The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education is Awarded to Westminster Kingsway College

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for 2014-2016 were announced today (Thursday, 19 November 2015) at a ceremony at St James’ Palace in London. The list included Westminster Kingsway College, which will be awarded for its work in Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

In this 11th round of the prestigious awards, 21 UK universities and colleges have been awarded Prizes recognizing a wide range of innovative work across many different disciplines. The Prize-winning work demonstrates practical benefit to people, in the UK and beyond.

Andy Wilson, Principal at Westminster Kingsway College, said: “The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education is the most prestigious award for organisations working in the education and skills sector.  The award of the prize to Westminster Kingsway College is one of the greatest moments in the College’s long history. It is recognition of many staff, students and employers who have been involved with the College over the years. I would like to congratulate and thank them all for their contributions in creating something of which we can be so proud.”

Jo Johnson, Minister for Universities and Science, said:  “The UK is a world leader in science and research and The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes celebrate the achievements of our universities and colleges. The outstanding academics recognised with these awards bring benefits to the everyday lives of millions of people in the UK and deserve this high honour for their work.”

Kieran Poynter, Chair of The Royal Anniversary Trust, said: “The Prizes in this biennial round again illustrate the variety and quality of innovative work being done in our universities and colleges.  They encourage our institutions to think about what they are doing in terms of practical benefit as well as intrinsic quality.  The work being recognised combines a track record of outstanding achievement with the promise of future development.” 

The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes are awarded every two years to universities and colleges who submit work judged to show excellence, innovation, impact and benefit for the institution itself and for people and society generally in the wider world.

The entry can be in any field or discipline and it is for the institution to decide whether or not it wishes to participate in any round.  Work submitted is read by up to eight of the Trust’s 350 readers, drawn from a wide range of professions and disciplines.  Each entry is reviewed and reported on anonymously and confidentially.  The Awards Council of the Trust recommends the entries judged deserving of a Prize to The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The 2014 – 2016 round is the eleventh round of The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, the first round was announced in 1994 and to date Her Majesty The Queen has awarded a total of 211 Queen’s Anniversary Prizes to 111 different institutions, 71 universities and 40 colleges of further education. The Prizes were a direct outcome of the Trust’s initiative to mark the 40th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession. The Prize Medals will be awarded at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in February.