Birmingham Newman University Library Proudly Shortlisted at THE Awards 2025
Birmingham Newman University Library has been recognised as a finalist in the Outstanding Library Team category at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2025.
Although the team did not take home the trophy this year, their shortlisting stands as a testament to their innovative and forward-thinking work in supporting the responsible use of AI in academia. The awards ceremony, held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday, 13 November, brought together leading institutions from across the UK and Ireland.
Led by Director of Library Services Chris Porter, and joined by Vice Chancellor Professor Jackie Dunne, the Library Team’s entry, Empowering Academic Excellence Through Generative AI Support, highlighted their development of a university-wide AI microsite and hands-on workshops that have become embedded in teaching across multiple disciplines.
The microsite, launched in 2023, provides resources on AI ethics, research applications, and academic support, while the workshops on the microsite have been praised for blending practical experience with ethical debate—earning a 100% “Really useful” rating from attendees.
Despite not winning, the nomination reflects the library’s leadership in digital literacy and its commitment to enhancing student experience, as evidenced by a 92.4% satisfaction score in the 2025 National Student Survey.
Chris Porter, Director of Library Services, said:
“On behalf of my fantastic team, I am delighted that their hard work has been recognised by the THE through being shortlisted for such a respected award for the second time in three years. It is a real privilege to have the hard work of the Library team recognised in this way. Having been named as the Times and Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026, we have always known that our diverse and aspirational student body deserves nothing but the best, and this accolade shows that excellence is at the core of our team and our University.”
With over 500 entries and 69 institutions shortlisted across 21 categories, the THE Awards continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in higher education. This year’s event marked the first time the ceremony was held in Scotland.
