MAKING IMPORTANT

THINGS HAPPEN

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK2015–2020

‘We nurture and invest in intellectual talent and ideas, delivering world-class research and education, unlocking value and

making important things happen.’

Mission: Growing Intellectual Capital

MAKING IMPORTANT

THINGS HAPPEN

VA L UE S > EXCELLENCE We have the highest standards and know we can always be better.

LEADERSH IPWe shape our own future and support the success of others.

P IONEER ING SP IR I TWe enjoy being first to do things and we take calculated risks.

PURPOSEFULNESSWe know our strengths, focus on our goals, and face adversity with resilience and persistence.

PRAGMAT ISMWe are well-grounded and focus on tackling and solving problems.

WWW.BIRMINGHAM.AC.UK/STRATEGY2020

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

Vice-Chancellor’s Foreword

R E S E A R C H P 6 –7R E S E A R C H T H AT M AT T E R S

I N F L U E N C E P 10 –11E N G A G E M E N T F O R I M P A C T

E D U C AT I O N P 8 – 9L E A R N I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E

R E S O U R C E S P 12–13A V I B R A N T I N T E L L E C T U A L

E N V I R O N M E N T

‘Academic rigour, original thinking, innovation, and delivery made possible by brilliant people, outstanding facilities,

and strong collaborations.’

Research: Research that Matters

87%O F R E S E A R C H H A S G L O B A L I M P A C T (REF2014)

7

SUPPORTING RESEARCH EXCELLENCEOver 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 NOW IS TO DO MORE AND BETTER RESEARCH , TACKL ING THE GREAT CHALLENGES FAC ING THE WORLD . WE W ILL ACH IEVE TH IS BY FOCUS ING ON THESE F I VE 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

Growing the number of postgraduate researchers at Birmingham

WWW.B IRM INGHAM .AC .UK/STRATEGY2020/RESEARCH

‘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.’

Education: Learning for the Future

OUR STUDENTS ARE MORE SAT ISF IED 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

OUR EDUCAT IONAL AMB IT IONS ARE NOT YET SAT ISF IED . WE STR IVE TO DEL I VER AN OUTSTAND ING EDUCAT ION FOR TOMORROW AS WELL AS TODAY, AND W ILL SUCCEED BY FOCUS ING OUR EFFORTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS .

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

WWW.B IRM INGHAM .AC .UK/STRATEGY2020/EDUCAT ION

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T HE Y E A R F OR GR A DU AT E E MP L OY ME N T 2016 (THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE )

‘Our goal is to use our research and education strengths in science and engineering, social science, and humanities to increase

well-being and prosperity.’

Influence: Engagement for Impact

DEVELOPING P IONEERING ALL IANCES

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

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANC ING THE M IDLANDS ’ REACH AND POTENT IAL AND TO MAK ING A D I FFERENCE INTERNAT IONALLY. OVER THE NEXT F I VE YEARS WE W ILL CONT INUE TO WORK W ITH OTHERS ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ORDER TO LEVERAGE EXTERNAL INVESTMENT, CREATE JOBS , AND GENERATE VALUE .

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

Working with other universities to increase our reach, influence and impact

M O R E T H A N

£1 BILL ION C O N T R I B U T E D T O T H E L O C A L E C O N O M Y E A C H Y E A R (OXFORD ECONOMICS)

WWW.B IRM INGHAM .AC .UK/STRATEGY2020/ INFLUENCE

‘A well-resourced, well-managed and ambitious university with people at its heart.’

Resources: a Vibrant Intellectual Environment

A PLACE TO FLOUR ISHThe 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 MILL ION R A I S E D T H R O U G H C I R C L E S O F I N F L U E N C E F U N D R A I S I N G C A M P A I G N

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

OVER THE NEXT F I VE YEARS WE W ILL USE THE RESOURCES WE GENERATE PURPOSEFULLY, DEC IS I VELY, AND ACCOUNTABLY AND CONT INUE TO INVEST. WE W ILL ALSO REAFF IRM OUR COMMITMENT TO AND EXPECTAT IONS OF STAFF AND UNDERSCORE OUR CULTURE OF PARTNERSH IP AND TRUST BETWEEN ACADEMICS AND PROFESS IONAL STAFF.

WWW.B IRM INGHAM .AC .UK/STRATEGY2020/RESOURCES

Measuring Our Success

RESEARCHOur 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 IONOur 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.

‘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.’

I NFLUENCEOur 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.

RESOURCESOur 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.

1147

8 ©

Uni

vers

ity o

f Birm

ingh

am 2

015.

Prin

ted

on a

recy

cled

gra

de p

aper

con

tain

ing

100%

pos

t-co

nsum

er w

aste

.

Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

www.birmingham.ac.uk