The University of Central Lancashire is celebrating winning three of the eight categories it entered at the Educate North Awards 2025.
Judges at the event shone a light upon the exceptional achievements of PhD student Alexia Lopez whose discoveries of the Giant Arc and the Big Ring are groundbreaking for cosmology and applauded the innovative and impactful approach to interprofessional education.
A part-time PhD student, Alexia Lopez recently discovered an ultra-large-scale structure in the Universe that is so large it challenges fundamental assumptions in the field of cosmology.
Known as the Big Ring, it is a huge, circular structure made up of galaxies and galaxy clusters extending 1.3 billion light years across its diameter. This is the second such structure that Alexia has found during her part-time PhD, the first being another ultra-large-scale structure known as the Giant Arc.
Alexia presented her newest discovery at the 243rd American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting, sparking mass global interest in her work.
Since then, she has joined world-leading cosmologists and a Nobel prize winner at the Royal Society of London to discuss the major challenges to the standard model of cosmology and is collaborating with Sir Roger Penrose of Oxford University, who was mentor to Professor Steven Hawking.
Following her University/PhD Student Achievement of the Year award win, Alexia, who the judges even suggested could be the next Brian Cox, said: “Uncovering more fascinating truths about the structure of our Universe is my ultimate passion. Winning the Educate North Award is a beautiful reminder that my work is loved and of interest to many people around the world. I also hope it inspires other talented northern youngsters to take a route into academia.”
The University’s unwavering commitment to its home county of Lancashire was also recognised with a win for the Centre for SME and Enterprise Development (CSMEED) and the Institute for Research into Work and Employment (iROWE) in the Business Engagement, Employer Award (University Sector) category. Together their work has bolstered Lancashire’s socio-economic growth, fostering a multi-stakeholder entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Dean of the School of Business, Professor Steven Rhoden, said: “Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are crucial to local employment, wealth generation, and innovation. Despite challenges in the Higher Education sector the University’s commitment to SMEs and the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem remains stronger than ever.
“We support start-ups to growth, enhancing leadership and management to boost productivity, driving sustainable growth and development, ensuring long-term benefits for the Lancashire region.”
To round off the success, the University’s transforming interprofessional education project, which has revolutionised education for nearly 3,000 students across 17 health and social care courses, won the Student Experience Award (University Sector) category.
By implementing innovative teaching strategies such as online multidisciplinary simulations, escape rooms, and scavenger hunts, students at the University of Central Lancashire have shown significant improvement in key skills, knowledge, and attitudes, leading to better patient care, efficiency, and safety in the future.
The initiative has garnered interest from other universities, setting a new standard for interprofessional education. Judges were impressed with the University’s use of cutting-edge technology and gamification to enhance student learning, setting a new standard.
The University of Central Lancashire was also highly commended for STEM Initiative Award: Space in Schools and STEMFirst. This entry was selected as highly commended for its innovative approach to engaging primary school pupils in space science through dance, which effectively makes STEM subjects more accessible and exciting.
The project successfully combines creative resources, teacher training, and STEM ambassador involvement to create a lasting impact, particularly addressing the primary school STEM gap in the North-West.
The University of Central Lancashire was shortlisted a total of nine times at the Educate North Awards, which celebrate, recognise, and share best practice and excellence in the education sector from across the North.
Image (from left): Abhilasha Jones, clinical lead in Inter-Professional Education (IPE), Sue Smith, director of the Centre for SME Development, Alexia Lopez, PHD student and Joanne Pledger, senior lecturer in Astrophysics.
