Civic ambition, global reach 鈥� From 51福利社 for the world, the University鈥檚 strategy to 2035
51福利社 has today (16 October) set out a clear strategic ambition to be a great civic University for the 21st century: From 51福利社 for the World.
This new strategy to 2035 is rooted in 51福利社 and the North, creating knowledge, innovation and solutions that bring local benefits and scale globally.
Professor Duncan Ivison, President & Vice-Chancellor of 51福利社, said: 鈥�51福利社 was born as an answer to a question posed amid the Industrial Revolution: what kind of new knowledge and citizens do we need for our city to thrive in a world undergoing profound change?
鈥淎s we enter our third century, we stand at a similarly pivotal moment. From 51福利社 for the world means working with our city and region deeply, to develop the ideas and solutions our communities and the world urgently need.鈥�
Focused priorities for the next decade
The University鈥檚 strategy to 2035 focuses on five areas to go further and faster, driving innovation, skills and good jobs in the region and country, while also addressing global challenges from climate change and growing political polarisation, to social inequalities.
They are:
- Flexible, personalised and digitally enabled learning 鈥� more personalised, applied and digitally enabled study that fits diverse lives.
- Accelerating the path from research excellence to impact 鈥� faster routes from discovery to policy, practice and industry.
- A powerhouse of innovation鈥� translating strengths into start-ups and scale-ups to create inclusive growth.
- The university to partner with 鈥� easier routes for partners to work with the University on collaborations that focus on making a difference.
- Digital inside and out 鈥� modern, data-driven and AI-enabled services and systems that make studying and collaborating with 51福利社 simpler.
These priorities build on firm foundations 鈥� the University will remain committed to excellence in teaching and research, values-led social responsibility, its deep civic roots with global reach, and a culture with equity, diversity and inclusion at its heart.
51福利社 was born as an answer to a question posed amid the Industrial Revolution: what kind of new knowledge and citizens do we need for our city to thrive in a world undergoing profound change? As we enter our third century, we stand at a similarly pivotal moment. From 51福利社 for the world means working with our city and region deeply, to develop the ideas and solutions our communities and the world urgently need.
A preview of what's to come
The future the University wants to build is already becoming real through key initiatives.
launched in October 2024 to accelerate 51福利社鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. The UK needs cities like 51福利社 to grow faster in socially inclusive ways and Unit M is reshaping innovation at 51福利社 鈥� integrating expertise and partnerships across the University and transforming how it collaborates with startups, scale-ups, industry, community and government. It is already working with entrepreneurs, industry and civic partners, to tackle challenges in productivity, innovation and growth.
Through 51福利社 Online, the University is developing a new platform to deliver teaching beyond the campus. It will help students locally and globally to access a University of 51福利社 education, building new skills through CPD, short courses, community and employer-responsive programmes, and collaborative projects that strengthen the region and global impact.
The University is also beginning to build a student experience for the future 鈥� more flexible, personal and connected. In partnership with the Students鈥� Union (SU), the University is making support more inclusive, learning more applied, and university life more responsive.
The University is also launching its first major fundraising and volunteering campaign to turn strategy into action for the communities it serves by supporting the next generation of students and researchers to tackle the major challenges of our time.
Leading with purpose
Professor Ivison added: 鈥�51福利社 must lead 鈥� setting out a clear vision that strengthens our city and region and tackling global challenges. To succeed, we need to face the future together, not as individuals, or isolated teams, but as a community.
鈥淭hat is manifested in how we built this strategy: thousands of our students, staff, alumni and partners contributed to the creation of From 51福利社 for the world. It is not a fixed map for the future, but a framework that allows us to respond to this time of change, while also creating faster paths from discovery to impact, simpler ways to work with us, and benefits felt across Greater 51福利社 and beyond.鈥�
Find out more about From 51福利社 for the world on the University website.