September 10, 2013 4.16 pm This story is over 139 months old

University of Lincoln shortlisted for enterprise award

Innovative finalists: The University of Lincoln has been shortlisted for a national award as one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial universities.
Photo: University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln has been shortlisted for a national award as one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial universities.

The university is one of just six finalists in the UK for the Entrepreneurial University of the Year award in the Times Higher Education Awards 2013.

The Times awards celebrate higher education excellence, and describes the award as “recognising a university that has developed an environment and culture that fosters enterprising attitudes among all members of its community and delivers significant entrepreneurial impact at regional, national and international levels.”

Lincoln made the list due to the award-winning Sparkhouse business incubation centre and partnerships it has made with major employers such as Siemens and Lincolnshire Co-op.

Sparkhouse, which recently celebrated its 10th birthday.

Sparkhouse, which recently celebrated its 10th birthday.

Meanwhile, academic research into entrepreneurial learning has helped form national and international policy on enterprise education, such as the Quality Assurance Agency’s 2012 guidance on enterprise and entrepreneurship in higher education.

Students also contribute towards enterprise due to taking up or creating clubs and societies, or taking part in projects such as Student as Producer.

The University of Lincoln is estimated to be worth up to £250 million to the region’s economy and supports around 3,000 jobs.

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are very proud to have been shortlisted for ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ in the THE Awards 2013.

“Universities are the engines of modern knowledge-based economies, and innovation and creativity are the fuel.

“At the University of Lincoln we aim to challenge the status quo and continually ask how we can better foster the culture of enterprise and entrepreneurship which is so fundamental to economic growth.”

The winner of the awards will be announced on November 28 at a ceremony in London. Other universities shortlisted in this category are Chester, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Surrey and Teesside University.