Nottingham University's work in developing campuses in China and Malaysia has won a human resources award sponsored by The Times Higher .
It received the Strategic Impact Award this week at the annual Universities Personnel Association conference at Kent University, one of the inaugural Higher HR - HR Excellence Awards in Higher Education.
Nottingham set up an international human resources team - Peter McCracken, Sheila Marshall, Emma Graham and Clare Jones. The judges said the team had gone beyond the "usual menu" of local recruitment and overseas secondments.
"They cared about all the staff involved," the judges said. "The team has done valuable work in developing proper career structures for local staff."
Jaspal Kaur, Nottingham's acting director of human resources, said: "The international HR team has helped to ensure that the university has the right people in place at the overseas campuses."
Douglas Tallack, pro vice-chancellor for internationalisation, said: "Staff had to be deployed overseas, many with partners or families, at short notice. The HR team reacted quickly, facilitating the moves of key staff."
Derby University's HR department won the Improving Working Lives prize, sponsored by the UPA, while Vincent Cornelius, training and development manager at De Montfort University, won the People Development Award, sponsored by Euro RSCG Riley.