A leap of 13 places in this years league table has helped the University of Sheffield see off strong competition to claim the title of Sunday Times University of the Year 2001.

Sheffield returns to the Uk's elite top 10, a position it last occupied three years ago, as a result of outstanding teaching and research assessments and a low drop out rate. It attracts students who attain average A-level grades close to ABB (and many much better than that.) Two thirds of Sheffield's high achieving recruits graduate with firsts or 2:1 degrees.

Founded as a University in 1905, Sheffield is one of the northern civic universities that are pillars of the higher education establishment.

Our award recognises excellence in higher education over the past 12 months. It is not determined solely on league table position; if it was Cambridge would have won every year. We assess a range of qualities chiefly, teaching, the overall academic health and robustness of the institution, the student experience, and the university's role on regional, national and world stages.

In all these areas, Sheffield does exceptionally well. Teaching in six subject areas has been rated excellent since our last publication: archaeology, librarianship and information management, philosophy, politics, psychology and initial teacher training. This is a strong showing for an institution best known for science and engineering. While these subject areas remain jewels in Sheffield's crown, the latest assessments provide compelling evidence of all round academic excellence.

Twenty six subjects have now been given top ratings by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), a record few institutions can approach. In addition to those rated excellent in our exacting criteria, a further eight subjects have scored 21/24 in teaching assessments, missing the top grade by a single point. These include chemical engineering, civil engineering, French, Spanish, mathematics and statistics, nursing, subjects allied to medicine and pharmacology and pharmacy.

The university's track record in all aspects of engineering is one of the finest in the country. No teaching assessment has been lower than 21/24 points and all research was rated world-class (in the top two categories) in the last assessment exercise in 1996. Forthcoming research results, to be published in December, are expected to maintain Sheffield's reputation. Chemistry at Sheffield has provided 4 Nobel Prize winners; two in the 10 years. Professor Bob Boucher, the vice-chancellor, believes the university's research pedigree is vital to its success as a teaching institution. "Any decent teacher can impart knowledge, but in research university's like ours, there is a much more developed depth of understanding. Because research-active staff are inquisitive, they tend to produce more inquisitive and questioning students," he said.

Sheffield's reputation in engineering has attracted considerable investment from industry. There are two Rolls-Royce technology centres on site conducting research into materials clamping (to reduce engine vibrations) and control and systems engineering (to improve computer control of aircraft engines.) A further partnership with Rolls-Royce and Bae systems develops engineering design. Boeing, the American aeroplane maker, is one partner in a project to establish a £15m centre for manufacturing research.

Boucher has played a key role in establishing Sheffield's engineering excellence. A mechanical engineer, he joined the university as a lecturer in 1970's rising to become a pro-vice chancellor by the time he left in 1995 for UMIST. He returned to Sheffield as vice-chancellor last January. "Sheffield is in the blood," said London-born Boucher. "I genuinely think this is a very bright period in the development of the university and the city."

Students appear to agree with him. The dropout rate is one of the lowest in Britain. Only four universities are projected to lose fewer students before the end of their courses. Many graduates stay on in the city.

The university has recently attracted £80m investment: £60m of it going towards the development of life sciences. The Sheffield Medical Sciences Institute is bringing together bimolecular scientists with clinical practitioners conducting research that has applications for inflammatory diseases and cancer. The university has recently acquired the old Jessop hospital for women which will be converted into new teaching accommodation for architecture and arts students. The development links two clusters of exciting university buildings in the city's leafy western suburbs.

Source Publication:
The Sunday Times - 16 September 2001