University-Of-Suffolk-Vision 0.Pdf
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the Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor the from Introduction CONTENTS Introduction from 1 Introduction from 16 Internationalisation the Vice-Chancellor 18 Curriculum and Growth the Vice-Chancellor 2 Our Vision 20 Governance and Finance 4 Our Values and Operating It is a great privilege to develop and introduce the vision 22 Infrastructure Principles and purpose of a new university. The University of Suffolk is 6 Our Students 24 In Summary entirely a product of the 21st century and must build on the 8 Our Staff strengths and successes of University Campus Suffolk to be a 10 Our Community Impact distinctive, thriving academic community which makes a clear 12 Learning and Teaching and immediate impact. Our purpose is to change lives – of 14 Research and Enterprise individuals and communities – for the better. The University of Suffolk is strongly embedded intend to improve overall student satisfaction in its local region. Our unique, integrated continuously, and we see the strong partnership partnership with four Colleges is central to our that exists between students and staff at the identity and our vision for the future. We embrace University as central to realising this ambition. our role as independent stewards of community We will focus on preparing graduates with the life and values; an anchor institution proud of skills, critical knowledge and confidence to its central ambition of working collaboratively succeed in the contemporary employment to transform our local communities. We will market. To support this, scholarship and high- consciously apply our long-term, locally-based impact research must be pervasive within the economic and cultural influence, together with institution, with emerging areas of national our human and intellectual resources, to improve and international excellence. We should their long-term prospects. emphasise and promote the intrinsic value of That mission does not, and must not, entail an higher education; all universities should offer a exclusively local institution or one in any way transformative experience based on a spirit of limited in its ambition or its pursuit of excellence. enquiry, debate and discovery, a place of open Universities must have national and international free discussion within the law. dimensions across their teaching, scholarship We will actively work to ensure gender equality and research. Our staff and students must be and cultural diversity right across the institution diverse - geographically, socially and in gender, orientation and outlook - to reflect the globally but particularly at the most senior levels, connected world in which we live and work. believing this to be the most effective way of The University will nurture these attributes and ensuring a successful institution. utilise them to drive the economic, cultural and This new University of Suffolk has the opportunity educational improvement needed within the to be unique, relevant to local needs and region. One of the key measures of how we will responsive to rapidly changing circumstances. judge our performance will be our influence on the communities we serve. Its future lies in active, responsive, mutually beneficial partnerships across higher education, The student experience will continue to be at health, business and beyond. It will be distinctive the heart of our activity. We are a beacon of in its local mission, compete effectively with the aspiration which will fundamentally change rest of the higher education sector, have national ambition and achievement in the region. We and international impact through research are committed to admitting and successfully and innovation, and bring credit, prestige and graduating students with a wide range of opportunity to the region. backgrounds and qualifications, and we will be judged by our record in delivering the best Richard Lister outcomes, whatever the starting point. We Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive 1 Our VisionOur 2 Our Vision The University of Suffolk is a cohesive, self-critical and student- centred academic community. Over the next five years it will develop a broader base, be of higher academic standing and remain financially sustainable. It will have a significantly larger student population with growth drawn from the region, nationally and internationally. We will have a very high level of applications for the physical infrastructure across the Learning some niche-based academic disciplines, and Network will be encouraged. In addition, the sufficient student demand for sustainability in all focus on equivalence of the student experience other academic areas. This will be accompanied should be seen as a unique selling point of the by a strong pattern of student retention, student University; an inclusive Learning Network in satisfaction and external quality ratings. The which an expanded number of students will University will increasingly be underpinned by be studying on a broader range of courses, an embedded scholarly base, with nationally within distinctive locations, under the academic and internationally recognised research and oversight of the Faculties. scholarships in targeted areas. The overwhelming majority of provision will be The University of Suffolk will be a key at undergraduate level, but with a measured contributor to its local communities. We will growth of postgraduate students, including focus on curriculum areas that are applied, in postgraduate research. This will be centred transformational and closely aligned to regional on the development of the scholarly base of economic priorities, with demonstrable market academic staff, through a gradual increase and employer demand. We will sustain, extend in numbers of the professoriate through new and embed our responsibility to widen access appointments and internal promotions, and with and raise aspiration across the region. Teaching the development of clear career routes within the will be innovative and high quality, with flexible institution for all staff. modes of delivery. The learning experience will give a high priority to problem solving and real The University of Suffolk will have increasingly life solutions. diverse income streams, based on a wider, high-quality range of collaborative academic The focus on continuing our high rates of and other partnerships. We expect to build on graduate employability will build on, support and strengthen links with local and regional and benefit from the configuration of leading stakeholders, not least in relation to training, industries in Suffolk and the wider region. research and consultancy, facilitating the Partnerships with business lie at the heart of prospect of enhanced investment. delivering our ambitions. This will include, amongst others, higher apprenticeships and Over the next five years the University of Suffolk internships, and germinator and incubation must have established a reputation and brand facilitates for spin-out companies. The University as an innovative and flexible, market-centred will see its role as a driver of economic provider with high-quality teaching, underpinned development in Suffolk as a key performance by widespread scholarly activity and research indicator of its success. in focused areas. We will have high levels of student satisfaction and graduate employability, Decision-making in the institution as a whole will and will be progressively moving up university be based on streamlined and inclusive processes, league tables. There will be growing and tangible recognising the importance of open, democratic benefits for our partners and a sustainable systems which involve the whole community in a balanced budget with appropriate surpluses for shared culture and values. investment. Our role as a community-impact university will be having a clear, measurable and The main Ipswich Waterfront Campus will positive impact on the economic, cultural and be further modernised and developed, in educational lives of the communities we serve. partnership where appropriate. Development of 3 Our VisionOur Operating Principles Our and Values 4 We believe it is important Our Values and to have a clear view of the Operating Principles values which underpin our activity. The following principles should be a clear and constant guide to the way we operate: To be a beacon for aspiration and achievement. To actively serve and be accountable to our communities. To excel in meeting the expectations of our students. To provide a great environment to work and study. To drive a spirit of exploration, innovation and creativity. To be enterprising and entrepreneurial. To consistently maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold academic freedom. To be inclusive; valuing the contribution of every member of the institution. To relish challenge and enjoy success. To work with strategic partners for long-term mutual benefit. 5 Our and Values Operating Principles Our Students Our 6 Our Students Students are at the centre of the University of Suffolk’s mission and ethos. We are proud of our tradition of attracting a diverse student body and producing high-quality graduates, attractive to employers. Our focus is on learning and teaching, and a student experience that produces high levels of student satisfaction. We will be known for our responsiveness to students and for the absence of barriers between the student and staff communities. We will grow our student numbers locally, nationally and internationally at all levels though predominantly undergraduate provision. Our commitment to widening participation is unwavering.