Annual Report
At a time when the value of higher education is being placed under unprecedented scrutiny, Nottingham Trent University is meeting - and going beyond - students' expectations of what constitutes an outstanding university experience.
Our acknowledged strengths - an outstanding employability record, excellent research-informed teaching, extensive links with industry and an international outlook - ensure that an NTU education is a sound investment for the future.
Much has already been achieved to give our University a robust and confident position in the new-look higher education landscape.
We are now the UK's third largest provider of undergraduate education and we remain one of the most popular universities, with applications growing by 80% since 2006.
Over the last four years, the average tariff point for entry to our courses has risen from 279 to 318, reflecting our success in setting ever higher standards and our gradual transformation from a 'recruiting' to a 'selecting' institution.
Our dedication in listening - and responding - to the views of our students has also resulted in a significant 12 place rise in the rankings of the latest Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, taking us into the top ten for post '92 universities.
While we can be proud of the progress made so far, we cannot and will not rest on our laurels. We are launching bold initiatives which aim to set new sector benchmarks for student employability and wide -ranging improvements which will further enhance the quality, innovation and professionalism of our teaching.
With the introduction of Key Information Sets for the sector, the spotlight will increasingly be shone on statistics such as the number of contact hours students have with academics. Important as they are, these figures are only part of the picture. At NTU, we believe in delivering a well-rounded, dynamic, diverse and inspirational learning experience, including an ever expanding range of opportunities outside the curriculum. The emphasis is on building brains: developing graduates who are ready and able to go far in their careers and lives.
We are determined to ensure that this distinctive NTU experience is open to all those with potential, regardless of their circumstances. True our direct impact in to the principle of fair bolstering the local unlock the talents of young people who might otherwise assume university is not for them.
A sense of ambition and a commitment to adding value underpins all our endeavours. This report sets out just some of our latest achievements - from global alliances to access, we are not only investing in a substantial package of financial support to help students achieve their ambitions but also extending our acclaimed outreach work to raise the aspirations, improve the attainment and economy. I hope it helps to demonstrate how we are delivering our mission to shape lives and society.
Professor Neil Gorman DL
Vice Chancellor
