University of Worcester Shortlisted for Two National Awards

The University of Worcester's success in bringing illustration to new audiences, along with its work to help persecuted people in Iraq, have been shortlisted in this year's Times Higher Education Awards.

The University has been shortlisted in the categories of Excellence and Innovation in the Arts and International Impact. The winners will be announced during a ceremony in London on November 30th.

Two years ago, the University launched the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society (ICPBS). Building on an outstanding academic reputation in the field, the Centre " the only one of its kind - has allowed the University to pioneer new ways of promoting children's illustration across the world, working collaboratively with students, publishers, international literary bodies, and researchers.

The Centre has brought an exceptional range of work from around the world to a new UK audience, raising awareness and interest in illustration and its impact in society, on a global scale.

The work of the Centre is shortlisted for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts.

The International Impact shortlist comes from the University's work in Iraq to help those affected by one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises. The Trauma Capacity Building Project has delivered teaching, research and knowledge transfer, bringing a new form of trauma therapy to a region buckling under the brutality of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor of the University of Worcester, said: "It is wonderful to have two very important areas of the University's work shortlisted in these awards.

"The work of the International Picture Book in Society has been ground-breaking in promoting inclusion and cultural understanding. Outstanding exhibitions here in Worcester have included illustration for blind and visually impaired children, using touch, and prizewinning student work which was exhibited first in Worcester and then in Shanghai, Washington DC and Holland."

Professor Green added: "Dr Derek Farrell's work in Iraq has been inspirational in a very different way. His ongoing work in helping people deeply traumatised by terrible crimes committed against them and their families by the so called Islamic State group has been deeply appreciated by members of the Yezidi population, who are refugees in Kurdistan. Derek's practical therapeutic work and training of volunteers in liaison with the Free Yezidi Foundation and the Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, has been outstanding."

The Times Higher Education Awards showcase some of the very best work being under taken in, and by, universities across the UK.