Outstanding research and a student-centred approach: our THE Awards nominations

The University of Essex has continued its recent success, with a series of nominations at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Essex, 2018’s THE University of the Year, has been recognised for two major research projects, with a further nomination for Outstanding Library Team. 

Professor Lorna Woods, of Essex School of Law, has been nominated with Will Perrin for Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Together, they developed a legal framework to protect internet users.

A second nomination, for International Collaboration of the Year, recognises the work of Essex Digital Verification Unit (DVU), based at the Human Rights Centre Clinic. Essex DVU joined five other global universities to help deliver a ground-breaking report by Amnesty International.

Essex DVU is led by Dr Daragh Murray. Professor Woods and Dr Murray are members of both the School of Law and Human Rights Centre.

Professor Karen Hulme, Head of our School of Law, said: “These two nominations attest to the vibrancy of the research being undertaken in the Law School. As a School, we look to develop our students’ research skills and their interest in research from Day One, teaching the law that matters and providing a legal education with global reach.”

Professor Lorna McGregor, Director of the Human Rights Centre, said: “Both nominations underscore the complexities of the digital space for human rights. Digitisation and Artificial Intelligence can compound and introduce new forms of harm while also offering new ways to discover and document human rights violations. Lorna and Daragh’s work show how our Human Rights Centre members are leading the way in dealing with these complexities by using their research to develop policy and practical responses to the challenges and opportunities for human rights in the digital space.”

The University’s third nomination is for Outstanding Library Team. This nomination recognises the team at the Albert Sloman Library for their work in providing improved services for students which have contributed to library use increasing by nearly 20,000 visits a year.

The THE Awards winners will be announced on 28 November, at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.