Swansea is on the shortlist alongside five other universities from across the UK, and is the only Welsh institution to have been shortlisted.

The Times Higher Education Awards celebrate the talent, dedication and innovation of individuals and teams across all aspects of university life, with the University of the Year award given to an institution whose exceptional performance and bold, imaginative and innovative initiatives that have advanced the institution's reputation during the year.

Swansea’s shortlisting for the coveted University of the Year award comes as a result of the work of the Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) in transforming Swansea University into an employability-intensive institution. SEA delivers a University-wide strategy that works to ensure students are equipped with the right skills for the workplace alongside their subject knowledge, making them highly sought-after by employers.

This shortlisting recognises the impact made by SEA in delivering the provision of bursaries and funding to enable students to gain valuable work placements in all types of organisations, across Wales, the UK and globally, along with financial support for each of our 140 student societies and clubs to develop their leadership skills and networks.

The University has also been shortlisted in two other categories:

• Technological Innovation of the Year — for the University’s work in developing the UK’s first energy positive classroom. Based at the Bay Campus, the Active Classroom generates, stores, and releases its own solar energy.

• THE DataPoints Merit Award — institutions are specifically chosen by the THE to be shortlisted in this category, and Swansea's shortlisting is in recognition of the University’s continued research excellence.

These latest accolades follow a year of unprecedented successes that has seen Swansea University:

• Ranked in the UK top 10 and top in Wales for graduate prospects, in the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education 2018 survey, with nearly 86% of graduates in professional level employment or further study six months after graduating.
• Awarded gold, the highest possible rating, in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
• Ranked 5^th* in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey.
• Become Wales’ highest ranked university, increasing its overall ranking to 31^st in the UK in the 2019 Guardian University Guide.

Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott, senior pro-vice-chancellor, said: “This has been an extraordinary year for us in terms of recognition of our achievements, and it shows just how far Swansea University has come in recent years. By working closely with businesses and organisations, here in our region and across the UK, we have created an environment where they and our talented students equally benefit.

“This latest outstanding achievement is testament to the exceptional performance of our staff across the University, and reinforces our position as a high-performing, global university that delivers top quality teaching, world-leading research, and a superb student experience.

“By ranking among the UK’s top institutions and outperforming Russell Group universities for graduate prospects, we are sending out a clear message that Swansea graduates are highly employable, whilst ensuring that students who study here fulfil their potential, become inspired, and leave fully prepared for work life.

“We intend to build on this latest success as we approach our centenary year in 2020 with pride in what has been achieved, and the determination to maintain this exceptional rate of progress."

THE editor John Gill said: "Times Higher Education is extremely proud to host these awards once again. In yet another record year for entries, and with over 70 institutions represented on the shortlist, it’s a genuine privilege for the THE team and our judges to read through these many and varied tales of excellence from all corners of the UK. It’s a significant achievement to make this shortlist, and we look forward to honouring all the finalists at the Grosvenor in November."

Winners will be announced at a gala awards evening in London on Thursday 29 November 2018.