MAKING
IMPORTANT
THINGS
HAPPEN
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
2015–2020
Mission: Growing Intellectual Capital
‘We nurture and invest in intellectual talent and ideas, delivering
world-class research and education, unlocking value and
making important things happen.’
MAKING
IMPORTANT
THINGS
HAPPEN
VA L UE S >
EXCEL L ENCE
We have the highest standards and know we
can always be better.
L EADERSHIP
We shape our own future and support the
success of others.
PIONEERING SPIRIT
We enjoy being first to do things and we take
calculated risks.
PURPOSEF UL NESS
We know our strengths, focus on our
goals, and face adversity with resilience
and persistence.
PRAGMAT ISM
We are well-grounded and focus on tackling
and solving problems.
WWW.BIRMINGHAM.AC.UK/STRATEGY2020
Vice-Chancellor’s
Foreword
The University of Birmingham was founded to lead its city and
bring together people and resources to tackle the major
challenges facing humanity.
More than 100 years on, our research, education, worldwide reach
and reputation, combined with our purposeful, pragmatic and
pioneering approach, are making us the standard against which
others are measured.
Making Important Things Happen is our new Strategic Framework.
Building on the aims and achievements of the last five years,
it is a compass that will guide the University and sets out our
ambition to 2020.
It is the quality of our students and the creativity and leadership
of our people, alongside our willingness to make bold and
sometimes tough choices, which will enable us to realise our goals.
By harnessing our strengths, I am confident that we will continue
to thrive. We will expand our impact and reputation and, in turn,
that of our region, and model what a great university should be.
Professor Sir David Eastwood,
Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
R E SE A RCH P 6 –7
E DUC AT ION P 8 – 9
R E S E A RC H T H AT M AT T E R S
L E A R N ING F OR T HE F U T UR E
INF L UE NCE P10 –11
R E S OURCE S P12–13
E NG A GE ME N T F OR IMPA C T
A V IBR A N T IN T E L L E C T U A L
E N V IRONME N T
Research: Research that Matters
‘Academic rigour, original thinking, innovation, and
delivery made possible by brilliant people, outstanding facilities,
and strong collaborations.’
87%
OF R E S E A RC H
H A S GL OB A L
IMPA C T (REF2014)
7
SUPPORTING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Over the last five years we have delivered a programme
of major academic investments and established signature
collaborations at home and overseas. We have drawn on
our breadth to encourage inter-disciplinary initiatives and
have become the university partner of choice.
OUR GOAL N O W I S TO D O M O RE AND BET T ER RESEARCH, TACKL ING
THE GREAT CH AL L EN G ES FAC ING T HE W ORL D. W E W IL L ACHIEV E
THIS BY FO CU SI N G O N TH ESE F IV E AREAS.
Enhancing the
quality and reach
of our research
Investing strategically
to create and
strengthen areas
of excellence
Expanding the impact
of our research
by supporting activities
that drive impact and
building networks and
partnerships
Increasing levels of
external investment
in our research
and our share of
competitively won
research income
W W W . B I R M I N G H AM . A C.UK/S TRATE GY 2020/R E S E A R CH
Growing the number
of postgraduate
researchers
at Birmingham
Education: Learning for the Future
‘We support our exceptional and ambitious students to become independent
problem solvers and natural leaders, enthusiastic about knowledge
and learning and able to get things done. Our graduates are in
demand across the world.’
OUR S TUDE NT S AR E M O R E
S ATIS FIED THAN EVER
Over the last five years we have broadened the curriculum
and developed even more extra-curricular activities, and our
Access to Birmingham (A2B) programme and Outreach
initiatives support applicants from diverse backgrounds.
9
UNI V E RS I T Y
OF T HE Y E A R
FOR GR A DUATE
EMPL OY MEN T
THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES
2016 GOOD
UNIVERSITY GUIDE
(
)
O U R E DUC AT I O N AL AM B I TI O N S A RE NOT YET SAT ISF IED. W E ST RIV E T O
D ELIVER AN O U TSTAN D I N G ED U C AT ION F OR T OMORROW AS W EL L AS T ODAY,
A ND WILL SU CCEED B Y FO CU SI NG OUR EF F ORT S IN T HE F OL L OW ING AREA S .
Attracting students
with high potential,
removing barriers
to accessing a
Birmingham education
Supporting students to
develop a personal journey
through their education
at Birmingham
Continuing to increase
the innovation of
our curriculum,
drawing on our research
and disciplinary breadth
Developing and valuing
excellence in teaching
W W W . B I R M I N G H AM . AC.UK/S TRATE GY 2020/E DU CATIO N
Influence: Engagement for Impact
‘Our goal is to use our research and education strengths in science
and engineering, social science, and humanities to increase
well-being and prosperity.’
DEVELOPING PIONEERING ALLIANCES
During the last five years our collaborations have
intensified and we have developed pioneering alliances in
the UK and internationally. Our regional networks have
increased the power and presence of the Midlands and
our links with business are strong and growing. We have
influenced government thinking, policy, and service
delivery, and now have a significant voice in media and
public discourse.
11
MOR E T H A N
£1
BILLION
C ON T R IBU T E D T O T HE
L OC A L E C ONOM Y
E A C H Y E A R (OXFORD ECONOMICS)
W E A RE C OM M I TTED TO EN H AN CING T HE MIDL ANDS’ REACH AND POT ENT IA L
A N D TO MA K IN G A D I FFER EN CE I NT ERNAT IONAL LY. OV ER T HE NEXT F IV E
Y E ARS WE WI L L CO N TI N U E TO WORK W IT H OT HERS ACROSS T HE GL OBE F O R
T H E C OMMON G O O D AN D FO CU S ON T HE F OL L OW ING AREAS IN ORDER T O
LEVE RAGE E XTER N AL I N VESTM ENT, CREAT E JOBS, AND GENERAT E V AL UE.
Raising our
public presence
and influence
and increasing the
range and number
of staff involved
in influence and
engagement
Growing and
developing our
partnerships
with business, the
public sector, and third
sector organisations
Continuing
to collaborate
to shape and
implement priorities
and activities which will
increase opportunity
and well-being in
the region
Strengthening
existing relationships
with key international
partners and fostering
new ones to enhance
our reach and
relevance globally
W W W . B I R M I N G H AM . AC.UK/S TRATE GY 2020/I N FLU E NCE
Working with
other universities
to increase our reach,
influence and impact
Resources: a Vibrant
Intellectual Environment
‘A well-resourced, well-managed and ambitious
university with people at its heart.’
A P L AC E TO FLO U R I SH
The last five years have seen bold, innovative initiatives
which are bringing outstanding staff and students to
Birmingham and have made this a place for ambitious
people to flourish. We have invested in good ideas, in
talented people, and in our impressive estate, providing
the resources, community, and environment for rigorous
intellectual endeavour. Our hugely successful Circles
of Influence campaign has played a major part in the
transformation of our community.
13
£193 MILLION
R A IS E D T HROUGH
C IRCL E S OF INF L UE NCE
F UNDR A IS ING C A MPA IGN
OVE R THE NEXT FI VE YEAR S
W E WILL USE TH E R ESO U R CES
W E GE NERAT E PU R PO SEFU L LY,
DE C IS IVELY, AN D ACCO U N TAB LY
A N D C ONTINU E TO I N VEST.
W E WILL A LSO R EAFFI R M
OUR C OMMITM EN T TO AN D
E XP EC TATIONS O F STAFF AN D
UNDE RSC ORE O U R CU LTU R E
OF P ARTNE R SH I P AN D TR U ST
BE TWE E N ACAD EM I CS AN D
P R OFE S S ION AL STAFF.
Developing, supporting, and recruiting
talented staff
Growing the depth of our leadership
capacity across the University
Maximising the opportunities for alumni and
friends to play active roles in the University’s life
Maintaining our financial sustainability
Investing boldly and wisely for the future
Developing our University campus
Developing lean and effective processes
and systems to support our operations
W W W . B I R M I N G H AM . AC .UK/S TRATE GY 2020/R E S O U R CE S
Measuring Our Success
‘We will monitor and measure the impact of our actions and strategy
over the next five years to ensure that we are delivering world-class research
and education, unlocking value, and making important things happen.’
RE SEA RC H
Our success will be seen in our record of research
leadership and impact, measured via improved citations,
research income, the scale of our postgraduate research
community, and our preparation for the next REF.
EDUCAT ION
Our success will be seen by improved performance at
every stage of the student journey; from our league table
performance and market share to student satisfaction,
and graduate employability.
I NF L UENC E
Our success will be measured in the value our partners
place on our engagement, seen via the diversity of external
funding, jointly authored publications, value derived from
international partnerships, and enhanced economic impact.
RESOURCES
Our success will be seen in the quality of our research,
education provision and influence. The environment for
this will be measured via staff engagement, operational
sustainability, sustained investment potential, and levels
of capital investment.
www.birmingham.ac.uk
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Edgbaston, Birmingham,
B15 2TT, United Kingdom