Teesside Uni named best in country for social inclusion

The University received the accolade in this year’s Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide after rising each year in this category since the Guide started publishing social inclusion ratings in 2018.

The University of the Year for Social Inclusion award recognises social diversity and the work of higher education institutions to embrace social mobility and encourage greater participation from underrepresented groups.

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Teesside University, Professor Paul Croney, said: “Teesside University is an anchor institution with a civic mission to transform lives and economies.

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“Here at Teesside, we take an uncompromising approach to ensuring that people from all walks of life, who have the talent to succeed, are given the opportunity to experience higher education and develop their skills, expertise and confidence. We are levelling-up opportunity and never has this been so important."

Paul Croney

Alastair McCall, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “Teesside has an outstanding record in delivering higher education into disadvantaged sectors of society that other universities simply don’t reach. Based in a region where the uptake of higher education has actually fallen since 2012, Teesside performs better than any other university in the country in recruiting from postcodes with low participation rates. 

“The vast majority of students come from homes where neither parent went to university, and virtually all students have been educated in non-selective state schools. They go on to achieve well, supported by a university that is geared to ensure their success. Teesside acts like an institution that understands the critical role it plays in social mobility. After rising in our diversity ranking every year, Teesside is a worthy winner of our University of the Year for Social Inclusion.”