The University of Portsmouth recently hosted its annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence 2026, bringing together colleagues, alumni, and community partners for a dedicated afternoon of recognition. Held at the Eldon Building on Thursday 2 July 2026, this eighth iteration of the awards highlighted the exceptional contributions of individuals and teams who drive the University’s values, ambition, and success forward.
Understanding the Significance of Staff Recognition in Higher Education
Staff recognition programmes serve a fundamental purpose in higher education institutions across the UK. These initiatives do more than acknowledge hard work—they reinforce institutional values, boost morale, and create a culture where excellence becomes the standard rather than the exception. At the University of Portsmouth, the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards have evolved over eight years to become a cornerstone of the institution’s community spirit.
Professor Graham Galbraith, University Vice-Chancellor, emphasised the importance of these celebrations: “It’s fantastic to be able to congratulate colleagues from across the University community for some amazing achievements, and provide them with some well-deserved recognition. I am always impressed by the amount of nominations we receive, the success stories we are sent, and the sheer hard work that members of the University community put in.”
This year’s ceremony welcomed distinguished guests including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth, the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, and Commodore Marcel Rosenberg, Naval Base Commander Portsmouth—underscoring the deep connections between the University and the wider Portsmouth community.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about the University of Portsmouth’s community engagement initiatives and how they might align with your professional goals.
Awards Structure and 2026 Categories
The 2026 awards recognised excellence across 12 categories carefully aligned with the University Strategy. New categories were introduced this year to reflect the expanding breadth, innovation, and collaboration happening across campus. This structural evolution demonstrates the institution’s commitment to keeping its recognition frameworks relevant and responsive to emerging areas of impact.
Beyond the 12 category winners, 15 additional nominees received commendations for their exceptional contributions over the past year. This broader recognition ensures that outstanding work doesn’t go unnoticed, even when competition is fierce.
Teaching Excellence: The General Legal Advice Clinic
Teaching excellence extends far beyond lecture halls and seminar rooms. The General Legal Advice Clinic, which won the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, exemplifies how practical, community-engaged learning creates value for everyone involved. Operating continuously since January 2013, this clinic sees final-year law students deliver free, confidential legal advice to members of the public under the guidance of qualified solicitors and experienced tutors.
The clinic addresses real legal needs across housing, employment, family, consumer, and contract law—assisting over 250 local people, staff, and students annually. This model of clinical legal education has earned recognition beyond Portsmouth, with the Law School nominated for the “Best Contribution by a Law School” category at the LawWorks & Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards.
Internationalisation: Annie Dorrington’s Conversion Strategy
Annie Dorrington received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Internationalisation after building a sector-leading Global Conversion function from what began as a single-person role. Her multi-faceted conversion strategy transformed international applicant conversion at Portsmouth, creating a personalised, reassuring, and responsive experience that applicants consistently describe as “unlike anything offered by other universities.”
The team culture Dorrington established—defined by warmth, ambition, and genuine care—extends to supporting international student ambassadors, mentoring placement students, and guiding colleagues with exceptional leadership. Her work demonstrates how thoughtful, relationship-driven approaches can produce measurable results in international recruitment.
Professional Services Excellence: Student Casework Transformation
The Student Casework Transformation Programme achieved something remarkable: a complete university-wide transformation of casework services within a single year. The team rewrote the Appeals, Complaints, Student Conduct, and Fitness procedures from the ground up, introducing a new investigation model that recruited a central cohort of skilled specialist Investigating Officers.
The impact has been substantial. This new model freed an estimated 3,731 hours of senior academic staff time while delivering a timelier, less stressful investigation process for students. By reducing burden and stress on academic staff while improving the student experience, the team demonstrated how professional services excellence directly supports both operational efficiency and student wellbeing.
Explore our related articles for further reading on how UK universities are transforming student services through innovative approaches.
Research Innovation and Community Impact
Research and Innovation Excellence: Gravitational Wave Astronomy Research Group
The Gravitational Wave Astronomy Research Group earned recognition for their internationally leading work operating one of the primary analysis pipelines for detecting stellar collisions. What sets this team apart is not just their scientific achievement but their commitment to making complex research accessible and inclusive.
Their “Gravitational Wave Tactile Universe” project breaks down barriers for the blind and visually impaired community, while additional outreach work connects gravitational-wave research with local naval families. By building a world-class gravitational-wave hub from scratch, the team has secured Portsmouth’s position at the table of all major global gravitational-wave astronomy projects—demonstrating how specialised research can achieve both scientific excellence and meaningful community engagement.
Civic Impact: Community Oral Health Research Team
The Community Oral Health Research team at the UoP Dental Academy has delivered a sustained programme of community-engaged research and practice since 2022. Focused on reducing health inequalities and improving access to care across underserved communities in Portsmouth, the team works in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, NHS organisations, charities, and local community groups.
Their direct engagement with populations living in areas of high deprivation—including people at risk of homelessness, migrants, refugees, children, and older adults—demonstrates how university research can address immediate community needs. Through cross-sector collaboration, this programme empowers communities, improves access to digital tools and health services, and actively reduces inequalities in local neighbourhoods.
Supporting Student Wellbeing and Experience
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Navigating Neurodiversity Group
The Navigating Neurodiversity group, co-delivered by Student Wellbeing and Disability Advice, provides an eight-session neuroaffirmative intervention for Autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD students. This initiative creates a safe, relaxed, and inclusive space where students can connect with peers, explore strengths, build confidence, and develop practical strategies for university life.
What makes this programme exemplary is its intentional design to reduce participation barriers. Sensory-friendly materials, craft activities, fidgets, and flexible attendance options ensure students can engage in ways that feel comfortable and empowering. The group has become an important part of the Student Service’s inclusive wellbeing offer, exemplifying cross-team collaboration and the University’s commitment to ensuring every student has a space where they belong.
Student Experience: James Quinn and Men’s Mental Health
James Quinn received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Student Experience and Outcomes after spearheading the Student Voices: Talking Men’s Mental Health Podcast Series. This pioneering student-led initiative addresses one of higher education’s most urgent challenges: male student mental health.
In a context where male students are significantly less likely to seek support despite high levels of need, Quinn independently conceived and delivered a platform designed to break down stigma and amplify student voices. Working collaboratively with Wellbeing colleagues, he created an authentic, accessible podcast series rooted in lived experience—actively engaging students throughout the process and creating a trusted space where individuals felt empowered to share personal stories and discuss mental health openly.
Submit your application today if you’re inspired to join a university community that values student-led initiatives and mental health advocacy.
Sustainability and Technical Excellence
Green Impact: Dr Kate Whitman’s Sustainability Leadership
Dr Kate Whitman received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Green Impact for her outstanding and wide-ranging contribution to sustainability culture at the University of Portsmouth—work that extends far beyond the requirements of her academic role. Her approach combines critical thinking with practical action, creating multiple entry points for community engagement with sustainability.
Whitman organised an Ad Free Cities event, bringing together academic experts and industry speakers to examine how advertising can be redirected as a force for positive social and environmental change. She led the ‘Sew the Love’ campaign, encouraging conscious consumption and garment life extension. Additionally, she organised repair cafes on campus—practical, hands-on spaces where the community can extend the life of clothing and everyday items rather than discarding them.
Technician of the Year: The Eldon 3D Workshop Team
The Eldon 3D Workshop team demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, innovation, and dedication in supporting students, teaching, research, and creative practice across the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries and the wider University. The workshop provides an open, inclusive space where three-dimensional making can flourish.
Collectively bringing over 40 years of technical experience across cabinet making, upholstery, fine art, heritage restoration, craft, and advanced digital fabrication, this team does more than support technical delivery—they actively shape student experience, strengthen industry connections, and contribute meaningfully to the wider community.
School and Department Achievement
The School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences earned the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for School or Department of the Year after delivering a sector-leading transformation in under two years. The School successfully integrated two distinct academic units into a cohesive, high-performing, and future-focused operation.
The results speak for themselves: increased student demand, over £2.4 million in research income generated, and redefined impact across education and society. Externally, the School delivers significant societal and policy impact, including leading England’s Drowning Prevention Strategy 2026, leading the Sport Wales “Thriving Environments” programme, influencing mental health practice across national sport systems, and contributing to UK Government policy discussions. Community-focused initiatives support refugees, neurodivergent communities, and underrepresented groups—demonstrating how academic units can achieve excellence across multiple dimensions simultaneously.
Have questions? Write to us to learn more about the Schools achieving recognition at the University of Portsmouth.
Commendations and Volunteering Recognition
The 2026 ceremony also recognised 15 commendation winners whose contributions, while not taking top honours, represent exceptional work across the University. Commendations were awarded to individuals and teams including Dr Samantha Penny for Teaching Excellence, Dr Tarek Teba for Internationalisation, the Student Services Team for Professional Services Excellence, and Professor Jim Smith for Research and Innovation Excellence.
Additional commendations recognised the Portsmouth Military Education Team for Partnerships, Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange; Kimberly Williams and the Facilities Management Team for Green Impact; the UoPen Network for Outstanding Internal Collaboration; and the Environment & Life Sciences Team for Technician of the Year. Roger Tyrell received a commendation for Outstanding Contribution to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, while the Sport & Recreation Learn to Swim Programmes, the Time for Dementia Programme, and the ICG Outreach and Public Engagement Team all received commendations for Outstanding Contribution to Civic Impact and Community Engagement.
The MyPort Student Centre and Amy Wright received commendations for Student Experience and Outcomes, rounding out a comprehensive recognition of excellence across the institution.
A Volunteering Roll of Honour was displayed at the ceremony’s conclusion, celebrating the extensive volunteering work undertaken by University of Portsmouth staff throughout the year—a reminder that many contributions to community and institutional life happen beyond formal job descriptions and award categories.
What These Awards Reveal About University Culture
Examining the winners and commendations from the 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards reveals several important patterns about the University of Portsmouth’s culture and priorities. The breadth of recognised work—from gravitational wave astronomy to repair cafes, from neurodiversity support to naval family engagement—demonstrates an institution that values diverse forms of excellence.
The emphasis on partnership and collaboration appears repeatedly. The Community Oral Health Research team’s work with local authorities and NHS organisations, Dr John Akerele’s partnerships with professional security bodies, and the Student Impact Awards’ cross-university collaboration all highlight how Portsmouth’s success depends on connections beyond institutional boundaries.
Similarly, the focus on practical impact—whether through the Legal Advice Clinic’s direct service to 250+ community members annually or the Student Casework Transformation Programme’s liberation of nearly 4,000 hours of academic staff time—shows an institution committed to excellence that produces tangible outcomes rather than empty gestures.
Share your experiences in the comments below about how staff recognition programmes have impacted your workplace or educational experience.
Looking Ahead: Excellence as an Ongoing Commitment
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence 2026 represent not an endpoint but a snapshot of ongoing commitment. As the University of Portsmouth continues to develop its strategy and respond to changing higher education landscapes, these awards will likely continue evolving—adding new categories, recognising emerging forms of impact, and reflecting the institution’s growing ambitions.
For staff at Portsmouth and observers in the wider UK higher education sector, these awards offer both inspiration and practical insight. They demonstrate what excellence looks like in practice: sustained commitment to community benefit, innovative approaches to longstanding challenges, collaborative working across boundaries, and a willingness to reimagine how universities can create value for students, staff, and communities alike.
The 2026 ceremony made clear that the University of Portsmouth’s greatest asset remains its people—and that recognising their contributions is essential to sustaining the excellence those contributions create.
