The Guardian has announced the winners of its Guardian University Awards, recognising the universities that inspire students and transform communities through innovation.

Hosted by presenter Lauren Laverne, the awards were held at LSO St Luke’s in London. 15 categories gave university departments a chance to showcase their achievements. Judges included Guardian journalists, along with senior professionals and academics from higher education.

2018 Winners

Advancing staff equality
Winner – University of Strathclyde
Runners-up – Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Sheffield

Buildings that inspire
Winner – University of Hull
Runners-up – Newcastle University, Norwich University of the Arts

Business collaboration
Winner – Heriot-Watt University
Runners-up: University of Kent, University of Lincoln

Course and curriculum design
Winner – University of Huddersfield
Runners-up – University of Salford, University of the West of Scotland

Digital innovation
Winner – Open University
Runners-up – Imperial College London, University of Greenwich

Employability and entrepreneurship
Winner – Falmouth University
Runners-up – Sheffield Business School, the Royal Agricultural University

Internationalisation
Winner – University of Central Lancashire
Runners-up – Birmingham City University, the University of Nottingham

Marketing and comms campaign
Winner – London School of Economics and Political Science
Runners-up – De Montfort University Leicester, Loughborough University

Research impact
Winner – University of Exeter
Runners-up – Heriot-Watt University, University of Glasgow

Retention, support and student outcomes
Winner – University of Strathclyde
Runners-up – Solent University, York St John University

Social and community impact
Winner – Swansea University
Runners-up – De Montfort University Leicester, University of Manchester and University of Sheffield

Student experience
Winner – University of Surrey
Runners-up – University of Stirling, York St John University

Sustainability project
Winner – University of Plymouth
Runners-up – University of Manchester

Teaching excellence
Winner – Open University
Runners-up – Coventry University, University of Surrey

Widening access and outreach
Winner – Birkbeck, University of London
Runners-up – Nottingham Trent University, University of Sunderland

Inspiring leader award
Mary Stuart, vice-chancellor, University of Lincoln

Accepting her Inspiring Leader award, Mary Stuart told The Guardian that “Universities must not lose sight of the fact that they are communities too” and that “we need to work together to respond to the challenges of the 21st century,” which included “digitalisation and automation, changing the very nature of work and society, of post-truth and the authenticity of knowledge where we find so much information and misinformation.”