The University of Winchester is to receive the 2011 International Faith and Spirit at Work Award for showing a strong commitment to nurturing the faith and spirituality of its students and staff.
The award is given each year to a hand-picked group of companies throughout the world, chosen by a Selection Committee, who decide which organisations should be honoured for best practice.
Judith Neal, Founding Director of the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality at the Sam M Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas said: "The intention of these awards is to find organisations whose workplace practices help to make the world a better place. Our goal is to transfer the knowledge gained by these outstanding companies into the general business community so that others can learn from their examples."
The Selection Committee was especially impressed with the University's staff development programme which includes sessions on Exploring Vocation, Prayer Styles in a Busy World, Spiritual Intelligence and Supporting Staff in a Multicultural, Multifaith Environment.
The judges also liked how staff have access to the full range of medical, personal and spiritual support offered to students as well as the benefit of a values-driven catering policy.
Professor Elizabeth Stuart, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Winchester, said: "This award highlights our commitment to valuing religious ways of knowing at the same time as subjecting them to robust analysis and questioning.
"The University has always made an explicit commitment to celebrating its Christian foundation while at the same time creating a hospitable environment in which staff and students can explore and practice other forms of faith and spirituality and also question the very notion of faith. We are thrilled to be receiving global recognition in this way."
Local MP Steve Brine added: "I am thrilled that the University has been honoured in this way. As a Christian myself, I really value the work the University is doing here, and I am absolutely delighted they have scooped this fantastic prize."
Forty-five organisations with a presence in 39 countries have been honoured since 2002. These companies include The Body Shop (United Kingdom), The Times of India (India), ANZ Bank in Australia and New Zealand, Tyson Foods Inc.(United States), Medtronics (United States) and Hearthstone Homes (United States).
The Reverend Professor June Boyce-Tillman MBE, from the University of Winchester, who directed Space for Peace on Holocaust Memorial Day at Winchester Cathedral this year, will attend the International Faith and Spirit at Work Conference in November to receive the award.
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