uwe bristol strategy 2020 - fridgehub competitive global environment, ... working on the project in...

UWE Bristol Strategy 2020 Advancing knowledge, inspiring people, transforming futures

An artist’s impression of the proposed focal point of the new Frenchay Campus – Heartzone.

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We have teamed up with the BBC to co-design and co-deliver three new and exciting postgraduate courses – Documentary and Features, Wildlife Filmmaking and Journalism. Our graduates will have the knowledge and skills needed, taught by the best in the business, to succeed in their future careers.

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UWE BRISTOL STRATEGY 2020

PAGE 1

Contents

Page 2 Vice-Chancellor’s Introduction

Page 4 UWE Bristol Strategy 2020

Page 11 Work-stream 1: Outstanding learning

Page 12 Work-stream 2: Ready and able graduates

Page 13 Work-stream 3: Research with impact

Page 14 Work-stream 4: Strategic partnerships, connections and networks

Page 15 Key enabler 1: People: performance and development

Page 16 Key enabler 2: Place: resources, estate and infrastructure

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This strategy sets out a confident and ambitious future for UWE Bristol. It maps out the journey we must take to ensure our graduates and staff are well positioned for the future. It builds on our academic heritage, strengths and achievements to date; it places the student experience and engagement at the heart of our thinking; and it places our academic focus on the delivery of outstanding learning and teaching which is practice-oriented, professionally recognised and informed by high-impact research and scholarship.

We must compete with the best and be the best in the areas we prioritise. In doing so we differentiate this University and maximise our potential in what is a fast-moving, unpredictable and competitive global environment, where:

• Student choice will continue to be more empowered

• Student demand and diversity will continue to shift

• Digital technologies will revolutionise what we do and how we do it at every level of the organisation

• Strong connectivity and networks with businesses and the professions will be critical to create opportunities and economic growth

• UWE Bristol and the city-region will compete as a global University and city, in a global knowledge economy focused on research, creativity, innovation and excellence.

For UWE Bristol, higher education is about developing knowledge and skills, expanding the mind and cultural awareness, and instilling a thirst for new knowledge and its creation – a thirst and passion which runs throughout people’s lives. The outstanding learning experience that we generate supports the development of innovative, creative and courageous graduates who are passionate about their subject and curious to grow their knowledge and skills through critical enquiry and application.

Over the past three years we have focused on developing opportunities through our strategic partnerships and networks, alongside the implementation of significant structural and business change. Our primary aim has been, and continues to be, to support the delivery of an outstanding learner experience.

Through our strategic partnerships and networks we are transforming and expanding learner opportunities, strengthening our reputation, and enhancing the global standing, health, sustainability and prosperity of UWE Bristol and the Bristol city-region.

We are increasingly known for how we connect with our regional economy and communities and how we work in partnership with organisations across the globe. In particular, we are recognised for our commitment to inclusivity, social justice and equality of opportunity.

Through our success, we have made sure that UWE Bristol is in a strong position to thrive now and in the future. Our connectivity, engagement and commitment to delivering

excellent research-informed learning opportunities will continue to define our position going forward.

We realise we are on a journey and that there is still more to do to achieve the ambitions we set out in our previous strategic plan. Our 2020 strategy will ensure we continue to progress our journey and move forward with renewed purpose, clarity and focus; we will act decisively and confidently as we invest in excellence. We will respond to and shape market demands. We will seize the opportunities that support our ambitions. We will work with employers, practitioners and professional bodies to develop suites of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, full-time and part-time. We will continue to invest in and prioritise research and scholarship that is world-class, and we will support staff to engage in the scholarship that underpins our research-informed curricula. The balance between research, scholarship and learning will continue to inform our investment plans - in our people and in our estate. We will continue to prioritise our commitment to supporting healthy living and improving the environment and planet, to build healthy and sustainable futures.

There is real passion, energy and commitment at UWE Bristol to maximise our potential. We are facing new challenges, both local and global, with confidence as we enter a phase of sustained investment. I am proud to lead this creative and forward-thinking University with ambition and confidence for the future.

Professor Steve West Vice-Chancellor and CEO

UWE Bristol

Vice-Chancellor’s Introduction

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PAGE 2

Project Zulu and UWE Bristol, working together in partnership, recently brought a number of school children from Sithobelumthetho Primary School, Madadeni Township, South Africa, to the UK to raise funds to install solar panels on the roof of their school. Over £15,000 was raised through two weeks of scheduled performances across the UK, including singing, drumming and dancing in front of audiences of up to 2,000 people. Each year, UWE Education students visit the school on teaching placements as part of a longstanding relationship established by the Department.

Project Zulu

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Watch the Project Zulu film and be inspired

n Professionally recognised and practice-oriented programmes, which contribute to an outstanding learning experience and generate excellent graduate employment opportunities and outcomes for all students

n Connecting and working with our local and regional economy, businesses and communities and international partners to advance knowledge, and to advance the health, sustainability and prosperity of our locality and region

n Being digitally advanced, agile and responsive in the way we work, embracing and leading change to create new sustainable opportunities

n Being inclusive and global in outlook and approach.

Our ambitionTo thrive in this environment, our ambition is to be known nationally and internationally as the best University for:

Our core purpose is advancing knowledge, inspiring people, transforming futures These are not just words – they are lived through the actions, behaviours, achievements and ambition of all those who learn and work at, or with, UWE Bristol.

This strategy sets out how our core purpose will steer us through the years ahead.

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“ ”94% of graduates are in work or further study. (Which? University Guide 2012)


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OUR PRIORITIES FOR ACTIONWe will focus our activities on four priorities:

1 OUTSTANDING LEARNING: All our students experiencing engaging and outstanding learning, teaching and support services throughout their student journey, fully utilising advances in technology to support their academic, professional and social growth and development

2 READY AND ABLE GRADUATES: Graduates ready and able to realise their full potential, make a positive contribution to society and their chosen field of employment or further study, and play their full part in the development of a sustainable global society and knowledge economy

3 RESEARCH WITH IMPACT: World-class performance in selected areas of research that meets the needs of a sustainable economy and society, and feeds the scholarship and enquiry that underpins our learning and teaching

4 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKS: Strategic partnerships, connections and networks that differentiate our academic activity and enhance the global reputation, health, sustainability and prosperity of the University, Bristol and its city-region.

These priorities are in keeping with our core purpose, respond to the external environment, build on our strengths, and will help us to achieve our ambition.

There are two key enabling strategies that are critical to support the delivery of excellence across each of these four priorities:

1 PEOPLE: PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

2 PLACE: RESOURCES, ESTATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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Staff and students from Geography and Environmental Management are working with a range of partners on an integrated approach to the problem of providing abundant and clean water supplies for poor communities in Uganda. Oscar McLaughlin, an undergraduate student from the Department, recently spent six months working on the project in Uganda as part of his studies, funded by our ‘Better Together’ scheme. A further four students will be visiting Uganda later this year to extend this work.

Supporting water security in Africa

Find out more about research in Geography and Environmental Management


BLOODHOUND SSC will attempt to be the first land vehicle to achieve 1000mph, significantly breaking all former land speed records. We are proud to be part of this exciting engineering adventure which aims to inspire the next generation of 21st century engineers.

We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements and the journeys they take as they pursue their future careers and passions. Each year we celebrate with students from Creative Industries and Environment and Technology as they exhibit their final year work through our hugely popular Degree Shows.

Celebrating our student talent

THE WAY WE WORKAt UWE Bristol, to advance our core purpose, ambition and priorities we will support our staff and students to work and live in a sustainable way and be known for:

• Striving to be the best

• Working together to create opportunities and solutions

• Respecting all

• Deciding effectively

• Being active life long learners

• Being proud of the University

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR STUDENTSOf particular importance is how we raise aspirations and inspire and engage with our students across each of our priorities:

• Outstanding learning – building on our sector-leading student representation structure to work in partnership with our students across the University’s decision making bodies, helping to inform the actions we take, including development of the curricula

• Ready and able graduates – ensuring that the learning and skills developed through the extra-curricular activities provided by either the University or the Students’ Union inform students’ academic and personal development. We will work in partnership with our students to successfully showcase their achievements and demonstrate what it means to be a UWE Bristol graduate

• Strategic partnerships, connections and networks – working together with the Students’ Union to ensure that the extra-curricular opportunities we offer enable our students to make a positive difference to society

• Research with impact – providing our students with opportunities to engage with and contribute to research conducted within the institution, ensuring that it supports an outstanding learning experience.

We will, with the Students’ Union, recognise and celebrate the positive contributions of our students to the experience of their peers, development of the University and to the wider community.

Curventa and Siemens

BLOODHOUND SSC

Visit the BLOODHOUND

SSC website

View our 2013 Degree Show

galleries

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Bristol Robotics Laboratory – at the forefront of multi-disciplinary robotics research

“”

BRL is a unique collaboration that harnesses the collective strengths

of its university partners, and brings together the best expertise from industry and the academic community to spearhead Britain’s efforts to be a world leader in modern advanced robotics.

David Willetts,Minister for Universities and Science, 2012 Visit BRL’s website


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I am determined and motivated to create positive outcomes from my

personal tragedy. I am passionate about helping to educate as wide an audience as possible about the psychological effects of living with a disfigurement.

Naomi Milward, 41, injured in a road accident in Kenya in 2002.

Appearance matters

“”

Photographer: Joanne de Nobriga www.spiritheartphotography.com

The Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) is a centre of excellence which focuses world-leading psychological and interdisciplinary research and practice into appearance, disfigurement, body image and related areas. Motivated by the desire to see greater acceptance of differences in appearance as well as the achievement of meaningful change in healthcare provision, their work extends knowledge and understanding in areas such as burns, cleft and lip palate, cancer, cosmetic surgery and general dissatisfaction with appearance within society.

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THE ROAD TO 2020As we work towards our 2020 ambition, based on our four priorities, we will see:

• A £200m planned investment in our estate, infrastructure and staff to further advance our learning, teaching, scholarship and internationally recognised research

• The University concentrate its academic provision on programmes that are market responsive and have a professional and practice-oriented focus, with demonstrable partnership activity, impact and potential

• The introduction of a ‘real world’ experience for all our students – eg an internship, placement, project-work, show-casing, volunteering and/or community outreach experience

• The development of new learning and teaching delivery modes for both on and off Campus, including problem based learning and interactive on-line learning

• An increase in reputation enhancing and commercially attractive transnational, international and part-time opportunities to maximise our reach and impact, based on quality and market-demand

• A consolidation of our practice-oriented continuous professional development, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision, to support our impact on the regional knowledge-based economies and our world-class research and scholarship

• A review and targeted investment in our research priorities in light of our strengths and impact.

Our ambitious master plan will transform Frenchay Campus over the next ten years. It follows the purchase of 70 acres of land adjoining the Campus from Hewlett-Packard in 2008. The new Frenchay Campus will create a vibrant and attractive estate which is integrated with our local communities and has sustainable transport networks.

A 21st century University

The journey to 2020 will be a complex one; with demographic, political, economic, environmental and technological changes ahead, at a global and national level, all having an impact on how we operate and the actions we need to take to achieve our ambitions.

Our approach to planning will take a long and medium-term view, to focus and prioritise our activities, ensuring accountability, responsibility and reward, whilst also encouraging the innovation and agility that is essential to deliver our ambition for UWE Bristol in 2020.

“ Our Team Entrepreneurship course is an exciting new approach to studying and learning about business. Working in teams, students set-up and run their own

companies, finding and competing for real projects for real organisations and generating profits for their business. courses.uwe.ac.uk/N191 ”

Find out more about our

future plans

The new UWE Stadium is the future home of Bristol Rovers Football Club. This unique partnership will bring first class facilities and opportunities to the University and the region. With the football club’s investment of around £40m to build the new stadium, it will provide student internship and employment opportunities, a banqueting suite, teaching space, sports and coaching facilities and real world teaching experiences for students on relevant degrees.


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Work-stream 1: Outstanding learning

2020 ambition

All our students experiencing engaging and outstanding learning, teaching and support services throughout their student journey, fully utilising advances in technology to support their academic, professional and social growth and development

This work-stream is our number one priority because we are, first and foremost, a learning institution committed to exceeding the high expectations of our learners.

Through this work-stream, the outstanding quality of the learning experience that we offer will enhance UWE Bristol’s reputation, attractiveness as a place to learn and capacity to meet the knowledge and skills needs of society and the economy. The quality of what we offer will also facilitate our participation in strong national and global networks and further enhance our productive working relationships with business.

An outstanding learning experience and the actions detailed above are essential to generate the excellent employment opportunities and outcomes for our students, from all backgrounds, that are central to our ambition and core purpose.

Measure

Overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey

We will achieve this through:

1. Outstanding staff supported in the provision of a high quality, relevant and engaging practice-oriented learning experience, both on and off Campus and for all learners, (full-time, part-time, undergraduate, postgraduate, work-based, and undertaking CPD), fully utilising information technologies and global information sources

2. All academic departments actively engaged in continuous improvement, effective student engagement and feedback, and the sharing of good practice, adopting ‘best in class’ standards on an on-going basis to ensure high quality performance and innovation across all our programmes

3. Teaching and learning supported by excellent library and IT resources, specialist laboratory and practice spaces, flexible learning spaces and main-streaming the use of digital technologies to support and deliver practice-oriented learning opportunities across all our programmes

4. High quality and responsive business processes and professional services that support an excellent and ‘seamless’ experience throughout the student journey and our teaching and learning activities

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Work-stream 2: Ready and able graduates

2020 ambition

Graduates ready and able to realise their full potential, make a positive contribution to society and their chosen field of employment or further study, and play their full part in the development of a sustainable global society and knowledge economy

Our graduates go on to do great things. This work-stream is about ensuring that the design and delivery of our courses and student opportunities are the best they can be, so that every UWE Bristol graduate is supported to engage and fulfil their potential. In a tough jobs market, our graduates will continue to stand out because of the knowledge, attributes and skills they have gained whilst studying with UWE Bristol and the opportunities they have had to apply what they have learnt in ‘the real world’, gaining the knowledge and experience they need to thrive in their chosen field.

Through this work-stream, the excellence of our graduates, their knowledge and skills that can drive economic and social development, and the careers they succeed in, will all enhance UWE Bristol’s reputation and attractiveness as a place to learn and research. The success of our graduates will facilitate our participation in strong global academic networks and further enhance our productive working relationships with businesses and business networks across the globe.

Ready and able graduates and the actions detailed above are essential to generate the excellent employment opportunities and outcomes for our students, from all backgrounds, that are central to our ambition and core purpose.

Measure

% of students who take up real world opportunities

% of students that are in graduate destinations after six months

International student population at UWE Bristol


1. A portfolio of ‘first choice’ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with an applied or professional focus, predicated on practice, applied research, scholarship and employer engagement

2. ‘Real world’ opportunities, such as internships, coaching, peer assistant, placements, project work, community service and volunteering embedded throughout the University and available for every student

3. Being an inclusive university with a diverse student and staff population, where difference and different perspectives are explored and celebrated, supporting our students to play their full part in our global society and economy

4. All students taught by academic and professional support staff who are scholars, experts and leaders in their field, connected to industry, practice or the professions


Work-stream 3: Research with impact

2020 ambition

World-class performance in selected areas of research that meets the needs of a sustainable economy and society, and feeds the scholarship and enquiry that underpins our learning and teaching

Research isn’t about what happens behind closed doors. At UWE Bristol we are committed to ensuring that our focused areas of research have an impact on society and the economy, and that our outputs and knowledge explorations directly inform our teaching and learning.

Through this work-stream, we will enhance our reputation for excellence and impact in our research and knowledge exchange. This will increase our attractiveness as a place to learn, and ensure we can draw on new and alternative sources of funding, where productive working relationships with business will be critical. Through this work-stream we will also increase our ability to participate in strong global networks which may in the future reduce the importance of individual institutions.

Our research impact and the actions detailed above are essential to achieve our core purpose and ambition to advance knowledge and enhance the health, sustainability and prosperity of Bristol, the city-region and the West of England.

Measure

% of research rated as world-class or internationally excellent

Income from knowledge exchange activities

Income from Research Councils, European Funding Councils and industry supported research


1. Research excellence that is recognised as world-class, building and sustaining critical capacity and capability attracting funding from Research Councils, European and Regional grant awarding agencies and industry

2. Knowledge exchange and social, community and public engagement that maximise the impact and return on investment of our scholarship and research

3. An integrated approach to research and teaching, enriching the curriculum and consolidating areas of academic excellence

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PAGE 14

Work-stream 4: Strategic partnerships, connections and networks

2020 ambition

Strategic partnerships, connections and networks that differentiate our academic activity and enhance the global reputation, health, sustainability and prosperity of the University, Bristol and its city-region

At UWE Bristol our partnerships and networks add real value and opportunity to our learning and working environment.

Through this work-stream we will differentiate our provision, ensuring that we provide a unique offer across our learning, teaching and research activities, whilst also playing a leading role in the vision for the Bristol city-region. This will enhance our reputation, the outstanding learning experience and opportunities that we offer our students, and the success of our graduates. This will also help us to expand our research impact and enable us to play our part in maximising the potential of the talent-base in Bristol and the city-region.

This work-stream is essential to achieve our core purpose and our ambition of enhancing the health, sustainability and prosperity of Bristol, the city-region and the West of England. Our international strategic partnerships will ensure our participation in strong global educational and business networks to support our ambition at both a local and global level.

Measure

% of students from low participation neighbourhoods

Number of students registered on UWE Bristol degrees with collaborative partners in the UK and overseas

Number and % of staff who are leading or playing a key role in high impact networks


1. Effective national and international collaborations with schools, colleges, universities and other partners to raise aspirations and attainment, encourage and support progression to higher education, and recruitment to UWE Bristol

2. Active and connected community and public engagement, developing our leadership role in working with diverse communities of practice, public organisations and individuals, maximising the potential of the talent-base in UWE Bristol and the Bristol city-region

3. High quality and fit-for-purpose professional support for our business engagement, working with key regional and national partners in our areas of expertise and leading high impact networks to promote economic growth, sustainability and social enterprise in the Bristol city-region and beyond

4. A proactive and systematic approach to partnership development, engagement and enhancement, with an appropriate number of key strategic partners (at home and overseas), consolidating activity to deliver the highest value for UWE Bristol across all work-streams, in particular enhancing our learning and teaching, research and infrastructure


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Key enabler 1: People: performance and development2020 ambition

A culture of high performance and constructive challenge

UWE Bristol is a people-organisation. Our people are our strongest asset and their health and well-being, commitment and performance is critical to achieving our ambitions.

Through this work-stream, we will enhance our reputation as an attractive place to work and learn, and ensure we are prepared, agile and ambitious enough to succeed in any future environment.

Measure

% of staff who recommend UWE Bristol as a place to work


1. Clear roles, objectives and behaviours aligned to our core purpose and strategy

2. Building individual, team and organisational capability and capacity to deliver our strategy, by enhancing skills and knowledge throughout the organisation

3. Communication and collaborative leadership that empowers our people to achieve their potential and fosters engagement, innovation and creativity

4. Our agility, focusing on continuous improvement, being quality driven and change ready in approach to enable us to achieve sustainable long term goals

Work-stream 4: Strategic partnerships, connections and networks

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PAGE 16

Key enabler 2: Place: resources, estate and infrastructure2020 ambition

A strong and confident financial position, a robust approach to strategic management, and a sustainable learning environment - to enable our people to flourish

Our success in the new environment will depend on how agile and responsive we are able to be, how well we are able to seize and evaluate new strategic opportunities, and how well we are able to focus our investments and activities to maximise their impact on delivering a learning environment and experience that achieves our priorities and ambition.

Measure

Surplus each year

Per capita carbon footprint

Estate usage and efficiency


1. A clear and transparent approach to strategic management that facilitates prioritisation, accountability, responsibility and reward, whilst also encouraging the innovation and agility that is essential to deliver our ambition

2. All budget units operating in a sustainable way, being respected and recognised for best practice management standards across strategic and financial planning, health and safety, equality and diversity and sustainability

3. A learning environment that is flexible, open and digitally connected, supporting innovation and the shared generation of ideas and solutions across all our campuses

4. Sustainable and healthy behaviours underpinning all that UWE Bristol does


My career was never planned as such. I’m from a small mining town in

Yorkshire and knew no one who had gone to university.

I’ve worked here at UWE Bristol for 13 years now and I know it sounds idealistic but I really do believe that I have the best job in the world! I feel that my research gives me the authority to teach and the stuff we’re doing makes a difference - developing technologies that help improve healthcare, food security and better management of our resources.

The best hope I have of changing the world for the better is through my research and teaching, and using these to try and inspire people to share my passion for science and the environment. Our students use the knowledge they acquire here at UWE bristol and forge ahead in the world, working for large corporations, small businesses, in education and research shaping the future. I’m really proud of that.

Darren Reynolds, Associate Professor in Bio-Sensing Research, Department of Applied Sciences.

The best job in the world

“

”

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Find out more about working

with us

An artist’s impression of the proposed focal point of the new Frenchay Campus – Heartzone.

uwe bristol strategy 2020 - fridgehub competitive global environment, ... working on the project in...

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