It is the UK’s highest education honour.
The sole academic institution involved with developing the device, Lancaster University created the micro:bit’s run-time operating system. And it also helped deliver the hardware and shaped the coding experience.
The handheld, programmable STEM device is now very familiar to school children. It is estimated that – through the not-for-profit Micro:bit Educational Foundation – 66 million children in 85 countries have had experience the little computer. That represents around 2% of all children on the planet, highlights the university.
“The micro:bit team embodies Lancaster University’s motto, ‘Truth lies open to all’,” said Professor Rebecca Lingwood, Interim Vice-Chancellor.
“Through innovation, partnership and quiet dedication, they’ve created technology that empowers and inspires young people worldwide. We are immensely proud to receive this award recognising their global impact.”
Commercial bodies involved included Microsoft, Freescale and Samsung Electronics.
Research
Lancaster researchers are still working on the evolution of the device with the UK-based Micro:bit Educational Foundation. They also carry out research on the benefits of teaching with the micro:bit, to explore new applications.
Professor Joe Finney, of Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications, led the design and development of the micro:bit’s run-time operating system:
“It is truly fantastic to see Lancaster’s work recognised for its contribution to society in this way,” he sad.
“It represents the dedication and work of so many people over the past ten years to go from a conceptual idea to a creative, educational platform transforming the lives of over 66 million students worldwide. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what the micro:bit can achieve in the next 10 years.”
Queen Elizabeth Prize
The Queen Elizabeth Prize has been awarded every two years since 1994. It is given by the Monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister, following an independent review process.
This is the sixteenth round of the scheme, although the Prizes were formerly known as the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.
Other winners this year include the University of Edinburgh for its Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, researching fire safety design. The University of Southampton for its research into improving the resilience of the UK’s rail system. And Leeds Beckett University for its work studying education within maximum security prisons.
The prize is to “recognise” outstanding work in UK universities and colleges. The organisers declare:
“The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education are open to eligible universities and colleges of higher and further education in the United Kingdom, and may be awarded for any topic or subject area which fulfils the criteria for the award: excellence, innovation and well-evidenced impact and benefit for the institution itself and the wider world.”
Image: Micro:bit Educational Foundation
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