Triple shortlisting for Leicester in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2025

The University of Leicester is proud to announce it has been shortlisted in three categories at the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2025 which recognise excellence and innovation across the UK higher education sector.

The University has been shortlisted for:

• Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – MedRACE (Raising Awareness, Celebrating Excellence), student-staff initiative

• International Collaboration of the Year – Global Empathy in Healthcare Network (GEHN), led by Professor Jeremy Howick

• Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Tobacco, Health and History (THH) Project, led by Dr Sarah Inskip

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, commented: “Being shortlisted in three categories is a testament to the University of Leicester’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. These nominations reflect the transformative impact of our research, our dedication to global collaboration, and our leadership in creating equitable and empathetic learning environments. I am incredibly proud of our teams whose work continues to shape a fairer, healthier, and more connected world.”

Shortlisted projects: 
MedRACE: Creating a learning environment that is safe, inclusive and empowering for all. 
In response to the British Medical Association’s 2020 Racial Harassment Charter, the University of Leicester Medical School launched MedRACE - a pioneering initiative redefining racial equity in medical education. Rooted in student experiences and staff collaboration, MedRACE fosters a safe, inclusive learning environment through robust reporting, anti-racism curriculum reform, and policy advocacy.

MedRACE has directly impacted over 1,400 students annually, embedding inclusion into teaching, clinical placements, and institutional policies. It has influenced NHS trust policies on inclusive attire and contributed to national toolkits on decolonising curricula. Through a flattened hierarchy model, students drive change, ensuring sustainable structural reform. MedRACE is not just an initiative—it is a movement transforming medical education locally and nationally.

Global Empathy in Healthcare Network - Transforming healthcare through global empathy 
The Global Empathy in Healthcare Network (GEHN), founded at the University of Leicester, is reshaping medical care by placing empathy at its heart. This pioneering international collaboration spans eight countries across six continents, uniting academic institutions, healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocates in a shared mission to humanise healthcare delivery.
In just three years, the network has achieved remarkable impact - establishing empathy centres in Brazil, Nigeria, Japan, and India; publishing the world’s first global framework for empathy in healthcare; and launching the inaugural Empathy in Healthcare Day to drive global awareness.

By integrating culturally sensitive, empathy-driven approaches into medical education and clinical practice, this initiative is bridging the gap between technological advancement and human connection. With over a third of UK healthcare practitioners trained internationally, its global perspective is fostering compassionate, inclusive care for increasingly diverse communities worldwide.

Tracing Tobacco’s Legacy in Bone – A groundbreaking archaeological discovery

Led by Dr Sarah Inskip, the Tobacco, Health and History (THH) Project is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary study exploring the long-term health impacts of tobacco use in historical populations. Funded by the UKRI Futures Leaders Fellowship, the project analysed over 1,000 archaeological human remains (15th–19th century) from England and the Netherlands.

In collaboration with the Van Geest Lab, the team developed a novel metabolomic approach proving that archaeological bone retains usable small molecules - an unprecedented breakthrough. Findings revealed unexpectedly high tobacco use among women and linked consumption patterns to socio-economic status and disease. By bridging humanities and STEM, the THH Project is reshaping historical narratives and offering vital insights into tobacco’s enduring health consequences.