The ANZ contingent was out in force at Friday night’s 2023 PIEoneer Awards ceremony in London. Launched in 2017, the Awards aim to recognise outstanding achievements across the global international education industry.
This year’s award ceremony was one of the largest ever, with 560 guests attending the formal dinner event in central London. Several new categories were introduced this year, including the Digital innovation of the year – student recruitment, Business School of the year, Study abroad and exchange experience of the year and Emerging leader of the year. 144 entries in 20 categories were judged by 41 peers and stakeholders across the global international education sector.
Spotted among the crowd were Douglas Proctor from Swinburne, Emily O’Callaghan from IESG, Elissa Newall from Edified, Martin Hookham-Simms from the University of Auckland and Phil Honeywood from the IEAA. (Apologies to all the other antipodeans in the crowd not listed, it was hard to get around to see everybody!)
For our part, Successful Graduate managed to take home the coveted inaugural Digital innovation of the year – Student Recruitment Award, which is currently sitting as excess baggage on our next flight. This (satisfyingly heavy) award, on the back of Successful Graduate’s recent partnership announcement with QS has topped a very rewarding visit to the UK. A big shout out to our clients who have helped us to grow and develop into the organisation we are today. An especially big shout out to the Study Australia team for entrusting us to deliver micro credentials to future students who were considering Australia as their study destination after the pandemic. This project helped to contribute to our nomination this year.
No less than 3 Australian organisations were listed as finalists for the PIEoneer of the Year Award.
Highlights of the evening included:
- An impassioned and emotional presentation by Immy Mukawumbya about the work she and her colleagues are doing in Uganda with the Shine with Skills Foundation to improve and sustain the livelihood of community members through integrated health, education services and other community development programs. (You can donate at shinewithskills.org)
- Amy, Clare and Jane from the PIE emceeing such a hectic lineup of awards (and keeping them running on time), and their hard-working team who managed the process behind the scenes
- The connection, community and collaboration between like-minded individuals that make our industry what it is
- The finalists and winners from Australia and New Zealand who were recognised on the night, including:
- Business School of the Year – Kaplan Business School – winner – Australia,
- Digital innovation of the year – assessment and credentials – StudyLink Connect – Australia,
- Digital innovation of the year – student recruitment – Swinburne University of Technology and Successful Graduate – winner – Australia,
- Emerging leader of the year – Dr Ivan Kumar, English Unlimited – Australia,
- Employability international impact award – Study NSW – Australia and University of Auckland – New Zealand,
- International alumni of the year – Nehara Pandey – UP Education, India and studied in New Zealand,
- International student recruitment organisation of the year – Mozaik Play – winner – Australia, and AECC – Australia,
- Marketing campaign of the year – James Cook University – Australia,
- PIEoneer of the Year – Edified – Australia, The Hacker Exchange – Australia, and The Lygon Group – Australia
Congratulations to all winners and finalists who have received deserved international accolades and recognition for your hard work. The next stop for many who attended the awards is EAIE in Rotterdam.
