Department success at Vice Chancellor’s Awards 2026

Dr Danica Sims from the Department of Education won the Research Culture Award for the project “Papers with Purpose: Transforming Research Culture through Writing”.

The project, undertaken in collaboration with Dr Taahira Goolam-Hoosen, Dr Natashia Muna, Dr Lynelle Govender, and Professor Francois Cilliers, from the University of Cape Town, is an inclusive writing programme that transforms research culture through capacity development and community building among scholars from underrepresented contexts.

Dr Sims said: “One of the most meaningful parts of this work has been seeing early career researchers begin to recognise themselves as scholars whose diverse voices matter. Academic careers often focus on individual achievement, but Papers with Purpose reminds us to invest in collective flourishing. Papers with Purpose sought to create opportunities for others to grow, contribute, and feel that they belong within a scholarly community.”

The award recognises those who have contributed to a positive, inclusive and equitable research culture.

Other colleagues from the Department were Highly Commended in their categories, including Dr Xin Xu and Dr Georgia Lin in the Support for Students category for their work on the Neurodivergent Education for Students, Teaching and Learning (NESTL) project. Dr Xu and Dr Lin collaborated with both Oxford and University of Swansea colleagues on the project, including Dr Cressida Ryan, Professor Siân Grønlie, Hanrui Li and Dr Laura Seymour.

Dr Xu said: “NESTL is a co-created initiative, developed with neurodivergent students and educators at its heart. This recognition belongs to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise and support. We are deeply grateful to all who have helped the NESTL toolkit grow into a resource that can support people in practical and meaningful ways. We hope it will continue to support collective efforts towards more neurodivergent-inclusive teaching and learning. “

(L-R) Dr Georgia Lin, Dr Cressida Ryan, and Dr Xin Xu

Dr David Johnson was highly commended in the Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship category for OxTrack, an assessment tool designed to measure, record, track and support the professional growth of teachers.

Dr Johnson said: “This recognition deepens our aspirations to improve the economic prospects and life chances of school-aged children across the world by bettering the professional capabilities of their teachers.”

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate outstanding contributions by all University of Oxford staff, recognising excellence, innovation and impact.

Find out more about the finalists, highly commended and winners here.