Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Aberdeen Business School has been announced as the Business School of the Year at the Times Higher Education 2020 Awards.
The school has been recognised for its business-connected learning, teaching and the innovative approaches of its staff.
Professor Elizabeth Gammie, Head of Aberdeen Business School, said she is thrilled to see the school being recognised in these prestigious awards.
“I am really delighted for Aberdeen Business School to receive this external recognition for all the hard work to provide an outstanding business education.
“To win this accolade is a huge achievement for all involved and it demonstrates the commitment and quality of teaching and provision within the school to provide top quality work-ready graduates.
“ABS is continually recognised for its worldwide excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development and student learning and we are proud to be one of only 5% of the world’s business schools to have achieved AACSB accreditation.
“The school has worked tirelessly to provide innovative online learning and ensure our students are supported while receiving a top quality education.”
The Awards recognise the outstanding performance of universities throughout the UK and the ‘Business School of the Year’ category recognises outstanding business school’s which demonstrate excellent teaching, research, student experience, innovation, and development.
In the past year, Aberdeen Business School has ramped up its already strong commitment to work-based and work-related learning, enhancing the provision at undergraduate level and expanding it to postgraduate courses. The result has been an increase in the number of international students, a new funding stream and more diversity within the student body.
In 2018-19, 71.4 per cent of full-time undergraduate students in the school undertook a 12-month paid placement, which enhances both student experience and graduate employability. Recognising the benefits of this, the school developed an extended master’s route, which offers students the opportunity to embed an optional 12-month placement into their degree.
Aberdeen Business School also developed a predominantly online graduate apprenticeship, in business management, funded by Skills Development Scotland. This supports the upskilling and reskilling of professionals and workforces for the changing working environment by providing accessible work-based learning opportunities.
In 2019, the school successfully bid to run a pilot graduate apprenticeship in accountancy. This is developed in conjunction with two professional bodies, allowing students to complete an honours degree and their chosen professional accounting qualification while remaining in full-time employment over five years, rather than the usual seven.
This is the second year in a row Aberdeen Business School has been shortlisted. Dr Shonagh Douglas, course leader of BA (Hons) Business Management and Graduate Certificate Project Management, was also shortlisted this year as an Innovative Lecturer of the Year finalist for her approach to teaching and learning.
THE editor, John Gill, said: “In an extraordinary year, the opportunity to sit down with the THE Awards judges – remotely, of course – and immerse oneself in the stories behind our shortlisted entries was more rewarding than ever.
“Because these awards recognise achievements in the 2018-19 academic year, we are dealing with the world as it was pre-pandemic, but the brilliance of our researchers, the exceptional teaching and the extraordinary ingenuity shown by administrative staff, all on display in this year’s shortlists, will be critical for both universities and the country in the period ahead.
“Congratulations to an inspirational group of winners, and indeed to everyone shortlisted.”
