Student support earns Leicester a double shortlisting in the Times Higher Education Awards 2026

The University of Leicester’s outstanding support for students has been recognised with a double shortlisting in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2026.

The THE Awards recognise excellence and innovation across the UK Higher Education sector.

Leicester’s Global Lounge initiative, which fosters cultural integration between UK and international students, has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Support for Students award.

The second award shortlisting comes in the Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year category, recognising the exceptional support provided by Dr Nauman Reayat, Postgraduate Research Training Tutor at Leicester Law School.

About the Global Lounge

The University of Leicester recognises that belonging is fundamental to student success. In response to challenges such as loneliness, culture shock and changing international demographics, it established the Global Lounge and a dedicated staff team to provide a centralised, inclusive approach to community cohesion and cultural integration.

Managed by the International Student Experience team, it delivers a year round programme co-created with student volunteers. It brings together international and UK students through social, cultural and wellbeing activities aligned with the Step Care Model, offering accessible, preventative support in a welcoming environment.

It engages around 3,000 students annually, with 71% achieving 80-100% attendance. Withdrawal rates for EU/international students fell from 709 (2022-23) to 120 (2024-25).

Students who have engaged with the Global Lounge report reduced loneliness, greater confidence and stronger connections, demonstrating the initiative’s effectiveness in improving wellbeing, engagement and retention.

Dr Nauman Reayat

Dr Nauman Reayat, Postgraduate Research Training Tutor at Leicester Law School, routinely goes far beyond traditional academic expectations in the way that he creates a globally connected, intellectually rigorous, and highly supportive research environment for his students.

One particularly noteworthy and pioneering aspect of his supervision has been the organisation and leadership of the groundbreaking and innovative Global South Network (GSN).

Through the GSN Dr Reayat organises online ‘International Interdisciplinary PhD-in-Progress’ seminars. These weekly seminars bring together PhD researchers, academics, judges, practitioners and policymakers from across the world, enabling students to present their research, receive globally informed interdisciplinary feedback, and engage in critical intellectual dialogue.

In 2024 and 2025, Dr Reayat delivered 97 such seminars: personally recording, editing, and disseminating them to a global audience, thereby amplifying the research visibility and impact of each featured student. This unique initiative has helped many PGR students make career choices, leading to prestigious academic appointments and well-paid jobs across numerous sectors.

Dr Reayat has also created exceptional opportunities for research students in Leicester Law School to engage directly with supreme courts and senior judges from 20 countries through international judicial dialogues, all of which are available on YouTube. These dialogues exposed the students to comparative legal reasoning and global legal scholarship rarely accessible within conventional doctoral supervision.

Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “Being shortlisted in two award categories is a testament to the University of Leicester’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.

“At Leicester we pride ourselves on our super supportive community, and so it is wonderful to see Dr Reayat recognised for going above and beyond to create such a rich and highly supportive research environment for his students, and in particular, his leadership of the Global South Network.

“Our dedication to our community is further recognised by the award judges, with the shortlisting of our Global Lounge. It has been instrumental in improving the wellbeing, engagement and retention of our international students.

“I extend my congratulations to everyone who has played a part in these shortlistings, which demonstrate our commitment to outstanding student experience.”