Northumbria University has won two Dynamites17 awards in
recognition of its excellence in the North East IT and technology sectors.
BIM Academy, Northumbria’s unique partnership with Ryder
Architecture, scooped the International Success award for its work in
delivering building information modelling consultancy and research to clients
across the world, while the Executive Women Leaders in ICT programme won a
specially created Social Tech Project of the Year award.
The BT Dynamites awards are organised by Dynamo – a
volunteer-led group with a mission to grow the North East IT economy through
collaboration, innovation and skills. Members work to promote the region
externally, develop skills and education and support regional research and
development.
BIM Academy is a unique joint venture with Ryder
Architecture which sees Northumbria academics offer support to the digital
transformation of the construction industry through Building Information
Modelling (BIM). It was founded seven years ago as a centre of excellence for
digital engineering and transformation, providing consultancy, research and
education activities. Experts work with clients to help transform their
businesses through the intelligent application of smart processes and digital
technologies and have been commissioned to work on high-profile development projects
in Europe, the Middle and Far East and Australasia including the Sydney Opera
House and Hong Kong’s M+ Museum. Most recently, it has been commissioned to provide
BIM support to the Chinese creator of Forest City, a US$100 billion development
off the coast of Malaysia, near Singapore.
The Executive Women Leaders in ICT programme received a
specially created award for being the best social tech project. The course was
developed for aspiring female leaders from a range of digital public and
private sector organisations to ensure there is gender balance at the most
senior levels of the region’s IT industries. Delivered over six months, it
supported participants to gain greater self-understanding and confidence in
their own abilities and leadership through learning and mentoring support.
Sessions covered topics including learning to lead with presence and
credibility; leveraging social capital and creating a strong and authentic
personal brand and the fourteen participants left with new skills, ideas,
confidence and fresh perspectives to add more value to their organisation and advance
their own careers.
Professor Becky Strachan, Professor of Digital Technology
and Education and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor of Engineering and Environment
at Northumbria University, said: “The Dynamo organisation does a huge amount to
recognise and share the excellence we have in the North East’s IT and digital
sectors. Over the last few years it has helped secure more than £40 million
investment and has been instrumental in creating strong networks, innovation,
and jobs in the region.
“The annual Dynamites awards highlight the very best of the
work which is currently happening in this innovative sector and we’re thrilled
that we have not only won the award for being the biggest international
success, but that the judges also felt the need to create a special award
commending the work we have done to support female leaders in this industry.”
The University’s NUSTEM project, which was designed to help
engage more young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects
to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers, was also shortlisted
for the project of the year title.
