THE town’s university has been awarded top marks for its lecturers.

Huddersfield is the first UK university where all of the 750 teaching staff have gained professional recognition from the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

It has contributed to the university’s improved rankings in various national surveys and Professor Craig Mahoney, chief executive of HEA, described it as a “remarkable achievement.”

Professor Mahoney visited the university to present a commemorative plaque. The lecturers meet criteria laid down by the UK Professional Standards Framework and are now all Fellows of the Academy, having undergone a stringent application process.

Professor Mahoney said: “I am delighted for the teaching staff at the University of Huddersfield and, more importantly, for its students. They will be the ones who benefit most from this remarkable achievement.

“Our students enter university first and foremost to learn, and we know from surveys such as the National Student Survey that the quality of the teaching they receive is of the utmost importance to them.

“To know that every student, whatever their course, is being taught by someone who has clearly demonstrated their knowledge and ability to teach is invaluable.”

University vice-chancellor Professor Bob Cryan was delighted by the achievement.

He said: “Every member of staff at Huddersfield who holds a substantive teaching role is now a Fellow of the HEA.

“Our new members of staff with less than 12 months’ service are all working to achieve recognition before the end of their first year with us.

“We are committed to providing top quality teaching to all our students in an excellent environment. The HEA scheme allows us to publicly demonstrate the professionalism of our teaching staff, which is something we are very proud of.”

The University’s Professor Tim Thornton added: “Just four years ago, only a quarter of Huddersfield teaching staff were HEA Fellows, but now that the 100% target has been achieved, the benefits are plain”.