a clear future

RGU: A clear future O u r S t r a t e g y

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T h e R o b e r t G o r d o n U n i v e r s i t y

A clearfuture

Our Strategy

O u r S t r a t e g y RGU: A clear future

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The RobeRT GoRdon UniveRsiTy (RGU) has an excellenT

RepUTaTion foR leaRninG and ReseaRch foR The Real

woRld and is hiGhly valUed in iTs local commUniTy

by sTUdenTs and employeRs alike. This is a solid

foUndaTion Upon which To bUild foR The fUTURe.

fo UndATio na solid

the main challenges for uK higher education institutions in the coming years are likely to be twofold: shifting demographic patterns and the limited availability of public funding, leading to a need to diversify income streams - both have implications for what we do and how we do it.

We believe that rgu has a very clear role to play in the future success of Scotland and the North east, and at a national and international level in our particular areas of academic strength. the challenges that lie ahead will test us to the full. We believe that this strategy provides the blueprint for continued long term success.

eneRGy and The enviRonmenT

healTh and social caRe

The cReaTive indUsTRies

bUsiness and manaGemenT

applied science and TechnoloGy


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engages in applied research and knowledge transfer in areas of recognised academic expertise.

Serves the needs of its local region, people and economy.

Has a significant national and international dimension.

Is financially robust and invests in its people and its facilities.

Collaborates with partner organisations and institutions with complementary capabilities and ambitions.

Demonstrates leadership in its local community.

We envisage a university that:

Is modern, vibrant and successful.

Has a clear sense of purpose and plays to its areas of academic strength and reputation.

Places the student at the heart of its provision.

Is rigorous in its approach to ensuring the value and quality of its academic provision.

Provides a coherent and relevant range of undergraduate, postgraduate and life-long learning opportunities.

Is recognised for working effectively with industry, the professions and the service sectors.

RGU has a veRy cleaR fUtURe. BUildinG on oUR stRenGths

and oUR pRoGRess to date, We aim to Be one of the

Best modeRn UniveRsities in the UK, in an incReasinGly

challenGinG enviRonment.

in achieving this objective, we will be clear about the markets which we serve and the services we deliver. we will be responsive to the changing environment and developments in the economy and society. ongoing development and continuous improvement will help to ensure that we set the benchmark for quality in all aspects of our work.

AmbiTionOur


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oUR sUccess Will Be measURed By What We do and hoW

We do it. as an oRGanisation We Will act and Respond

in Ways Which set Us apaRt and UndeRpin and sUppoRt

Us in the achievement of oUR amBitions.

who we are

In order to achieve our ambitions and fulfil our full potential, we will set out to be:

Responsive & dynamic • pRagmatic • pRofessional • caRing • EntrEprEnEurial & innovative • passionatE & couragEous


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enrich the all-round experience of our students throughout their engagement with the University.

enhance the quality and relevance of our taught provision.

increase the diversification of our student population.

expand our provision of corporate programmes and life-long learning opportunities.

focus and concentrate our research and knowledge transfer activities.

secure our economic and environmental sustainability.

To achieve oUR ambiTions we will:

OurPriorities


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challenge every area of the University to consider how it can enhance its impact on the student experience.

engage positively with our alumni, ensuring their continuous professional development and life-long learning needs continue to be met and that the University benefits, in turn, from the wealth of their experience, talent and influence.

enRich The all-RoUnd expeRience of oUR sTUdenTs

ThRoUGhoUT TheiR enGaGemenT wiTh The UniveRsiTy

we will:

involve students in the design and review of services and provision to ensure they continue to make a positive contribution to the student experience.

enhance access to high quality information, advice and support in relation to both academic and personal matters enabling students to reach informed decisions.

develop administrative systems and procedures which impact on students to ensure they consistently provide a positive and professional experience.

promote and support the cultural experience of our students and their engagement in sporting, artistic and other social activities.

EXPERIENCESTUDENT


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enhance the qUality and Relevance

of oUR taUGht pRovision

TEACHIN G & LEARNING

We will:

Monitor and review the scope of our portfolio of provision to ensure that it is relevant and attractive to students, employers and other relevant stakeholders, reflecting changing needs and opportunities.

ensure the value and quality of our courses through effective implementation of our quality assurance and enhancement processes.

ensure that our staff engage in appropriate scholarship and professional development.

encourage and support students to engage effectively with their studies and with the university in general. We expect our students to be active partners in the learning process.

Continue to invest in teaching, accommodation, social facilities and resources to create a physical environment which is modern, stimulating and encourages development and learning.


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Develop our distance learning provision to meet the needs of individuals and their employers in accessing our services in ways which are both effective and efficient.

recognise the implications for all our activities of an increasingly diverse student population and put in place arrangements to ensure that we respond to the needs of students and capitalise on the opportunities that such diversity brings.

FO R ALL

We will:

Diversify our student intake to improve the balance of participation across all Schools in terms of level of study, country of origin and national reach.

Strengthen and further develop our partnerships with selected further education colleges as a key focus of our widening participation agenda.

Promote and develop our outreach and support arrangements to extend our participation from under-represented groups and rural communities.

Offer more structured part-time learning opportunities which support our diversification and growth objectives.

incRease the diveRsification of oUR stUdent popUlation

ACCESS


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expand oUR pRovision of coRpoRate

pRoGRammes and life-lonG leaRninG

oppoRtUnities

THROUGH LIFELEARNING

we will:

Grow our provision of corporate programmes significantly in a way which is sustainable over the longer term.

develop an approach for corporate customers that is bespoke, commercially-focused and meets expectations, working in partnership with them to ensure that their education and training needs are met at every level.

continue to develop our continuous professional development provision, in terms of content and delivery methods, in response to the needs of our markets.

distinguish ourselves in the market by the quality of our service, the relevance of our programmes and our flexibility in responding to individual corporate requirements.


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focUs oUR ReseaRch and KnoWledGe tRansfeR

activities to infoRm and UndeRpin oUR teachinG

capaBility

RESEARCH & COMMERCIALISATION

we will:

focus our resources on those areas of applied research where we can expect to achieve national and international recognition for quality.

develop our capability to exploit interdisciplinary research to respond more effectively to the needs of the economy and society.

pursue a vigorous knowledge transfer agenda to exploit and commercialise our intellectual property.

develop our consultancy provision, making our wider expertise more readily available to our corporate customers.


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secURe oUR economic and

enviRonmental sUstainaBility

we will:

implement arrangements for sustainable income generation and cost containment.

invest on the basis of well-founded appraisals and financial projections to ensure that we do not over-commit resources.

ensure the experience of current students and customers is considered equally with those of the future in allocating resources and committing to developments.

contribute to environmental sustainability, both through our planned capital investments and through our ongoing management of facilities and resources. we aim to take a lead in these matters.

FUTURE

ASUSTAINABLE


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of purposeClarity

We knoW Who We are. We knoW Where We are going.

We aim to be one of the best modern universities in the uk.

We have set oUt oUR vision foR RGU and hoW We

plan to achieve oUR Goals.

by necessity, this document only considers the different strands of our strategy at the highest level. This strategy will be supported by our key operational strategies which will be reviewed and updated to ensure consistency. our more detailed operating plans, revisited on an annual basis, will ensure clarity of purpose and focus our efforts on those activities which will lead us to achieve our strategic objectives.

our key operational strategies are:

teachinG and leaRninG

ReseaRch andcommeRcialisation

BUsiness inteRaction

hUman ResoURce

estates

financial

we have some major challenges to face and some ambitious plans. however, we believe that RGU is well-positioned for continued success and owe a debt of gratitude to all who have contributed to our many achievements thus far – students, graduates, staff, governors, partners and other stakeholders.

we now call on our stakeholders to endorse our clear vision for the future and our strategy for sustained success and to lend their support in helping us achieve our vision, of making RGU one of the best modern universities in the Uk.


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www.rgu.ac.uk/governance/strategy

the robert gordon university, a Scottish charity registered under charity number SCO13781

The Robert Gordon Universityschoolhill

aberdeen ab10 1fRscotland, Uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 262000

www.rgu.ac.uk

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a clear future

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