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A University for Public Good: How our staff and students made a difference in our community in 2025

Posted on 9 December 2025

From a national award for community engagement to international film awards, the University of York is celebrating a year of accolades that recognise our collective commitment to inclusivity, creativity and the public good.

Images from York Festival of Ideas.

University of York Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery said: “2025 marked a defining moment for the University, as we announced our bold ambition to be the University of Opportunity, opening up access to quality education for everyone, regardless of postcode, family income, background, or status as a refugee. This commitment to inclusivity and our essential civic role in the wider community has been reflected in a standout year of awards, celebrating the values that define life at York and the diverse contributions of our staff and students.”

This year, York was named Community University of the Year by the Daily Mail University Guide, in celebration of our award-winning Festival of Ideas. This recognition highlighted our work to make education and ideas accessible to everyone.

In addition to a string of exceptional academic achievements, with many of our experts recognised for driving positive change where it matters most, the University has also secured continued recognition for its work in widening participation and supporting the most vulnerable students, a cornerstone of our University of Opportunity pledge:

• The University’s Quality Mark from The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) was renewed, recognising York's ongoing expertise in supporting estranged students and those with care experience.
• York was reaccredited as a University of Sanctuary, celebrating the dedicated work of staff and students in welcoming forced migrants and promoting a culture of safety and inclusion.

Our commitment to a greener future was recognised on the national and international stage:

• The University was ranked as one of the best performers globally for sustainability in the latest QS Sustainability Rankings, placing York within the top 2% worldwide for its work on environmental and social issues.
• This leadership was further evidenced by the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI), which was shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership in the THE Awards. This nomination recognises YESI's pivotal role in driving research, education, and partnerships. 
• We celebrated the achievements of our community at the 2025 Green Impact Awards – a showcase of dedication, innovation and teamwork in sustainability across the University. 40 awards were presented to 28 teams, including two Bronze, four Silver, four Gold, and 14 Platinum awards.
• The vital contribution of technical staff was also recognised on the national stage, as four York technicians were shortlisted for the acclaimed Papin Prize. These awards recognise technical excellence and innovation in higher education, celebrating the experts who underpin our teaching and research.
• Joe Rees-Jones, a research technician in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology was also shortlisted in the Technician of the Year category at the THE Awards in recognition of his specialist skills and knowledge of immersive technologies.

York students continued to demonstrate their talent and creativity:

• A group of student filmmakers became the first University of York team to win at the prestigious International Motor Film Awards 2025. Their film, HUNT, won Best Student Film at the world’s largest celebration of automotive media.
• The same film also scooped the Best Factual (long form) Award at the prestigious Royal Television Society Student Awards (Yorkshire Region).
• University Radio York won multiple awards at the national student radio awards, which were hosted by York honorary graduate Greg James. URY won awards in 11 different categories, including Best Technical Achievement, Best Specialist Music Show, Best Sports Programming and Best Creative Speech Programming.
• Awais Hussain, a PhD researcher In the Department of Language and Linguistic Science won the Arts and Creative Industries award at the Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever (YAYAs) Awards for his digital heritage archive –  Apna. Apna promotes and advances the education of the public in all aspects of the arts, culture and heritage (such as language, literature, and genealogy) of the Mirpur region and surroundings including the Pothohar Plateau, Jammu & Kashmir, and northern Pakistan. 

Closer to home, the outstanding contributions made by York students to the wider city were celebrated at the annual student community awards. These awards highlighted the hundreds of students who volunteer to address inequalities in health and wellbeing, tackle homelessness and loneliness, and help close the educational attainment gap for young people across the region.

 

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