Strategy
Founding principles
Research that shapes lives and society is central to our mission and the achievement of our aims. We value what research is, what it does and we aim to support those who undertake it.
Outward-looking research is characterised by its orientation to real-world influence and enables us to make a self-sustaining contribution to society, culture and the public interest. Therefore, we need an active research culture, in order to be a market leader in a knowledge-driven economy. The positive relationship between research and teaching is an essential part of our principles.
Our strategic aims
Our long-term aim is to achieve sustainable growth both in the quality and volume of research. Therefore we will:
- maximise the impact of research on our mission, reputation and teaching and learning strategy
- develop our research effort to optimise performance; both within and outside the remit of continuing external review of research excellence, and
- identify areas for selective investment where we can be satisfied, on evidence, that growth is sustainable.
Our strategic platforms
We see research as an agent for beneficial change because it:
- adds to the depth, breadth and diversity of our intellectual portfolio
- informs our undergraduate courses
- drives new developments in postgraduate education
- helps us to attract a diverse and expanding population of taught and research postgraduate students
- enhances the student environment outside and beyond the lecture theatre
- accelerates the careers of an increasingly diverse body of postgraduate students, and
- contributes to our capacity to invest and innovate, providing a stimulus for growth.
