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Aberdeen University. Chosen by judges for its "great focus" on international leadership development, Aberdeen University's International Leadership Development Programme exists to strengthen the operational and strategic skills of recently appointed and aspiring leaders.

The judges praised its practical activities and projects in international contexts such as its knowledge transfer activities.

The programme is innovative in raising awareness of the internationalisation of higher education, and to this end participants learn about leadership overseas. Recent visits to the Netherlands and Hong Kong offered the chance to see industry-university collaboration and approaches to leadership required for successful partnership that could be relevant to Scotland.

Judge Sir David Watson, professor of higher education management at the Institute of Education, University of London, said: "We were really impressed by the innovative qualities of this application. We particularly liked the focus on international leadership development. The project includes good practical activities in the international context for transferring learning through university-industry collaboration."

Fellow judge Linda Holbeche, director of research and policy at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: "This application demonstrated strong strategy development and implementation, including a thorough and coherent approach to stakeholder management and an innovative approach that is producing practical benefits to all concerned."

Ewart Wooldridge CBE, chief executive of sponsors the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, said: "We are pleased to be able to sponsor the award for outstanding leadership development for the second year running. As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said recently: 'Good leadership is more important than ever', and with this award we are able to support and celebrate the really excellent achievements in the world of higher education."