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UEL's SMARTlab shortlisted for Times Higher Awards 2008

Monday 13 October 2008

The University of East London (UEL) is in the running for a prestigious award for its outstanding support for students with disabilities, as part of the Times Higher Awards 2008 held this week.

The award nomination recognises the innovative work of UEL’s SMARTlab Digital Media Institute, an innovative research institute that develops new technologies, multimedia interfaces and other tools to empower and give voice to the world's vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, including children in hospital, youth at risk, women in developing countries, aboriginal peoples, elderly citizens, and people with disabilities.

The Times Higher panel was impressed with SMARTlab's Inter-FACES project - developing pioneering eye-controlled interfaces to enable students with Cerebral Palsy to take an active and equal part in their studies, and to interact with other students in research seminars and event, live and online. Dr Mick Donegan and Professor Lizbeth Goodman are leading a large research team including James Brosnan and Sapna Ramnani, two students with severe Cerebral Palsy.

The technologies developed are currently enabling PhD students in SMARTlab cohort to write, speak, sing, dance and make music using their eyes, and the same technology can be made available to millions of other people with bright intellects and a need for eye-controlled interfaces to enable communication and expression.

Professor Susan Price, Acting Vice-Chancellor of UEL said: “To be shortlisted for this award is an honour and we are proud to be recognised for our pioneering research in this exciting field, and the innovative work we are doing on assistive technologies for our students and people with disabilities worldwide.”

The Times Higher Education Awards, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by UK higher education institutions. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 23 October 2008. Last year more than 1,200 people from all parts of higher education gathered to celebrate the sector’s achievements.

Ann Mroz, Editor of Times Higher Education, said: “The Awards recognise the very best in higher education in the UK and we are delighted to announce that the University of East London has made it onto the shortlist. Our senior advisory panel has been taken from all fields of academia and had to choose from hundreds of first-class entries – only the best made it through to our shortlist.”

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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