Double win for Northumbria in technology awards

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.