PROF Bob Cryan, vice-chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, is the best of British.
He was last night named as an inspiring leader among all the country’s universities in the prestigious 2013 Guardian University Awards.
The awards were announced during a ceremony hosted by BBC education correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti in London.
The awards, running for the first time this year, celebrate the best of Britain’s universities and act as a benchmark for excellence across the higher education sector.
The Inspiring Leader category was voted for by members of the Higher Education Network.
Prof Cryan’s citation read: “Bob Cryan, vice-chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, has shown commitment to the university and wider community.
“Under Bob’s leadership, the University of Huddersfield has undergone a major transformation resulting in a tripling of postgraduate and international students and moving up 47 places in the Guardian University League Table.”
Born and raised in Deighton, Prof Cryan achieved a first class honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He became the youngest university lecturer in the UK at the age of just 22, the youngest professor and head of department when he was 30 and the youngest vice-chancellor when he was 42.
Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media, said: “The Guardian University Awards honour the outstanding contributions of the UK’s best universities and individuals who are driving innovation and delivering outstanding results in the face of radical reform and budget cuts.
“Our 10 award categories were keenly fought and in this first year we have seen outstanding competition. All of our winners have shown that they are among the best in the education business.”
