UA92 are delighted to close out 2024 with a bang by winning the NEON ‘Higher Education Institution of the Year’ award. NEON’s awards recognise achievements in widening access to higher education, and our outstanding work in making HE more accessible for all has be thoroughly recognised with this national award.
At UA92, we’re proud of our commitment to breaking down barriers. Our Fast Forward course is a huge example of this, as an initiative that aims to get those without traditional qualifications into Higher Education. Additionally, our UA92 Youth initiative, outreach work (including our sponsorship of Manchester Caribbean Carnival) and our industry partnerships have all contributed to our efforts to widen access in HE and raise aspirations in the local community. UA92 students are offered a flexible, deliberately different education, with a fixed timetable (exclusively morning or afternoon), no exams, small class sizes and plenty of industry opportunities.
Our CEO Sara Prowse said “We are committed to providing inclusive education and this award is a demonstration of the amazing work by our staff to ensure we meet this commitment. We believe in increasing the talent pool in business by breaking down barriers to higher education and by getting students fully prepared for the world of work.”
Karim West, Community Engagement Manager at UA92 was also personally recognised for his contribution – he was Highly Commended for the NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award.
“Karim is passionate about raising aspirations in his local community and is equally as passionate about spreading the word of UA92 and making higher education accessible for all. Karim epitomises what it means to be a community voice,” said Sarah Prowse.
Graeme Atherton, CEO of NEON, said: “UA92 is a unique organisation with widening access at the heart of everything it does, from its engagement with local students to the very design of its building. The work UA92 has done and the progress that it has made in ensuring learners have access to higher education makes them a very worthy winner of this NEON Award.”
