Nominate people in the community who make exceptional contributions
Members of the Portsmouth community are being invited to nominate University staff, graduates and other community members for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence 2026.
The awards celebrate and recognise staff, alumni and members of the community who have made an exceptional contribution to the University, its values, its ambition and its success. They compliment the Student Impact Awards which recognise the achievements of University students and their contributions to the city and surrounding area.
At the last Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence event, ten awards and ten commendations were granted in recognition of people who made exceptional contributions to the University and the wider community through a range of activities.
Rob Isherwood - Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
Rob is a huge supporter of the local Portsmouth community, as he is Portsmouth born and bred. He has been working with Restart the Heart UK to ensure that schools and local communities can provide life-saving CPR training along with instructions on how to use an AED.
Under Rob Isherwood’s leadership, Restart a Heart Day at the university exemplifies the intersection of innovation, education, and partnership. His efforts have demonstrated how universities can play a central role in equipping communities with lifesaving skills while fostering partnerships with healthcare industries and businesses to make a lasting impact.
Through collaboration, education, and innovation, Rob Isherwood has not only saved lives but also strengthened the university’s role as a leader in public health and societal benefit. His work on Restart a Heart Day stands as a model for how innovation at the university level can transform both individual lives and the wider community, creating a lasting legacy of health, knowledge, and social impact.
The University is now accepting nominations for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, seeking to recognise and celebrate the achievements of deserving staff, alumni, and community members. If you know someone who has made a significant contribution and deserves this recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination.
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence - Categories
This year marks the eighth annual awards, featuring 12 categories – including three exciting new ones. The 12 award categories are:
- Internationalisation
- Green Impact
- Outstanding Contribution to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Outstanding Contribution to Civic Impact and Community Engagement
- Partnerships, Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
- Professional Services Excellence
- Research & Innovation Excellence
- Student Experience and Outcomes
- Teaching Excellence
- Technician of the Year – New for 2026
- School/Department of the Year - New for 2026
- Outstanding Internal Collaboration - New for 2026
Details of each category and its criteria can be found on the VC Awards webpage.
How to Nominate
Please visit the VC Awards webpage for more details on how to nominate. Nominations must be received by Friday 1 May 2026, and can be submitted by completing the nomination form.
Winners of the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence will be announced at a celebratory event held on 2 July 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact vcawards@port.ac.uk.