Sheffield Hallam University has joined a network of educational institutions recognised across the world as leaders in the field of information and technology.

Press contact: Greg Mattocks-Evans | g.mattocks-evans@shu.ac.uk

The Sheffield Business School at Sheffield Hallam University has joined the iSchool network - representing the best of teaching and research within the field globally.

Sheffield Hallam University is one of only nine UK universities to achieve iSchool status, including Oxford University, University College London and the University of Sheffield. 

As part of the network, students and staff will be able to benefit from increased international collaboration and student development through special contests and awards.

Rob Wilson, head of department for finance, accounting and business systems, said: "Joining the iSchool movement is an internationally recognised endorsement of the work we do in the Sheffield Business School.

We aim to be a business school for the real world and this will give out staff chance to collaborate on world-changing research and students a head start in the information and technology industry."

The iSchool movement began several decades ago in the United States when a number of schools that were offering degrees in the library and information sciences realised that their teaching and research programmes had capacity to reach a broader audience of students and to prepare professionals for work beyond libraries.

It has since grown to encompass more than 100 educational institutions from across the world and is backed by big-name technology companies such as Microsoft and Google.

Kushwanth Koya, senior lecturer in business systems, said: "iSchools are highly revered in the field of information science and we are privileged to join this alliance. The membership offers our staff and students excellent opportunities to collaborate and seek mentorship."