Dundee shortlisted for 'University of the Year' 2008

The University has been shortlisted for 'University of the Year' at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards 2008. It is the second time in four years that Dundee has been shortlisted for the award, a record unmatched in Scotland.

Only six universities from 120 around the UK make the shortlist for the coveted award. Joining Dundee in the final six are King's College London, University of Hertfordshire, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool and University of Surrey.

For the last five years the University has been undergoing a major transformation. The new £200 million campus redevelopment includes a new Dundee Student Village, a £15 million teaching block and major extensions to the Institute of Sport and Exercise, which has been designed as an accredited training camp for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The university has also created a broadband network that covers the entire campus and student residences, allowing all students to be further supported throughout their course via online discussions, e-assessment and podcasts.

'It is an honour to be shortlisted for University of the Year and we are proud to be recognised in this way," said Principal Sir Alan Langlands. "It is the hard work of both staff and students that makes for a dynamic university. We are dedicated to providing the very best educational experience for our students.'

The Times Higher Education Awards 2008, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by higher education institutions in building a better future for the UK. Categories include Best Student Experience, University of the Year, Outstanding Student Financial Support Package, Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, Marketing Initiative of the Year and Outstanding Support for Disabled Students.

Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Higher Education, commented: 'The Awards recognise the very best in higher education in the UK and we are delighted to announce that the University of Dundee has made it onto the shortlist for University of the Year. Our senior advisory panel has been taken from all fields of academia and had to choose from hundreds of first class entries - only the best made it through to our shortlist.'

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 23 October 2008. Last year more than 1,200 people from all parts of higher education gathered to celebrate the sector's achievements.

In the same week as the University was shortlisted for the Times Higher award the National Student Survey reported that politics students at Dundee were the happiest in the UK.

220,000 students across the UK took part in the survey which measured their satisfaction in the quality of their teaching.

Dundee came top delighting staff in the politics department.

'We put a lot of effort into making the student experience at Dundee a good one and the results of the survey show we are on the right track,' said Professor Alan Dobson, convener of the Politics programme at the University.

'It is doubly encouraging because we don't just have satisfied students but an awful lot of them - we have just had a record intake to Politics for the new first-year, with around 250 students enrolled and the numbers still rising.'