The University of Sunderland is celebrating today (22 February), after being shortlisted for five Student Nursing Times Awards 2017.
The five categories are:
• Nurse Education Provider of the Year
• Student Experience
• Teaching Innovation of the Year – The Living Lab
• Partnership of the Year – The University’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement partnership (PCPI) led by Dr Lesley Scott
• Educator of the Year – Dr Catherine Hayes
The University was praised and congratulated in a confirmation letter from the awards organisers, which said: “The judges had a tough job scoring and have commended the high quality of entries – to be shortlisted is a fantastic achievement!”
Organisers also said the University should be very proud that it had been shortlisted across such a broad variety of categories.
Professor Tony Alabaster, Academic Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing at the University of Sunderland, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and very proud. It’s hard to believe that in the past year we have completed Phase 2 of the Sciences Complex and opened our Living Lab – with its very impressive teaching facilities and simulation equipment – and we’ve launched the Sunderland School of Nursing, welcoming our first cohort of 23 students onto the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice programme.”
Sue Brent, Head of the Sunderland School of Nursing, said: “We have an incredible, positive and proactive team, who are genuinely excited by what we’re doing. We are committed to excellence and delivering highly quality, career ready graduates with the knowledge and training to make a tangible difference to patient care.
“We’re all very proud that our hard work and commitment is being recognized. Our school is growing; we’re developing relationships with new health partnerships and continuing to invest in our faculty’s facilities and programme. This is only the beginning!”
The award submissions were prepared by Simone Bedford, BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Programme Leader, who commented: “We’re all so excited about our programme and facilities at the University of Sunderland. When I read what the judges were looking for in the Student Nursing Times Awards I knew we had a very compelling case in a number of categories. To be shortlisted in five is tremendous surprise and we’re delighted that our work is being endorsed at this early stage and at such a prestigious level.”
Now in their sixth year, the Student Nursing Times Awards are the only awards to celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education.
Winners will be announced on 27 April in London at a ceremony paying tribute to the students who have demonstrated the academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses as well as recognising and rewarding outstanding educational establishments and honouring those who are committed to developing new nursing talent.
More about the University of Sunderland’s shortlisted categories:
Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration
The move to an all-degree profession calls for universities to undertake significant work in adapting their courses to reflect the changing demands of the syllabus. This award will recognise those universities that offer high standards of academic and practical teaching, and excellent resources.
Student Experience
This award seeks to recognise universities and providers of nurse education that are putting an emphasis on the overall student experience. This focus ensures students are supported in a learning community that is nurturing of the whole person as well as being conducive to encouraging excellence in learning and sharing best practice. Student experience is even more relevant with the planned removal of the bursary and the cutting of CPD funding post-registration has raised students’ expectations of their education provider. This will give students more choice about where and how they study.
Teaching Innovation of the Year – The Living Lab
The academic landscape is becoming more competitive, those universities adapting traditional methods or developing alternate ways to offer interesting, innovative and engaging methods of teaching will be most noticed. This is an award that looks for any teaching method that is sustainable, workable and successful – including (but not limited to) use of social networking, modern communication media or new technology.
Partnership of the Year – The University’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement partnership, led by Dr Lesley Scott
This award seeks to recognise the important collaboration between higher educational institutions and organisations providing healthcare to the public with a view to providing a conducive learning environment.
Educator of the Year – Dr Catherine Hayes
Excellent teaching is the foundation of the future generations of nurses. A teacher can inspire, enthuse and motivate students and further their quest for knowledge and understanding.
