Celebrating Higher
Education Leaders
Worldwide

The SoftwareVerdict Inclusive Talent Leadership (ITL) Awards for Higher Education Leaders recognize university and college leaders who build inclusive, student‑centric and future‑ready campuses through outstanding talent and people practices.

Talent nurturing begins with learning, so SoftwareVerdict launched a dedicated Higher Education edition of the ITL Awards to celebrate leaders who build global communities of higher education professionals, transforming campuses into inclusive ecosystems where millions of students, faculty, and staff thrive each year.

The awards are curated and hosted by SoftwareVerdict, a global research and decision platform that benchmarks leadership, talent and technology excellence across sectors.

Leaders such as Vice Chancellors, Chancellors, Presidents, Pro‑Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Deans, Heads of Department, Campus Directors and senior Faculty are treated as talent leaders because they shape people strategy, academic culture and institutional outcomes.

Yes. Leaders from areas like HR, student affairs, diversity and inclusion, learning and development, career services, or academic administration can be nominated if they drive significant people‑ and talent‑focused impact.

Yes. The Higher Education edition is open to leaders from universities, colleges and institutes of any size, ownership type or geography, provided they can demonstrate inclusive and ethical talent leadership.

The primary focus is on individual leaders, but a nomination may reference a core team or initiative as long as the accountability and leadership contribution of the named individual is clear.

A nominee should hold a leadership role in a Higher Education institution, be responsible for people or academic strategy, and have at least a few years of demonstrated impact in inclusive talent and culture initiatives.

It refers to the ability to attract, develop and support diverse students, faculty and staff, remove barriers to access and success, and create an environment where everyone feels respected, heard and able to grow.

The jury looks for clear, outcomes such as improved student success and retention, inclusive admissions or scholarship policies, faculty development and mentoring, reduction in bias, and better wellbeing or engagement scores.

The winners of the Inclusive Talent Leadership Awards will be announced on our website and through our social media channels. Stay tuned for updates on the announcement date and join us in celebrating their achievements.

Research impact or rankings can strengthen a case but are not mandatory; the core emphasis is on inclusive leadership, culture building and talent outcomes rather than prestige alone.

Visionaries – Higher Education leaders who articulate bold, long‑term visions for inclusive campuses and learning ecosystems that inspire transformation across their institutions.

Innovators – Higher Education leaders who pioneer new approaches, tools and methodologies to enhance inclusive talent development and student experience.

Change Makers – Higher Education leaders who drive practical, measurable shifts in policies, processes and daily experiences to make institutions more equitable and supportive.

Pioneers – Higher Education leaders who break new ground through first‑of‑their‑kind initiatives, community partnerships or emerging talent pathways.

Mighty 90 is a prestigious global recognition from SoftwareVerdict’s 2024 ITL Awards, honoring top talent leaders mainly from HR and talent sectors. The 90 winners were selected from over 240 nominations across 53 countries and six continents.

Learn more: https://softwareverdict.co/itl-awards-2024/winners-mighty-90/ and https://softwareverdict.co/softwareverdict-announces-mighty-90-winners-of-the-2024-inclusive-talent-leadership-itl-awards/.

Nominations can be submitted by colleagues, institutional leadership, board members, students, alumni, partners or by the leaders themselves, subject to the rules of the current cycle.

Nominations are submitted through the official ITL Awards web form, where the nominator provides leader details, role description, key initiatives, evidence of impact and references or supporting links.

A strong nomination clearly explains the challenge, the inclusive initiative, the actions taken, how people were engaged, and the measurable outcomes for students, faculty, staff or the broader community.

There is no cost to nominate or evaluate for the Higher Education ITL Awards. The program is designed to be fully accessible to all deserving Higher Education leaders worldwide.

Yes, provided each category nomination is justified with relevant evidence and examples aligned to that category’s focus.

Nominations are reviewed by an independent jury comprising experts in Higher Education, HR, DEI, digital transformation and leadership development.

Evaluation typically follows a structured framework that looks at vision and strategy, inclusivity and equity, innovation and digital readiness, measurable outcomes, and long‑term culture building.

Both are important. Data such as retention rates or diversity metrics matter, but compelling narratives, case studies and testimonials from students and colleagues also carry significant weight.

Submissions are anonymized where feasible for first‑pass review, assessed using common rubrics and scoring sheets, and cross‑checked by multiple jury members to reduce bias.

Awardees are celebrated via Mighty 90 listings and category honors across platforms. Free certificates and badges highlight achievements, with optional thought-leadership content and institutional stories (nominal facilitation for production) fostering community growth on SoftwareVerdict channels.

Recognized leaders gain external validation of their work, enhanced visibility in the global Higher Education and HR community, and a stronger personal and institutional brand around inclusive leadership.

Institutions can showcase the recognition in student outreach, rankings submissions, accreditation narratives, partnerships and employer branding, signaling a strong commitment to inclusion and student success.

Awardees may be invited to share their stories in articles, panels, webinars or case studies, and may connect with peers through communities or future SoftwareVerdict initiatives.

Shortlisted leaders and winners receive direct communication by email or official channels, followed by public announcements on web, social and partner platforms.

Yes. Previous winners and finalists can be nominated again, especially when they have led new initiatives, scaled earlier work or generated fresh impact.

You can follow SoftwareVerdict channels, subscribe to updates and check the awards section on the website for new cycles, deadlines and stories from previous cohorts.