Resounding success for the School of Civil Engineering at the 2025 Partnership Awards

The School of Civil Engineering has been recognised with an Overall Partnership Award at this year's Partnership Awards.

The School of Civil Engineering has been recognised with a 2025 Overall Partnership Award in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The Faculty Overall Partnership Award is awarded every year to an individual or group whose work reflects the Leeds Partnership by making a significant, positive impact on the academic community across the Faculty.  

This year, students and staff from the School of Civil Engineering received a high number of nominations, with more than 15 individuals receiving multiple nominations. Some examples include:

• The School’s professional services and student support team, who are ‘patient, friendly and incredibly helpful and provide an incredible amount of support’
• The School reps, who ‘foster a collaborative environment where students feel comfortable’ and show ‘an outstanding professionalism when working alongside members of the School’
• Academic staff, whose ‘passion for teaching’ has led to ‘engaging and innovative teaching methods which make complex concepts inspiring for students’.

The awarding panel felt that the entire School community should be recognised for their ‘unwavering commitment to student and staff engagement, the success of which is celebrated by the wider University’.

The Deputy Head of School, Professor Barbara Evans, and the Director of Student Education, Professor Emilio Garcia-Taengua, received the award on behalf of the School accompanied by several colleagues and students. Professor Garcia-Taengua said: “This is well-earned recognition for everyone in the School and shows the dedication and enthusiasm everyone puts into every task, lecture, tutorial or meeting is noticed and goes a long way. Every gesture, every open door, every little thing we all do everyday, that’s the spirit of this School”. 

Individual achievements were a common theme of the ceremony, with rising stars and established staff alike receiving well-deserved recognition. Two colleagues from our Student Education Support (SES) team received Partnership Awards and commendations across different categories.

Gini Jones-Row, who joined the team just a year ago, was commended for her relentless commitment: “She has shown a willingness and eagerness to learn and understand her role. Her kindness, compassion, and willingness to help the students is to be admired and we hope she knows what a valued member of the University community she is.” Within the Civil Engineering SES team, Gini has not only promoted broader university wellbeing initiatives, but also organised bespoke activities to enhance well-being and foster inclusion of all.

Equally celebrated was Sally Mortimer, a long-standing member of the Civil Engineering SES team, who was recognised in several categories, including the Partnership Award for Professional Services Staff Member or Team of the Year, the Contribution to Student Experience Award, and the Mentorship Award. Colleagues and students described her as a “fountain of knowledge for all things within the University” and a supportive member of staff: “Sally’s enthusiasm, candid honesty, sincerity and kindness is infectious – she is an example to us all for her work ethic, but also her genuine and friendly approach to all people.” Another nomination added, “I have a post-it note on my monitor saying ‘What would Sally do?’”, which is a powerful demonstration that her dedication deeply influences those around her. Sally’s blend of professionalism, empathy, and humour has transformed the work environment into one of support and excellence. 

Yasar Awais, lecturer in Architecture, not only won the Faculty Partnership Award in the category of Academic Personal Tutor of the Year, but was widely recognised by students and colleagues across several categories: mentorship, assessment and feedback, teacher/supervisor and personal academic tutor. Students highlight his unique ability to listen deeply, putting himself in their shoes to offer practical, yet heartfelt advice. As one student noted: “Yasar has been a crucial source of advice and encouragement. His approachable and easygoing nature creates a comfortable environment where I always feel supported, both academically and personally”. His commitment is not limited to the classroom. Whether offering career guidance, helping overcome academic challenges, or simply engaging in meaningful informal chats, Yasar’s mentorship has been a game-changer for many. “I’ve always struggled with self-doubt, and Yasar’s encouragement pushed me beyond my perceived limits. His insightful feedback and readiness to invest time played a key role in my improvement, taking me from a low 2:1 to achieving Firsts in most of my modules.” His role as an academic personal tutor and the fact that he fosters genuine connections add to a collaborative atmosphere that goes far beyond academic instruction. As one student put it: “Yasar doesn’t just instruct —he inspires.” 

Dr Mohsen Besharat, Assistant Professor in Hydraulics and Water Systems, won the Faculty Parnership Award in the category of Teacher or Supervisor of the Year and also the University-wide Partnership Award in that same category. Professor Evans, Deputy Head of School, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are all extremely proud of Mohsen. The fact that a colleague from our School has been recognised as Teacher or Supervisor of the Year, out of the hundreds of colleagues who teach in the University, makes us so proud. Mohsen is absolutely brilliant”. Colleagues and students have applauded Mohsen’s ability to make complex concepts engaging and accessible: “Dr Besharat is an inspirational teacher. His quiet manner masks a deep love for his subject, which resonates with undergraduate, taught postgraduate and postgraduate research students alike. I’ve personally witnessed the dawning understanding and enthusiasm on the faces of students when he explains a topic.” His work extends beyond routine teaching; he continuously works to update and transform curricula by integrating innovative techniques such as real-world data analysis and cutting-edge digital education practices. One of the nominations he received praised “his outstanding dedication to student learning, innovation and mentorship” as well as “his contributions to digital learning”, which put him “at the forefront of assessment innovation”. When Mohsen received his award from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, Professor Jeff Grabill, he expressed his surprise with heartfelt gratitude: “It’s quite exciting and I’m very surprised because there were some very good people nominated for this category. I really appreciate people supporting me”.