Vice-Chancellor's Awards
We recognise and celebrate outstanding members of the Bath Spa community.
#BathSpaProud
In partnership with the Students' Union, the VC Awards recognise outstanding individual and team achievements at our University.
The awards take place annually, with nominations generally opening in the new year and closing in spring. The winners are announced at the awards ceremony in the summer.
Everyone at Bath Spa can nominate staff members and students that they feel have made outstanding contributions to the University community.
Each nomination will be assessed by an awards panel comprising staff from across the University, Sabbatical Officers from the Students' Union and student representatives.
Award categories
Student awards
This award recognises the impact students have had on the learning experience; whether that be as a Rep, working to improve the course, supporting other students or working to enhance resources.
It recognises students who have worked to create conditions to make studying at Bath Spa the best it can be.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
New for 2024. This award aims to recognise a student or student group that held an impactful student-led event or series of events, leading event planning, organising and execution.
The event doesn't necessarily need to have had a strong turnout on the day but showed passion and commitment throughout the planning process and impact on those who attended it.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
New for 2024. This award recognises an inspirational member of staff or student who makes a difference to the lives of others – whether that be within the Bath Spa University community, the local region or planet.
There will be two winners for this award, one student and one member of staff.
The nominee can be someone who puts others before themselves, volunteers, fundraises or advocates and campaigns for social good.
Awarded to a student team or group that has made a significant contribution to their peers, Bath Spa University or the wider local community. This could be a sports team, club, society, or group, who have demonstrated a collective achievement and positive contribution.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
Awarded to a student who exemplifies the University’s graduate attributes. There will be seven winners – one for each school of study.
Please note the nominations for this award are made within each School of Study and then carefully selected by the Head of School.
Awarded to a student who has travelled furthest in their learning journey. There will be seven winners - one for each school of study.
Please note the nominations for this award are made within each School of Study and then carefully selected by the Head of School.
New for 2024. This award recognises any individual, student or staff, or team that has used the Adobe suite in their work to make an impactful creative experience.
There will be two winners for this award, one student and one member of staff.
We know that many have started out with Adobe or have become more proficient in Adobe since we became a Creative Campus and are looking for people to share any level of application.
This award will be looking for creations that show you’ve considered how to bring it to life using Adobe, or communicated in a fun, creative or innovative way, and that you or others have advanced their digital literacy as a result.
Share your success stories, something that you are proud of that has been #madewithAdobe.
Staff awards
Awarded to a member of staff who has enhanced a culture of respect, engagement and integrity in the University through their enjoyment of work and their promotion of friendliness and collegiality.
This award focuses on the attributes of the person rather than the job role that they perform. This award is open to any member of staff from the University or Students' Union, regardless of team or role.
There will be six finalists and two winners for this award – a winner from academic staff and a winner from professional services (including Students' Union) staff.
Who can nominate: Staff
Awarded to a member of staff who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and management, which is reinforced by excellent results in their area of responsibility.
Any individual that has formal responsibility for other staff members can be nominated in this category, this includes staff from the Students' Union. Nominations are welcomed for those who lead teams both large and small, operating at all levels of the University.
There will be six finalists and two winners for this award – a winner from academic staff and a winner from professional services (including Students' Union) staff.
Who can nominate: Staff
Awarded to a member of staff who quietly makes a significant impact on the success and day-to-day running of the University. This award is for any member of the University staff who deserves recognition for their hard work.
There will be six finalists and two winners for this award – a winner from academic staff and a winner from professional services (including Students' Union) staff.
The finalists for this award will be shared and the winners voted for and chosen by the whole Bath Spa community after nominations close 31 March.
Who can nominate: Staff
Awarded to a member of staff who has, in the opinion of the student nominators, demonstrated outstanding and inspirational teaching.
This might be evidenced in a number of ways, for example through innovative teaching methods, creating an inclusive learning community, challenging students to develop new skills, knowledge and abilities, and embedding social responsibility and global issues into the curriculum.
Who can nominate: Students
Awarded to a postgraduate supervisor who has, in the opinion of the student nominators, demonstrated outstanding and inspirational research supervision.
Who can nominate: Students
Awarded to a member of staff who has, in the opinion of the student nominators, demonstrated outstanding support and went above and beyond to enhance the experience for students.
This might be evidenced in a number of ways, for example through technical support provided, support for student wellbeing, careers advice, library and learning support, advice and support provided by a member of staff from the Students' Union, service in the catering outlets etc. The nominee can be any member of the University or Students' Union staff.
Who can nominate: Students
New for 2024. This award recognises an individual that has shown creativity, inspired curiosity, or demonstrated confidence in academic, professional, research or enterprise activities.
We're looking for nominations for someone who has tried an innovative new angle, approach or assessment that enriches the student or staff community here at Bath Spa.
Who can nominate: Staff
New for 2024. This award recognises an inspirational member of staff or student who makes a difference to the lives of others – whether that be within the Bath Spa University community, the local region or planet.
There will be two winners for this award, one student and one member of staff.
The nominee can be someone who puts others before themselves, volunteers, fundraises or advocates and campaigns for social good.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
New for 2024. This award recognises any individual, student or staff, or team that has used the Adobe suite in their work to make an impactful creative experience.
We know that many have started out with Adobe or have become more proficient in Adobe since we became a Creative Campus and are looking for people to share any level of application.
There will be two winners for this award, one student and one member of staff.
This award will be looking for creations that show you’ve considered how to bring it to life using Adobe, or communicated in a fun, creative or innovative way, and that you or others have advanced their digital literacy as a result.
Share your success stories, something that you are proud of that has been #madewithAdobe.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
Awarded to a team of staff who have made a significant contribution to the overall success of the University during the past year.
The nomination for this award will need to demonstrate how the team goes beyond 'business as usual', consistently delivers best practices, and is ready to innovate, keen to improve and make a difference to the University. It might be that this team has met a challenge head-on and improved the way they work or the service they offer as a result.
There will be six finalists and two winners for this award – a winner from academic staff and a winner from professional services (including Students' Union) staff.
Who can nominate: Staff
Other community member awards
Awarded to a Bath Spa alum who has made a significant contribution to the overall success of the University during the past year.
The nomination for this award should describe how an alum has given ‘Back to Bath Spa’ in any aspect of the community, for example mentoring, creating opportunities for Bath Spa students or grads, or simply has supported us in our activities, e.g. given up their time for panels, or to come and guest lecture.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
Awarded to the care dog (and owner) who has made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of students and staff.
The nomination for this award should demonstrate why this particular care dog was the best for example at making you smile, feel at ease, or simply melted your heart.
Who can nominate: Students and staff
Tips for writing a nomination
- Don't leave it to the last minute – give yourself time to write something you feel happy with.
- Read the award descriptions clearly and try and refer back to the relevant award description in your nomination where possible.
- Be clear and concise – state clearly why the person or team deserves to win.
- Give examples, as this will help the panel understand why you think the person or team should win.
- Please don't nominate yourself or your own team – it's not in the spirit of the awards. You can of course nominate individuals from within your own team.
- Consider how the nominee embodies the Bath Spa University values – respect, inclusivity, collaboration and sustainability.