Coventry up for 'University of the Year' award tonight

Coventry University is in the running for the 'University of the Year' accolade in the Times Higher Education magazine's prestigious annual awards tonight.

The University is the only institution in the West Midlands – and the only modern university – to have been nominated for the award, and is on the shortlist alongside five other universities from across the UK.

The awards – which are in their 11th year in 2015 – are intended to showcase the pioneering spirit, adaptability and quality across the higher education sector, and the 'University of the Year' title is the awards' flagship accolade which singles out one institution whose achievements and performance make it stand out in the industry.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London this evening.

Vice-chancellor John Latham said:

It's an excellent achievement for Coventry University to be shortlisted for the Times Higher Education's 'University of the Year' award amongst such strong competition in the sector. It's also a testament to our impressive forward momentum both at home, and in a global context, that Coventry continues to be recognised in this way within the industry and also outside it, and we remain hopeful and confident that tonight's awards ceremony will bring further good news for our staff and students.

Coventry's nomination for the award follows a year of success which has seen a dramatic rise into the UK's top 15 universities in the Guardian University Guide – leapfrogging several Russell Group institutions in the process – and which saw the university voted top for personal development in the National Student Survey 2015.

Coventry is also the reigning 'Modern University of the Year' in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, a title it has held for two consecutive years.

You can listen to our deputy vice-chancellor, Ian Dunn, speaking about the award nomination on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio (skip to 39:30) – the link is available for the next month.

For further information, please contact Alex Roache, external press and media relations officer, Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7765 5050 or email alex.roache@coventry.ac.uk.