University Strategy 2030
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/mission-strategies/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
A University for Public Good
Our principles
Our aims
Public Good in action
The Vision for York was created in October 2021, and provides a framework for how we work together as a community to deliver our aims, as we look ahead to 2030.
Shaping our future, refreshing our strategy
We're refreshing our strategy to guide us until 2035 and beyond. Read more about what this means and how to get involved in the conversation.
The four core University principles
Underpinning the Vision, Our University Strategy 2030 is based on four core principles and focuses around four key aims that inspire every area of university life - our research, teaching, support and community aspirations.
Environmental sustainability
Improving environmental conditions is not only a prerequisite for societies and economies to flourish, it is also a powerful driver for research, education and partnerships.
Collaboration across multidisciplinary boundaries
Through the partnerships we create we put to rest the assumption that competition lies at the heart of progress.
Internationalism
We embrace global awareness and responsibility in all that we do. We seek partners with complementary skill sets, ambitions and networks, so that together we can address pressing and emerging challenges.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Freedom of inquiry and expression are central to intellectual advancement and to social and economic development.
Our strategic aims
Four strategic aims evolved from our principles, focusing our thinking and providing bold and distinctive paths of action.
Curiosity-driven and action-oriented research
Providing an education that empowers
Local commitment on a global scale
Creating a community without limits
Curiosity-driven and action-oriented research
By investing in people and systems to advance curiosity-driven research and its action-oriented applications we are at the forefront of providing the evidence base and practice that are required for communities – here at home and abroad – to flourish.
What does this look like?
Research excellence that drives discovery and inspires our teaching
- Maintaining our focus and drive for research excellence, recognising that it is our curiosity-driven, impactful research that sets us apart.
- Forging new international partnerships where research drives engagement and education.
- Achieving closer integration of our teaching, research, and engagement.
- Recognising our students are both recipients and drivers of discovery and new knowledge.
Supporting our research community
- Evolving a progressive research culture.
- Investing in next generational, exceptional researchers.
- Creating the right processes and systems to support research.
Engagement with industry for impact and income
- Building ambitious industry partnerships.
- Leveraging opportunities for impact and income.
- Building the infrastructure to support our industry partnerships.
Providing an education that empowers
The University of York nurtures and fulfils ambitions, and prepares students for an ever-evolving world. We design innovative pedagogies and curricula, underpinned by technology, widen access locally and globally and eradicate achievement gaps.
What does this look like?
Transforming the whole student experience
- Developing our physical and digital systems, processes and services to deliver a consistent experience along the entire student journey.
- Making effective and consistent use of data to provide a personalised approach.
High quality, flexible, inclusive and accessible lifelong learning journeys
- Developing innovative pedagogies and curricula.
- Teaching and learning underpinned by technology.
- Developing new ways of studying.
- Preparing students for an ever-changing world.
- Providing personal development opportunities that enable students to benefit from lifelong learning throughout their futures.
Widening access locally and globally, and eradicating achievement gaps
- Diversifying our student community.
- Closing gaps in continuation, progression and awards across the diversity of our student cohorts.
- Increasing access to digital knowledge and resources.
- Expanding our distance learning community.
Local commitment on a global scale
We are building strong, collaborative partnerships in York and around the world. By promoting collaboration beyond disciplinary boundaries, and with diverse people and entities from across society, we combine relevant expertise and experiences, generate synergies for lasting benefit, and expand the reach of our research and education.
What does this look like?
Partnerships with purpose
- Pursuing partnerships aligned to our principles.
- Creating empowering and engaging collaborations beyond disciplinary boundaries.
- Choosing partnerships and collaborations that inspire our teaching and innovate our research.
Partnerships designed to be different
- Forging our own path to finding partnerships.
- Having a different perspective to partnership benefits.
- Challenging any unconscious bias or academic arrogance.
Partnerships that make a difference
- Expanding local and regional partnership opportunities.
- Developing City and regional collaboration for public good.
- Sharing insight from real-world experience.
Creating a community without limits
We are building a diverse community that fosters a sense of belonging, and operates at the highest academic and ethical standards. By establishing an inclusive environment, removing barriers to progression for our staff and students, and creating physical, virtual and cultural spaces that facilitate rich exchanges, we transform perceptions and enable a culture of possibilities where new knowledge is generated and everyone can thrive.
What does this look like?
A sense of belonging and inclusion
- Creating an environment of opportunity and respect.
- Recognising our behaviours are just as important as our technical skills and developing inclusive, supportive behaviours in our workplaces, social spaces, and classrooms.
- Building awareness of what we mean by 'inclusive' and ensure we value the diversity of our community.
- Support freedom of inquiry and expression.
- Fostering a culture that values people.
The right environments to work and study
- Rethinking how we work, and how we teach and assess.
- Creating a collaborative and innovative campus.
- Embracing digital solutions and tools.
- Developing a safe space environment.
- Delivering a new student building.
- Providing opportunities for students outside the classroom.
Valuing individual talent in our staff and supporting their personal progression
- Valuing the whole person - viewing individual talent as what enables us to be successful.
- Addressing barriers to progression for colleagues wishing to further their careers.
- Developing diverse talent by developing talent management programmes across all grades.
- Valuing continuous contributions from colleagues not wishing to progress.
Public good in action: delivering the strategy
Find out more about some of the ways we're delivering on our strategic principles and aims.
Community stories
Our community are already putting our commitment to public good into action. Hear their stories and find out more about the inspiring work our staff and students are doing.
Resources
- Download the full strategy and know where we're heading, read the University of York Strategy 2020-2030 (PDF
Find out more
Find out
Background to the strategy: find out how we got here and what it's all about.