RNCM wins THE Outstanding Entrepreneurial University Award

We’re proud to announce that the RNCM was crowned Outstanding Entrepreneurial University at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards.

The awards – dubbed the ‘Oscars of higher education’ and now in their 19th year – span 20 categories covering the full range of university activities. This year’s ceremony, focusing on achievements at UK and Irish institutions during 2021-22, was the first to be held outside London, at the ACC in Liverpool.

RNCM team on stage at the Time Higher Education Awards

John Gill, THE’s editor, said that the winners ‘exemplify the broad spectrum of ways in which universities are excelling and making a difference…The sheer depth of innovation, talent and dedication that exists at every level of universities across the UK and Ireland never fails to impress.’

The RNCM’s accolade, our fifth in recent years, was presented in recognition of our dedication to empowering students to shape the music industry of the future.

The judges said: ‘The Royal Northern College of Music really demonstrated what can be done, with a third of their degrees turned over to enterprise and entrepreneurship, freelance work accessed in-house and research on effective ways to train creative industry students.’

In 2020, the RNCM was awarded over £900,000 to lead the innovative StART Entrepreneurship Project in collaboration with three specialist arts HEIs. Today, students spend over 30% of their degree learning entrepreneurial skills, including project management, finance, networking, idea generation and pitching.

8 December 2023