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The 2021 Times Higher Education Awards are now open for entries, and for the first time in its 17-year history, those involved in Irish higher education are also eligible to enter.

For these awards we cast our eyes back to a truly memorable 2019-20 academic year, so we expect the sector¡¯s outstanding Covid response work to feature heavily, but we also look forward to reading inspirational stories that are unrelated to the pandemic.

There are 20 categories in this year¡¯s awards, covering the full range of university activity ¨C both academic and professional services ¨C and from front-line staff through all levels of leadership and management.

¡°If ever there was a year to recognise the incredible efforts of universities and their staff, then it is surely the year that the Covid-19 pandemic hit and turned our world upside down,¡± said John Gill, THE¡¯s editor. ¡°The submissions to the THE Awards never fail to inspire, but after a year like no other, sharing those stories of innovation, creativity and teamwork is more important than ever.¡±

This year¡¯s ceremony will once again serve as the celebratory finale to a two-day THE Live event which, pandemic restrictions permitting, will be held in separate wings of one venue, the newly refurbished Hilton London Metropole hotel. This means another break from a 17-year THE Awards tradition, with the ceremony moving away from the Grosvenor, so we have some exciting plans to celebrate that too ¨C please do keep 24 and 25 November free in your diaries for what should be an unmissable event.

THE Awards entries close on 9 June 2021, and full details can be found at . Further details about THE Live will be announced soon.