at the University of Brighton, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a THE Award in the Knowledge Exchange category. Our Clean Growth UK teams across the Universities of Brighton, Portsmouth and Liverpool John Moores are passionate about making university expertise available to our 2,500 member companies, helping them to innovate and commercialise the products and services so urgently need for net zero transformation."

The individual teaching award shortlisting for Lyvia Royd-Taylor acknowledges her focus over two decades at University of Brighton on the importance of adapting teaching to student abilities and academic level, whilst providing students with the opportunity to build their experience. She always seeks to cater for different learning styles, and her innovative approaches using Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) and live-client projects have helped many students overcome the challenges of a highly competitive graduate job market.

Lyvia Royd-Taylor, Principal Lecturer in the University of Brighton's School of Business and Law, said: “I'm delighted to be shortlisted for the 2022 THE Awards. Marketing graduates face a highly competitive graduate job market that requires both a degree and previous experience. By incorporating a live-client project, students can build their experience, while the client charity gets marketing advice it couldn't otherwise afford. The students also get an understanding of the challenges facing the third sector - and, as a result, I hope they consider a role in this important field as they begin their careers."

THE Award winners will be announced in a ceremony at Hilton London Metropole Hotel on 17 November.