Gateway School of Fashion

Karen Millen Fashion School Wins Times Higher Education Award

Karen Millen fashion school wins Times Higher Education award
16 October 2009 UCA has received a Times Higher Award for a project set up to offer opportunities to young people affected by HIV in South Africa.

The resulting fashion school – The Gateway School of Fashion was led and coordinated by staff at UCA Rochester along with leading alumnus, Karen Millen OBE.

The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) winners were announced at the gala awards dinner on 15 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane. More than 600 entries were submitted for the 18 different award categories.

The award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts was picked up by UCA Rochester’s Sheelagh Wright and Karen Millen who have led the project along with the Hope HIV charity and the Project Gateway in South Africa.

The University was represented at the awards evening by Vice Chancellor Professor Elaine Thomas along with Governor Jennifer Glastonbury and members of the University’s executive along with Hope HIV UK Director Mark Glen. Karen Millen and Course leader Sheelagh Wright collected the award.

Judge of the award professor Phillip Esler, former chief executive of the arts and humanities research council, (AHRC) said: “UCA’s work with the Gateway School of Fashion brilliantly reveals how the arts can change the world for the better.”

Karen Millen said: “I am extremely excited and very proud. This award will help get recognition for what we are trying to achieve at a fitting time as we evaluate the project and feel that we can reflect on the pilot scheme and put a long term structure in place.

“We will spend the next year focussing on the long term future of the project. Putting a solid plan into place and securing our financial needs to ensure that all of the efforts and investments made will come to fruition and result in giving these young people a future to be proud of.

Project coordinator Sheelagh Wright said: “The project has provided UCA staff and students a great opportunity to work together in developing a unique course. To have an idea is easy but to make it happen can only be achieved with the support of many people. UCA has provided the essential funding to enable the staff to be part of this project.

The University was also shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development for its work with the Forum for Organisational Learning and Development.

Vice Chancellor Professor Elaine Thomas said: “It is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff that we were shortlisted in two areas that are relevant to our progress and aspirations as a new specialist creative arts university.”

THES awards were presented by the host of the ceremony, television presenter and comedy writer Clive Anderson.