The 2013 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise were announced on the Queen’s Birthday on April 21. The University of Huddersfield, one of the SBC's core partner universities in the UK, won the award for the category of International Trade. Professor Liz Towns-Andrews, Director of Research and Enterprise of University of Huddersfield, won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.
Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are regarded as the most prestigious and widely recognized award in the UK. There are three categories of awards – international trade, innovation and sustainable development. Winners of the international trade category are those who have achieved substantial growth and success for their overseas business. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion is for individuals who have played an important role in promoting enterprise skills and supporting entrepreneurs.
There are 3,000 students from over 100 countries in the University of Huddersfield. This number has tripled since 2008. Professor David Taylor, Dean of International Development in Huddersfield, expressed his delight that “The University of Huddersfield is arguably the fastest developing university in the UK. As a Huddersfield graduate myself, this makes me particularly proud.”
3M Buckley Innovation Center the new enterprise and innovation center at the University of Huddersfield was initiated by Prof. Liz Towns-Andrews. Her development of 3M Center and the links she forged between the center and other leading industrial companies lead to the prestigious award being awarded Mrs. Towns-Andrews. Professor Towns-Andrews thanked the support provided by Prof. Bob Cryan the University’s Vice-Chancellor, as well as that offered by the whole management team. Prof. Andrews added, “Although it might be a personal award for me, it is a team award really.”
Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University, expressed his delight at winning two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: “I am determined that our university should engage closely with Business and play an important role in economic regeneration. Liz has been a crucial figure in achieving this ambition. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion is a fitting recognition of her talents and her vision.”
"I am absolutely delighted that we have won a Queen’s Award for our international development. The University of Huddersfield has opened offices in China and Nigeria, both run by Huddersfield graduates, and has established a research laboratory in Shanghai.”
Professor Ian Gow OBE, Principal and CEO of SBC, offered his warmest congratulations to the University of Huddersfield, “Out of the 152 Queen's Awards for Enterprise, Huddersfield are the only University to receive one, and out of the 8 personal Queen's Awards for Enterprise Promotion there are two from the University sector, one of which is from Huddersfield, given to Prof. Liz Towns-Andrews. It is a remarkable thing for a University to receive one Queen’s Award. However, to receive two in one year is a truly outstanding achievement. This award is yet another clear indication of the remarkable rise of Hudd in terms of academic excellence, and a tribute of remarkable efforts of the Vice Chancellor (president) professor cryan and his hudd team.”
SBC has been working closely with the University of Huddersfield, one of the Joint Venture partner owners of the SBC, for nearly eight years. Huddersfield is one of only two of SBC’s UK partner universities officially approved to run degree programmes at the SBC. Huddersfield recently opened a joint research center in precision machining with the USST. Last year, a second cohort of SBC/USST students completed a full Huddersfield Bachelor’s Degree in Events Management, taking courses entirely in Shanghai, all students successfully graduating, and 1/3 of the number receiving First-Class and Upper-Second degrees.
