THE UNIVERSITY of Worcester has been shortlisted for two national accolades in this year’s Times Higher Education Awards.
Success in bringing illustration to new audiences along with its work to help persecuted people in Iraq has seen the University recently shortlisted in the categories of ‘Excellence and Innovation in the Arts’ and ‘International Impact’.
The University’s International Centre for the Picture Book in Society, which was launched two years and is the only one of its kind, has been shortlisted for the Excellence and Innovation in the Arts award for promoting children’s illustration across the world, by working collaboratively with students, publishers, international literary bodies and researchers.
Whilst the University’s work in Iraq to help those affected by one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises has been shortlisted for the International Impact award.
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).
The Times Higher Education Awards showcase some of the very best work being undertaken in, and by, universities across the UK.
Professor David Green, vice chancellor of the University of Worcester, said: “It’s 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.
“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 winners will be announced during a prestigious ceremony in London on Thursday, November 30.
