OxAbility Shortlisted for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2026
OxAbility, our dedicated learning and development programme for Oxford students with a long-term health condition, disability, or who are neurodivergent, has been shortlisted for the 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards.
The recognition reflects the Careers Service’s continued commitment to supporting students and working with organisations to help participants build confidence, develop skills, and gain valuable work experience in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Shortlisted for the Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award
Recognising colleagues who role model equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through their work, and have made a difference to EDI at Oxford.
OxAbility
The Career Service’s OxAbility programme is providing meaningful, accessible work placements that foster career development and confidence for students with health conditions, disabilities, or neurodivergence.
The shortlisted team is made up of:
- Callum Buchanan, Careers Adviser
- Julia Sadler, Careers Adviser
- Stacey Phillington, Finance Officer
- Corina Lacurezeanu, Marketing and Design Officer
- Sophie McNamara, IT Officer
Disability and EDI Lead and Careers Adviser Callum Buchanan said:
I am absolutely delighted that OxAbility has been shortlisted for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards in the Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category. At its heart, OxAbility is about enabling disabled and neurodivergent students to access meaningful work experience, build confidence and grow their skills in environments where accessibility, support and adjustments are considered from the outset.
Seeing OxAbility recognised as part of Oxford’s commitment to fostering a University where everyone feels they belong and is supported to succeed, during their time at Oxford and beyond, is incredibly meaningful. It is also a real honour to be shortlisted alongside so many brilliant colleagues doing important EDI work across the University.
About the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards are a University-wide celebration of our outstanding people. They celebrate excellence, dedication, courage, ambition and inspirational contributions to Oxford’s mission. There were nearly 170 award entries across the 13 categories in 2026, including over 1,000 individuals.
Oxford staff and members of the public are invited to the Awards Showcase on Tuesday in the 2 June at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, where they can meet this year’s outstanding nominees, network with academics and leaders, and discover more about the impactful projects happening across the University. This is a drop-in event, so there’s no need to register in advance.
The winners and highly commended nominees will be announced at a ceremony at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in June.
