The Cranfield Design, Energy, Environment and Water Alumni Awards recognise the special achievements and contributions of alumni while providing Cranfield with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those in those sectors who exemplify the values of the University. Alumni awards also allow us to showcase the impact of Cranfield globally and highlight the accomplishments of individuals who may serve as role models to other alumni, students, and potential students.
More information on the selection criteria, eligibility, the nomination process, and the selection process can be found below.
How to nominate and top tips to make your nominee stand out
- Review the award criteria for the SWEE alumni awards.
- Think about who you know who meets the criteria and decide on your nominee.
- Complete the online nomination form details, telling us about yourself and your nominee.
- Write your nomination statement and ensure it is no longer than 800 words and contains enough evidence to support your nominations.
- Hit submit.
Top nomination tips - how to make your nominee stand out
We know our alumni are achieving some amazing things and we can't wait to be inspired with this year's stories. Each year we receives lots of nominations, and that's a lot of stories to read, so we've pulled together our top do's and don'ts.
- DO - Think about how your nominee matches the award criteria and tell us about those aspects. Be sure to give us context and benchmark your nominee's achievements.
- DO - Make sure your nomination statement hits a balance – not so long that we get lost in the detail, but long enough to address all parts of the nomination criteria.
- DO - Give us evidence and examples, and put them in context - you can include links to websites or articles in your nomination if relevant.
- DON'T - Don’t cut and paste your nominee’s CV or LinkedIn profile into the statement box - this rarely provides enough evidence and we don't need to know their every career move since leaving Cranfield.
- DON'T - Please don’t use acronyms or technical jargon without explaining them. Our Selection Panel brings together alumni, Cranfield staff, and faculty, however, there maybe some non-technical selection panel members so please don't assume that we’re experts in all areas of the industry, or have specific scientific or engineering knowledge.
If you have any questions, please email us and we will be happy to help.
Criteria for the Distinguished Water, Energy and Environment Alumni Award
The Distinguished Water, Energy and Environment Alumni Award is one of Cranfield University’s highest honours. It recognises those individuals who have achieved significant success within the water, energy and environment industry/sectors while upholding the highest standards in industry practice. In selecting the Distinguished Water, Energy and Environment Alumni Award winner, the Selection Panel will consider the following:
- Sustained professional achievement at the highest levels, preferably extending into the year of selection. Professional achievement may be viewed in terms of:
- Technology/engineering leadership.
- Achieving transformational change in an organisation.
- Significant and successful project management.
- Contribution to company profitability, job creation and other factors.
- Significant impact on their industry and sector, beyond their own role and organisation.
- International visibility: influence/experience working across different geographic regions.
- Exhibited role model behaviours for leadership.
- Innovation and creativity.
- Other awards and recognitions.
- Previous relationship with Cranfield or benefit of a potential relationship with Cranfield in the future.
Criteria for the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Design Engineering Graduates
The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Design Engineering Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.
Alumni who have won this award will have:
- Demonstrated technological/engineering leadership.
- National visibility.
- Had an early career impact on the sector or industry.
- Demonstrated achievement beyond individual position and company.
- International experience and impact.
- Exhibited role model behaviours and highest standards of business practice.
- Had a relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.
Criteria for the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Energy and Sustainability Graduates
The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Energy and Sustainability Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.
Alumni who have won this award will have:
- Demonstrated technological/engineering leadership.
- National visibility.
- Had an early career impact on the sector or industry.
- Demonstrated achievement beyond individual position and company.
- International experience and impact.
- Exhibited role model behaviours and highest standards of business practice.
- Had a relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.
Criteria for the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Environment and Agrifood Graduates
The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Environment and Agrifood Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.
Alumni who have won this award will have:
- Demonstrated technological/engineering leadership.
- National visibility.
- Had an early career impact on the sector or industry.
- Demonstrated achievement beyond individual position and company.
- International experience and impact.
- Exhibited role model behaviours and highest standards of business practice.
- Had a relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.
Criteria for the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Water Graduates
The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Water Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.
Alumni who have won this award will have:
- Demonstrated technological/engineering leadership.
- National visibility.
- Had an early career impact on the sector or industry.
- Demonstrated achievement beyond individual position and company.
- International experience and impact.
- Exhibited role model behaviours and highest standards of business practice.
- Had a relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.
Eligibility
Nominees must be an alumnus/a of Cranfield University, covering any Masters, PhD, Fellowship Programme and professional and executive development programmes in the areas of Design Engineering, Energy and Sustainability, Environment and Agrifood, and Water.
Members of the selection panel will not be eligible for an award whilst serving on the panel or Council. Honorary graduates will also not be eligible for an award unless they are also a graduate alumnus of the University.
Nomination process
The Alumni Relations and Development Office shall seek nominations for each award via the alumni portal, eNewsletters, social media sites, and through specially targeted messages to alumni, faculty, staff, and students. The closing date for nominations will be indicated and no nominations will be considered after this time.
- The nominator must be an alumnus/a, current or former member of Cranfield staff, current student, member of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Education Programmes, a Visiting Professor or Fellow, or Honorary Degree recipient.
- The nominator must complete the appropriate nomination form which will be available online from the Alumni Relations and Development Office.
- The nominator must provide a statement of no more than 800 words describing the achievements and contributions that make the nominee worthy of the award. These statements should refer directly to the specific criteria for each award.
- All nominations will be treated as confidential.
Selection process
For all awards, the selection panel will consist of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the School of Water, Energy and Environment, the Director of Water, the Director of Energy & Sustainability, Director of Environment & Agrifood, Head of Centre for Design Engineering and the Director of Alumni Relations and Development.
The selection panel will reach an agreement on the winners in each of the categories and award recipients will be notified. The Alumni Relations and Development office will notify all nominators as to whether their nominee has been selected to receive an award. The selection process is confidential and the decisions of the selection panel are final. All unsuccessful nominations can be resubmitted for consideration in future years.
The Selection Panel may introduce other categories of award.
If there are no nominees considered of sufficient merit in any or all of the categories in any year, the Selection Panel may choose not to make an award.
In the event of a successful nominee declining to accept the award in person at the event, the Selection Panel may choose, but is not obliged, to offer a further award.