A new award recognising innovation in journalism education has been launched by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The Innovation of the Year Award recognises the unique contribution NCTJ centres make to the education and training of journalists on accredited courses.

It is open to centres that have improved upon, or extended beyond, current expectations of best practice in education and training.

The new award is part of the NCTJ’s strategy to change and enhance its accreditation scheme and the way the charity and employers work together with universities, colleges and independent providers in the UK.

Andy Cairns, pictured above left, NCTJ trustee and chairman of the accreditation board and executive editor of Sky Sports News, said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to encourage centres to keep improving. This award, to recognise those who firstly have bright ideas and then successfully introduce them, shows how much importance we place on innovation.”

Entries can cover any new education and/or training initiative relating to journalism training and education – such as a new approach to teaching and learning, curriculum development, apprenticeships, diversity, skills, digital developments, regulation and ethics, professional development or strategy.

Entrants should provide information about the aims and objectives of the innovation, why it was pioneering or ground breaking, challenges that had to be overcome, achievements or improvements made, the benefits and any positive impact on staff and/or students.

The judges will consider evidence of how the innovation has been developed and applied to improve performance, operational effectiveness or learners’ experience, and brought something new to journalism education and training.

In shortlisting and in making their choice of the winner the judges will look for originality, improvements in best practice and significant benefits or impacts.

The closing date for entries is 15 September 2017, and the award will be presented at the NCTJ’s awards for excellence in November.