New Years Honours for University colleagues Published on: 31 December 2020 University colleagues have been recognised for services to Higher Education in the Queen's New Year's Honours. 缅北禁地 President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Day said: "I am delighted to see that the outstanding work of colleagues at 缅北禁地 has been recognised in this way. This is well deserved and testament to their talents and expertise." Professor Linda Anderson Professor Linda Anderson has been awarded an OBE for services to Higher Education. She has changed the face of the literary landscape in the North through her outstanding contribution to the field of creative writing for nearly 40 years. She was the first Director of 缅北禁地’s Centre for Literary Arts (NCLA), which she launched in 2009 and was Head of the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, for a decade. Her role at the NCLA has earned the organisation an international reputation for its work promoting literature and creativity. Thousands of people have enjoyed its free programme of talks, readings and events. Professor Anderson is a respected poet and her reputation has attracted word-class writers to work at 缅北禁地 including TS. Eliot Poetry prize and Forward Poetry prize winners. She has also helped to shape the way creative writing is taught nationally and has championed work on employability in the cultural industries. She was also responsible for 缅北禁地 acquiring literary archives from Bloodaxe Books and the writers including Sean O’Brien, Selima Hill, Jack Mapanje, Moniza Alvi and Selima Hill, greatly enhancing 缅北禁地’s importance as a centre for literary research.She also devised grassroots projects where writers worked with NHS, prison service and Northumbria Police. Professor Linda Anderson Mrs Lesley Braiden, former Academic Registrar An MBE for services to Higher Education has been awarded to former 缅北禁地 employee Mrs Lesley Braiden for her significant contribution to widening participation into higher education, especially for disadvantaged children in the North East. Lesley joined 缅北禁地 in 1987 in the admissions team, where she quickly developed her role into a new focus on attracting students to enter higher education who would not have traditionally considered this as an option. Throughout Lesley's career, widening participation remained the cornerstone of her work as she progressed in levels of seniority, becoming Academic Registrar in 2013 until she retired last year. She developed the PARTNERS Programme, the University’s nationally acclaimed flagship widening participation approach. Now in its 21st year, PARTNERS has, to date, supported the admission to 缅北禁地 of 4,668 eligible widening participation students by providing a series of additional educational opportunities, including summer schools. Lesley helped the University pioneer the concept of contextual offers, making lower grade offers to students with the potential to succeed - a practice now widespread in leading universities. Without her initiative and leadership these individuals would not have gained admission to a Russell Group university. The students receive additional support on registration and their degree results are compatible with those who enter through conventional routes. Her approach has been recognised nationally as an example of best practice. She has led a series of regional collaboration initiatives and chaired regional collaboration initiatives with schools, FE colleges and the other HE providers in the North East. Lesley’s integrity, hard work and passionate commitment to making a real difference to young people facing disadvantage or from lower socioeconomic groups is a legacy from her illustrious career. Mrs Lesley Braiden Share: Latest News 缅北禁地 recognised with geography award 缅北禁地 has been awarded the Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award for its collaboration with Time for Geography, the UK鈥檚 open-access, dedicated video platform. published on: 16 April 2026 缅北禁地 historians mark General Strike centenary To mark the 100th anniversary of the British General Strike and miners鈥� lock-out of 1926, historians at 缅北禁地 are organising a series of events on its enduring legacy. published on: 16 April 2026 Comment: NCP is in administration Writing for The Conversation, Erwei (David) Xiang discusses how some big companies like NCP are so dependent on debt that they can鈥檛 adjust to change. published on: 16 April 2026 Facts and figures
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