The 2009 Times Higher Education Awards have marked their fifth year by attracting an impressive 600 entries from 137 of the UK's higher education institutions. The individuals and universities that have made it on to our shortlist should be proud of the achievements that have made them stand out from their peers.

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The line-up this year recognises outstanding achievement in 18 areas, with three new categories that recalibrate the awards to focus on the academy's core mission of research and teaching.

In terms of research, we have added the Serendipity Award, sponsored by Research Councils UK, and the Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year, sponsored by BAE Systems.

In teaching, it was heartening to note that the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year category attracted more than 80 entries in its inaugural appearance.

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This year, the Lifetime Achievement Award became the Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of Ron Dearing, an inspiration to the sector and author of the landmark 1997 report into higher education, who died in February.

As always, shortlisting has been fiendishly difficult and time-consuming. The names on our roll of honour represent excellence in an inspirational sector. Now all that remains is to hand the even more demanding task of choosing the overall victors to our panel of specially selected judges.

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The winners will be announced at the Awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on 15 October.

JUDGES

Patrick Finch, bursar and director of estates, University of Bristol, and chair, Association of University Directors of Estates

Paul Ramsden, chief executive, Higher Education Academy

Wes Streeting, president, National Union of Students

Ian Diamond, chair, Research Councils UK

Hugh Tollyfield, special adviser on employer engagement, Higher Education Funding Council for England

Dianne Willcocks, vice-chancellor, York St John University, and chair, Widening Access and Participation Strategic Advisory Committee, Hefce

Chris Cobb, pro vice-chancellor, Roehampton University, and member, Organisation Support Committee, Joint Information Systems Council

Philip Esler, chief executive, Arts and Humanities Research Council

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Ann Mroz, editor, Times Higher Education Phil Baty, deputy editor, Times Higher Education

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Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers - Sponsored by Research Councils UK in association with Vitae

• University of Cambridge
• Durham University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Manchester
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford

Outstanding Support for Students - Sponsored by Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

• Aston University
• Bucks New University
• University of Chester
• Harper Adams University College
• University of Leicester
• Oxford Brookes University

Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative - Sponsored by Foundation Degree Forward

• University of Glamorgan
• Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance
• Lancaster University
• University of Lincoln
• Stockport College
• Teesside University

Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology - Sponsored by Elsevier

• University of Bath
• Birmingham City University
• De Montfort University
• University of Greenwich
• Imperial College London
• University of Leicester

Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development

• University of Bradford
• Durham University
• University of East Anglia
• Nottingham Trent University
• University College London
• University of the West of England

Excellence and Innovation in the Arts

• Brunel University
• University of Dundee
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Oxford Brookes University
• University of Portsmouth
• University for the Creative Arts

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community

• Birkbeck, University of London
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Derby
• Glyndwr University
• Newcastle University
• University of Strathclyde

Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year - Sponsored by Joint Information Systems Committee

• Bucks New University
• Cardiff University
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• Queen's University Belfast
• University of Reading
• St George's, University of London

Most Improved Student Experience

• Canterbury Christ Church University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Essex
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Southampton Solent University
• Staffordshire University
• University of Sussex

Research Project of the Year

• Bournemouth University
• University of Bristol
• Institute of Education
• Lancaster University
• Queen Mary, University of London
• University of York

Widening Participation Initiative of the Year

• University of Brighton
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• University of Northampton
• The Open University
• Royal Veterinary College
• University of Ulster

Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year - Sponsored by BAE Systems

• University of Greenwich
• University of Leeds
• Loughborough University
• Newcastle University
• University of Plymouth
• University of Southampton

Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development - Sponsored by Leadership Foundation for Higher Education

• University of Derby
• University of Central Lancashire
• Institute of Education
• University of Leeds
• University for the Creative Arts
• University of York

Entrepreneurial University of the Year - Sponsored by National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship

• Coventry University
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Portsmouth
• Queen's University Belfast
• University of Surrey
• University of Strathclyde

Serendipity Award - Sponsored by Research Councils UK

• Cardiff University
• King's College London
• University of Oxford
• University of Nottingham (Professor Sir Peter Mansfield)
• University of Nottingham (Dr Edward Lester)
• Queen Mary, University of London

Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award

There is no shortlist. The winner, chosen by Times Higher Education's editorial board, will be announced on the night of the Awards ceremony.

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Most Innovative Teacher of the Year

• Leslie Arthur, Nottingham Trent University
• Sarah Baillie, Royal Veterinary College
• Paul Curzon, Queen Mary, University of London
• Penny Green, King's College London
• Nick Halafihi, Leeds Metropolitan University
• Catherine Sanderson, Leeds Metropolitan University

University of the Year - Sponsored by Iskandar Malaysia

• Bournemouth University
• University of Nottingham
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Teesside University
• University of Warwick
• University of Winchester.

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