From Newcastle. For the world. Our vision & strategy INTRODUCTION HELLO am proud and delighted to society of our region, the UK and introduce our new Vision, which beyond. has been developed with our staff, The expectations placed on Istudents and external partners as universities by students, governments a statement of our collective ambition and the public have changed for Newcastle University. dramatically in recent years. There When I took up the role of Vice- is now a clear belief that universities Chancellor and President in 2017, exist to serve local and global society I met as many people as possible – whether through the graduates to understand our current strengths we educate or through our research and to bring together new ideas on and innovation. At Newcastle, we are how we can develop and grow as exceptionally well placed to meet an institution. I have been hugely these changing expectations due impressed by the breadth and to a proud heritage of innovation depth of our strengths in both stretching back more than 180 years. I education and research. firmly believe that, with the right vision As one of the United Kingdom’s and strategy, we can enhance our great civic, research-intensive contribution to tackling the numerous universities, we exist for the public challenges faced by global society. benefit, to advance education, learning and research. Our new Vision is to build on this core purpose to become a more globally inclusive institution, providing new knowledge and creative solutions that make a Professor Chris Day positive impact on the economy and Vice-Chancellor and President 02 03 VISION VISION VISION NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY We are a world-leading university, advancing knowledge, providing creative solutions and solving global problems OUR VALUES VISION EXCELLENCE CREATIVITY IMPACT GUIDING PRINCIPLES ur Vision expresses our collective sense of purpose. We aspire to be a people- Ofocused university that harnesses academic excellence, RESPONDING innovation and creativity to provide WORKING VISIBLY FREEDOM AND TOGETHER LEADING OPPORTUNITY TO CURRENT benefits to individuals, to organisations TO SUCCEED AND FUTURE and to society as a whole. CHALLENGES Newcastle University exists for the public benefit to advance education, learning and research. Our objective is to build on this core purpose and, in STRATEGIES doing so, provide new knowledge and creative solutions that make a positive impact. We aim to work collaboratively ENGAGEMENT AND PLACE with our many external partners to shape brighter futures, grow the 3 economy and champion social justice. 1 2 EDUCATION RESEARCH FOR LIFE FOR DISCOVERY AND IMPACT 4 GLOBAL 04 05 VALUES VALUES EXCELLENCE Enabling our staff to realise their twin ambitions of leading the way globally in their areas of OUR research expertise and providing an outstanding educational VALUES experience for our students e will maintain and CREATIVITY build upon our long- Being creative and standing commitment to equality, diversity innovative in finding W ways to advance and inclusion, while continuing to respect and protect the principle of knowledge and engage academic freedom. We are passionate with society to address in our belief that universities should play a fundamental role in creating global problems and fostering more equitable societies. Our new Vision builds actively on these Values, but also identifies three aspirational Values that inform everything we do and will guide us as we develop and grow as an institution. IMPACT Working in partnership with governments, industry, the creative and cultural sector, and community groups to identify the current and future challenges faced by society and to provide innovative ideas and solutions that will make a difference 06 07 PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES GUIDING WORKING VISIBLY TOGETHER LEADING This refers to working together Our University is recognised globally internally and externally with for a number of current strengths, our various partners, including including Ageing and Health, Energy, local, national and international Data, Cities, and Culture and Creative higher education institutions and Arts. In all of our education, research PRINCIPLES organisations from the public, cultural, and engagement activities, our aim is commercial and voluntary sectors. to promote and support these existing These partnerships improve the strengths while also facilitating the quality of our work, increase its impact development of emerging areas of and enhance our reputation. world-leading education and research. ur guiding principles explain how we will operate as an institution while in pursuit Oof our strategic goals. We believe that we will only be able to reach our potential in teaching and research and, therefore, have a genuinely global impact, if we operate in accordance with these principles. They describe how we aspire to give our staff the environment they RESPONDING need to excel and how we will FREEDOM AND TO CURRENT collaborate with wider society in OPPORTUNITY AND FUTURE our main areas of expertise and in TO SUCCEED CHALLENGES new and emerging disciplines. Our people, staff and students – past, While there is ample evidence of present and future – are at the heart the long-term value and impact of of our strategy. Our overarching aim enquiry-driven research, it is also clear is to support their development and that our priorities in both education allow them to reach their full potential and research need to align, at least by providing them with the freedom in part, with the demand side of the and opportunity to inspire excellence, knowledge economy. Our staff have ambition and creativity. a critical role in both identifying and responding to the societal challenges that face the world now and in the future, and in educating our students to be critical citizens. 08 09 STRATEGIES STRATEGIES OUR RESEARCH EDUCATION FOR STRATEGIES FOR LIFE DISCOVERY 1 AND2 IMPACT e exist for the benefit of society and our four core strategies have Wbeen developed to demonstrate how we will tackle some of the challenges it faces. We are, of course, a first-class teaching and research institution, and excellence in these areas is central to our purpose. But we cannot operate in isolation. We will continue to reach out to governments and organisations both in the UK and around the world where collaboration is likely to play an important role in advancing knowledge and solving problems. ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL AND3 PLACE 4 10 11 EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION 1 FOR LIFE Engaging, challenging and supporting students to discover and fulfil their potential All our educational activities will be OUR SPECIFIC AIMS ARE TO: based on a commitment to promoting the highest levels of student • Provide an outstanding engagement. We will challenge and educational experience rooted empower our students to discover and in strong disciplines and enhanced reach their full potential, supporting by a broad range of experiences. and working with them to do so. • Encourage and provide opportunities for multi- and The education that we offer is a joint inter-disciplinary encounters. endeavour involving all members of our University community. Staff and • Maintain and promote the academic students work in partnership to rigour and stretch of our programmes. co-create learning experiences • Inspire, challenge, support and care based on a commitment to mutual for our students. development and self-discovery. This allows our graduates to develop • Provide an inclusive, diverse the resilience, attributes and skills and international collaborative to transform their own lives and the learning community. communities in which they live, and • Empower our students to be creative, to excel in their chosen futures. innovative, enterprising and global in their outlook. NEW INITIATIVES WILL INCLUDE: • Implementing our technology-enhanced • Developing and implementing a learning roadmap so that we are new Graduate Framework to support recognised as a leading university and prepare students to shape the for the use of technology to support societies in which they will live and the campus-based education. professions they choose to enter. • Working to create a Newcastle • Aiming to establish an inter-disciplinary Doctoral College as a world-class school to facilitate multi- and inter- centre for research training to disciplinary opportunities. Fully engaged support our research students. Our students on campus, where they will be challenged and empowered to reach their potential 12 13 RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH 2 FOR DISCOVERY AND IMPACT Catalysing transformative research within and between disciplines Our commitment is to be a world- OUR SPECIFIC AIMS ARE TO: class, research-intensive university that builds upon its distinctive • Nurture excellent research and attributes. These features include a innovation that expands fundamental broad disciplinary base but at a scale knowledge, addresses societal and that allows us to act cohesively: the global needs, supports sustainable integration of education with research economic growth and promotes and engagement, a portfolio of health and wellbeing. world-leading research clusters and • Equip staff and students at all career independent scholars, the provision stages with the skills to contribute of real-world test beds for innovation, to research and development in the and our deep regional and global academic, commercial, public and partnerships. voluntary sectors. • Foster inter-disciplinary approaches In doing so, we will help to transform and partnerships