UNIVERSITY 2030: A FUTURE OF EXCELLENCE UNIVERSITY 2030: “ In 2004, we were the first to describe ‘microplastics’ in the ocean.” A FUTURE OF EXCELLENCE Professor Richard Thompson, OBE Our University advances knowledge and transforms lives. This mission has been the foundation of extensive, rich and positive discussions across the institution as we have created this exciting new Strategy for the next decade. We will build institutional reputation through our areas of excellence in education and research, the culture of our location that is steeped in collaborative partnerships and global discovery, and our staff who are committed to the University’s success. The University will be ahead of the competition in a rapidly changing higher education environment through being ambitious, confident, agile and outward looking. We will invest to achieve our ambitions. In The University of Plymouth is pre-eminent in the very best staff, in our estate, in emerging research and education relating to marine technologies and digital trends. We will not and maritime environments and societies, just adopt best practice but drive it. and is uniquely placed to build upon this The University of Plymouth has a proud distinctiveness and global recognition. We heritage as an institution that makes a will ensure this. Environmental sustainability difference. Now is the time to build on this, research, education and practice has been through our students, researchers, staff, at the heart of the University over many graduates, partners and communities. years. We will nurture this vibrant and influential leadership. Thank you for your support and positivity in developing this Strategy. The following We have set two ambitious institutional pages expand on the important elements goals – to be top 30 nationally and top 250 introduced here. I look forward to working internationally by 2030. These are achievable together to achieve our ambitions and through the commitment to excellence our future. in everything we do. Maintaining our broad subject-base we will become an Professor Judith Petts CBE international university of the region. Vice-Chancellor

Experiential learning: Second year Marine Biology students out in the field

2 3 SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE

The Core Principles Mission We will adapt our existing core strategic Advancing knowledge, principles to enhance the University’s transforming lives. reputation and to understand sustainability as an embedded principle across Vision everything we do.

We will be a broad-based, 1. Quality: striving for the highest quality research-intensive university, in everything we do. open to all who can benefit from a University of Plymouth 2. One Team: working, planning for and education, and delivering excellent delivering a shared vision, underpinned interdisciplinary research, by a strong sense of collegiality. experiential education and 3. Reputation: building our civic engagement. institutional reputation through confidence in our pioneering contributions, excellence in education and research, socio-economic impact, and thought leadership. 4. Sustainability: sustainability in our finances, reputation, services, partnerships, environmental performance and global contribution.

Tsunami wave experiments Achievers: Faculty of Science and in the Coastal Basin Engineering Graduation Ceremony

4 5 MARINE AND MARITIME ENVIRONMENTS AND SOCIETIES

We want to maintain and build upon our pre-eminence internationally for From its foundations as a College of contributions to the sustainability of marine Navigation in the 19th century, the and maritime environments and societies. University has built a unique breadth of in the in the Educates The marine environment is integral to the disciplinary interests in matters relating 1st UK and 8th world in Top 10 University for well-being of life on Earth. Covering 70% of to marine and maritime environments more students the Earth’s surface, the marine environment and societies. Leading education who choose and research in Marine Biology (not Marine/Ocean Geology, marine-related is home to 95% of the Earth’s species. courses than any Humans are dependent on the oceans more least in marine microplastics), Ocean Engineering Environmental, other UK University than ever before – for food, oxygen, water, Science and Marine Engineering Earth and Marine mineral, sustainable energy. Yet vast areas is complemented by marine and Sciences remain unexplored. Mega cities of the world maritime themes across the University, are on coasts, capitalising on economic including in History, English, Education, (Shanghai International Rankings 2019) (Times Higher Young University 2019) and trade benefits but impacting on, and Architecture and the Built Environment, vulnerable to, marine environments and the Business School, Law, Geography winner of the climate change impacts. and Psychology. Three times recipient Queen’s Anniversary Prize of the Queen’s Anniversary prize, 3x Microplastics and Marine and Maritime Research Of growing economic importance, marine two of which were awarded for the and maritime industries support over University’s strengths in marine and 950,000 jobs in the UK. The UK has a Maritime maritime research. Strategy to 2050 which supports significant investment as well as protection. In the Furthermore, Plymouth is the first South-West, regional development strategy choice for Health in the South-West, is strongly anchored in offshore renewable a focus for training of professionals energy, autonomous shipping, marine cyber in a system that can capitalise on security and the health and well-being of the well-being opportunities of the both coastal and rural communities. ‘blue environment’, while responding to the problems common amongst The University of Plymouth is pre-eminent ageing populations and the health in these matters, and more. inequalities of coastal communities. Interdisciplinary health research includes links between marine biology and the discovery of novel antibiotics. The University of Plymouth is equipped to build upon this base – given our location, the history and priorities of our City, our leading-edge education and research facilities, and our strong partnerships with research organisations and industries in Plymouth itself and internationally. Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS)

6 7 OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

PRIORITY Priority One: Deliver excellent education and research Three strategic priorities underpin our Ensure an innovative education portfolio Strategy for Excellence supported by a fourth enabling priority. Each priority • Scale development of blended and experiential learning has high level objectives which are and personalised assessment. introduced here and will be developed • Grow and develop the postgraduate taught offer. further through an Implementation Plan which defines the key areas of work over 01 • Establish competitive online programmes with global reach. the 10-year period, supported by key • Grow international student numbers and TNE programmes performance indicators. The plan will be and partnerships to support influence. responsive to changing circumstances and opportunities over the decade. Deliver programme excellence • Predict market needs and respond to new opportunities. • Create lean and coherent portfolios grounded in research strengths. • Optimise our location and industrial links for experiential learning. • Provide opportunities for all students to engage with sustainability, not least in marine and maritime issues.

Support strong research foundations and build research power • Build research power by increasing the percentage of research-active staff (as defined by the Research Excellence Framework) and growing research income. • Grow our own research talent base. • Grow a strong doctoral research community to support research intensity. • Support cross-institution interdisciplinary institutes that address global challenges.

Health Professions lecture

8 9 PRIORITY Priority Two: Nurture outstanding students and staff PRIORITY Priority Three: Drive global connectivity that makes a difference Provide a distinctive South-West coast experience Achieve influence and impact through significant industry preparing graduates for the world and business partnerships • Blend research-enhanced, experiential education and • Optimise research impact and knowledge exchange to the excellent student support to ensure critical skills for our benefit of society and the economy. graduates’ futures. 02 03 • Capitalise on applied expertise to support graduate • Provide opportunities for students to take advantage of pathways into employment. the natural assets of the region. • Drive revenue from shared R&D activities to support • Leverage opportunities for students to make a positive investment. difference to communities. Maximise reach through strategic and exciting Attract, develop and retain excellent staff institutional partnerships • Focus recruitment in high-performing areas to build • Grow a sustainable and strong group of international critical mass. partnerships. • Unlock academic staff time for development of their • Particularly build significant partnerships with leading marine teaching and research. and maritime institutions. • Support staff to be highly connected externally and ambassadors for the institution.

ENABLING PRIORITY Invest to ensure a leading-edge, sustainable university • Enable investment through optimisation of resource allocation. • Optimise emerging technologies and digital trends for the benefit of all. • Deliver transparent and responsible institutional stewardship.

Dental student in clinical practice teaching session

10 11 HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT OUR STRATEGY FOR EXCELLENCE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

In summary, by 2030 the University will be: • Sustaining an exciting group of Our culture, ways of working and international partnerships that are investment will be driving this success. • A broad-based, international university flourishing in terms of education and The University will be: of the region, maintaining pre-eminence research, the exchange of staff and in research and education in marine and • Delivering a healthy surplus to support students and project collaboration. maritime environments and societies, investment. Significant partnerships with leading and leadership in environmental marine and maritime institutions will be • Agile and innovative, willing to take sustainability. a defining characteristic. calculated risks, ensuring the University • Exuding confidence in its excellence is ahead of the competition in a rapidly • Ensuring thought-leadership, setting and impact. changing environment, and dynamic policy agendas locally, nationally and and responsive to the opportunities to • Attracting, investing in, and retaining internationally, and communicating sustain excellence. the very best staff who are delivering and engaging effectively with all excellence, with critical mass built stakeholders. • Supporting staff to drive new initiatives and maintained in areas of research and be proactive ambassadors for the excellence. At least 75% of academic Key indicators of success: University. staff will be defined as ‘research-active’. • Supporting world-class professional • Leading research responses to global services that fully meet the University’s challenges, particularly through needs and aspirations and that are agile international and interdisciplinary in adopting new practices, including collaborations. shared services opportunities. • Impacting economic and societal • Attracting corporate investors and outcomes through strong and productive Top 30 partners in our research and education industrial and civic engagement. facilities and activities with a significant in national development campaign. • Nurturing skilled, adaptable and resilient graduates who become global citizens league tables • Supporting staff and students through a and leaders. leading-edge digital strategy. • Delivering a mixed portfolio of level and • Maintaining high-quality infrastructure type of programmes, predicting market that is inspiring, transformative, needs, responsive to new opportunities sustainable, digitally enabled and makes and reflective of research strengths. At a difference to our city and community. least 20% of the student population will Top 250 be postgraduate taught students and at least 20% international students. in international • Prioritising personalised, research-led ranking and experiential education and learning, University of Plymouth: Rolle Building connecting with learners internationally.

12 13 THE NEXT STEPS

The University will develop an Implementation Plan to support the strategy which will include phased activities over the ten year period with agreed key performance indicators. Through the annual process of business planning, the Faculties and Professional Services will be discussing how to align their activities to the 2030 goals. Teams will review their existing strategic priorities and identify those best aligned with this new Strategy. These will become their priority areas, which will be monitored by local performance indicators. Your input and support has been crucial to the development of Strategy 2030 and will continue to underpin our success. We will continue with regular updates through Staff Briefings, Vice-Chancellor video messages, open fora, discussions in the Senior Leadership Forum and through your faculty and services teams. Our Future of Excellence belongs to everyone. Let’s make it happen.

Architect’s impression of the new Intercity Place building at Plymouth station

14 15 True to our roots and place we are pioneering and we advance knowledge and transform lives.