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Digital transformation has become a key priority for universities and colleges over the past few years which have been intensified by COVID-19 pandemic and the need to urgently transition to online learning. This award recognizes higher education institutions that successfully implemented digital transformation initiatives to solve challenges, operate more efficiently and/or offer a more comprehensive studentcentric learning experience that leverages on the use of technology.
This award aims at rewarding those institutions hat keep inspiring others to push the boundaries of higher education technology and innovation.
Selection Criteria : Digital transformation is a journey that impacts on the entire complex higher educational ecosystem; it requires specific capabilities and well-crafted strategies that can be defined from different perspectives. Hence, the award will take into consideration the following criteria:
This award seeks to highlight the incredible achievements of higher education institutions that stands out when it comes to engaging with the community including: volunteerism, community based learning or research, outreach and fostering community partnership, and building institutional commitment to serving the community and public good.
HEIs submitting for this award must provide background about the community it is serving as well as the context of its activities prior to describing its activities and how it has involved students and staff to make a difference to the target community.
Selection Criteria:
This award recognizes higher education institutions which distinguish themselves through engaging in groundbreaking research that addresses real world challenges whether social, economic, political, cultural or other and that has made a meaningful impact in our communities or had significant impact on the field/ discipline. The awards recognize and celebrate achievements in research and highlight notable research activities by higher education institutions which had tangible benefit and impact. Evidence of exceptional performance against specific indicators such as research output, innovation, external funding, etc.
Selection Criteria:
This award considers innovative and disruptive higher education institutions that stand out in their approach to shaping and re-imagining the future of higher to meet the challenges of the future.
This considers institutional level initiatives and projects that promote innovative and experimental approaches to education whether in relation to the design of new responsive, agile and non-traditional programs, or in re-inventing unique pedagogical ways and methods to teaching and learning that empowers learners, focuses on the 21st century skills and that is aligned to the employability and market needs.
HEIs applying for this award will need to provide at last three examples of programs/ projects as evidence that are seen as effective and efficient (if applicable) for the Institution and its context.
Selection Criteria:
The rapid expansion of higher education over the past few years together with growing technological advancements that led to the emergence of new models of technology enabled education, have made higher education accessible to more students globally. Yet it has also created significant barriers for vulnerable groups. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has amplified issues surrounding access and inclusion as we have witnessed a widening of the digital divide triggered by inequality in access to technology among students at all level.
Making higher education more inclusive and accessible is embedded within the Sustainable Development Goals- SDGs 2030 (SDG 4) and perceived as one of the highest priorities of this decade that should be on the agenda of higher education institutions globally.
This award honours exemplary higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that embrace the value of equity and inclusion in their work and activities through sound leadership and well-articulated strategies. It takes into account how institutions are developing and implementing innovative concepts for maximizing access, equity and inclusion- in their curriculum, teaching practices, research, community work, student engagement and support and other core functions of the institution.
Institutional efforts that may be considered include but is not limited to : strategic initiatives and projects that are advocating diversity, access and equity; efforts made by the institution to foster a welcoming environment that is characterized by inclusivity and organizational equity; outreach, recruitment and retention efforts; the integration of innovative pedagogies that considers students’ differences and advances students’ understanding and commitment to equity and inclusion; programs that improve the institutional climate for minorities and vulnerable groups and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across research and innovation ecosystem among others.
Selection Criteria:
Transferable & Replicable: takes into consideration the possibility of transferring and replicating the initiative(s)/ project(s) undertaken by the institution as a best practice in a different setting or context.
This award recognizes higher education institutions that are making significant,
well-planned, well-executed, impactful and sustainable internationalization efforts while embracing innovative and creative approaches.
It recognizes and celebrate the outstanding contributions of HEIs that are demonstrating institutional commitment to excellence and leadership in internationalization.
Selection Criteria:
Internationalization in higher education requires specific strategies, plans, capabilities and resources that enables the achievement of impactful internationalization agendas and activities. In evaluating the applications, the following criteria will be taking into consideration:
Internationalization Strategy: Looks into the institutional strategy and roadmap through which the institution leverages on internationalization to increase its competitive advantage and position itself globally through different projects, programs and initiatives and how such efforts are evident in the institution’s mission, strategic priorities, plans and results. It takes into account how sustainable development factors have been integrated in the institutional internationalization strategy.
Institutional Efforts: considers institutional projects, initiatives and efforts undertaken to support the institutional internationalization agenda including but not limited to international student enrolment, international faculty recruitment, international capacity building, faculty and student exchange programs, opportunities for faculty and students to access international experiences, campus experience for international students, establishment of international branch campuses and educational hubs and the internationalization of research, knowledge creation and dissemination. It also looks at what institutions do to integrate internationalization into the curriculum and the overall student experience.
Impact and Sustainability: explores how the institution demonstrates its long-term commitment to internationalization that is measurable, relevant, sustainable and which offers tangible long lasting benefits to the institution and the community as a whole. It also takes into account how institutions continuously assess and measure progress and impact in this area.
Partnership and Outreach: takes into consideration how HEIs have developed successful strategic partnerships and cultivated external relations that contribute to international efforts. Which internationalization models were developed through partnerships and what have they achieved; and how is the institution effectively and efficiently implementing such strategic partnerships?
Institutional Culture: looks into how the institution has developed an organisational culture that supports internationalization at all levels; how does it reward such efforts and how are various stakeholders actively participate in planning, nurturing, and growing the depth and breadth of internationalization throughout the institution and its different activities.