The first category sees the University shortlisted for International Strategy of the Year through the impressive work delivered by the Texas Strategic Partnership.

The Texas Strategic Partnership is an initiative aimed at developing relationships with partner institutions in the US state to deliver meaningful and mutually beneficial outcomes in areas such as teaching, research and student mobility.

The partnership helped Swansea University deliver on its strategic objectives in in the 2016-17 academic year by producing the following:

• 39 co-authored publications
• 82 students and 33 staff participating in Swansea-Texas and Texas-Swansea mobility
• One Fulbright Scholarship
• Joint academic conference held simultaneously in Swansea and Texas
• Exhibition of Swansea “Research as Art” winners in Texas
• Three students enrolled on collaborative PhDs
• £45,000 Erasmus+ funds secured for Swansea-Texas and Texas-Swansea mobility awarded
• $20,637 external scholarship funding awarded to Swansea-Texas exchange students
• $20,500 external R&D funding secured for Swansea student projects
• £16,000 Swansea University Texas Collaboration Funds awarded

The success of the Texas Strategic Partnership has helped enhance Swansea University’s global profile, as well as helping to increase student recruitment and employability.

Dr Caroline Coleman-Davies, Administrative Head for International Strategic Partnerships, said:

"I am delighted that the Texas Strategic Partnership has been shortlisted for a THELMA award.

"Our work in Texas has allowed us to create life-changing opportunities for our students and facilitate research collaborations, which bring benefits to both staff and students as well as helping the University make a global impact.

"I am enormously proud that the work of our small team has been recognised in this way."

Professor Mike Sullivan, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, said:

"I am very pleased that the Texas Strategic Partnership established by me and nurtured by Caroline Coleman-Davies and myself, is once more shortlisted for this prestigious award.

"It is an exemplar for building solid relationships with high calibre universities based on student and staff mobility, collaborative schemes of study and collaborative inter-faculty research."

Meanwhile, Swansea University has also been shortlisted in the Outstanding Library Team category.

The Inclusive Services Group (ISS) supports the University in its objective to realise the potential of all students and staff. The group, established in 2016, promotes inclusive behaviour and attitudes amongst staff and service users, and creates a positive and inclusive learning environment in all Swansea University libraries.

It started as a grassroots group of staff who saw a need to develop further support for students with visible and non-visible disabilities. As training, discussions, and collaborations with specialists across the University ensued, it became apparent that the guidance and adjustments to our services to support students with registered disabilities also were appropriate for, and would benefit, all students.

Steve Williams, Swansea University Librarian, was delighted to see the University shortlisted in the category of Outstanding Library Team:

"It is a privilege for us to be shortlisted again for a THELMA. The Inclusive Services Group (ISS) is led by staff who are dedicated to improving access to all our services and facilities, and ensuring that we have an inclusive ethos.

"They fulfil a fantastic and very important role, ensuring that every one of our students can achieve their academic and professional goals. This is all thanks to a dedicated group of staff who inspire everyone."

The awards ceremony will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Thursday, June 21.