- Aston University has been shortlisted for Outstanding Entrepreneurial University
- Aston Business School has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year
- Professor Victor Chang has been shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year
Aston University has been shortlisted in three categories in the 22nd Times Higher Education Awards, known as the “Oscars of higher education”.
The Awards recognise everything from innovative teachers and world-class research to outstanding estates teams and international collaborations. This year more than 500 entries were received, with 125 finalists selected for the 20 categories.
Aston University has been shortlisted for Outstanding Entrepreneurial University, while Aston Business School has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year, and Professor Victor Chang has been shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year.
The Outstanding Entrepreneurial University award recognises institutions that demonstrate excellence in fostering entrepreneurship, supporting innovation and creating meaningful economic and social impact. Aston has embedded entrepreneurship in its 2030 Strategy through the Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ACEE), established in 2024-25 as a university-wide function. Entrepreneurship is embedded in the curriculum for students, while various initiatives support venture creation in the wider community beyond the campus.
The Business School of the Year award will go to the business school demonstrating the most outstanding overall performance during the 2024-25 academic year. In its submission, Aston Business School highlighted its delivery of delivers inclusive growth by integrating teaching, enterprise, research and place through strategic partnerships. In 2024-25, the school worked with businesses and civic partners to widen participation in enterprise and support regional growth, contributing to Aston’s consistent top two ranking in England for social mobility
The Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year award goes to the individual who has created the most supportive, stimulating and inspirational research environment for doctoral students. Professor Chang has supervised more than 300 postgraduate researchers across and brought eight PhD students and one Doctor of Business Administration student to successful completion. Currently he supervises four PhD students and one DBA candidate and has a postgraduate satisfaction score of 90-100%.
The awards ceremony will be held on 26 November 2026 at The Vox in Birmingham.
Professor Paula Whitehouse, director of Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Aston University, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that Aston University has been shortlisted for this award, recognising the ambition, creativity and impact of our whole-university approach to entrepreneurship. This nomination reflects not only the hard work of colleagues, students, alumni and partners, but also the energy, insight and commitment of the wide network of entrepreneurs and business leaders we work with, whose innovative ideas and achievements are central to our impact.”
Professor Marian Garcia, dean of Aston Business School, said:
“We are immensely proud to be shortlisted for Business School of the Year. This recognition celebrates a school where ambition is matched by purpose, where our colleagues turn ideas into impact, our students gain the confidence and opportunities to shape their futures, and our partners work with us to transform organisations and communities. It affirms what makes Aston Business School distinctive: academic excellence that opens doors, strengthens our region and creates positive change far beyond our campus.”
Professor Chang said:
“I've always believed good supervision is closer to mentorship than management – you're helping someone find their own research strength, not just steering them to a completion date. Being shortlisted for this award tells me that approach has landed with the people who matter most: my students. That means more to me than any metric.”
At the 2025 Times Higher Education Awards, Aston University celebrated a double win. The Villa Vision project took the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, recognised for its work on eye health in Birmingham’s schools, while Jiteen Ahmed was named Outstanding Technician of the Year, acknowledging his significant influence and technical expertise across research and teaching.