University of Stirling Strategic Plan

"Everywhere is local – excellence is our standard"

What we do here – in the heart of Scotland – is transforming the lives of people across the world. Proof that we make a difference can be demonstrated across the University, and in independent evaluations of our research and the quality of our teaching. 

This strategic plan sets out the University’s direction to 2030 and beyond. It builds on the strong momentum and success of our previous strategic plan, and it reinforces our ambition for excellence in all we do.

Our mission

"We strive for excellence in all we do, delivering world-leading teaching and research, supporting students to discover new knowledge and develop their skills, and making a difference to our region and the wider world."

Our values

We will be guided in our mission by our institutional values:

University of Stirling values - Ambition

Ambition for our people, our institution, our city, region and the global community to be the best they can be.

University of Stirling strategic plan values: Integrity

Integrity in how we behave – being recognised as open, honest and trustworthy.

University of Stirling values - Respect

Respect and care for each other, harnessing inclusivity to enrich what we do and how we do it.

Our shared vision

To make an impact on people's lives and be a force for good in the world.

Three key pillars underpin the delivery of our vision:

Our shared vision: people

People: Our community supports one another to deliver excellence in all we do.

Our shared vision: place

Place: From our roots in Stirling, we are making an impact regionally, nationally and globally.

Our shared vision: purpose

Purpose: We are driven by our ambition to enhance lives and be a force for good in the world.

Our strategic priorities

We will deliver our ambitions by maximising our resources and prioritising five focus areas:

Strategic plan priority - students

Students

Focusing on personal and academic growth to cultivate creative, responsible, skilled and resilient graduates.

Strategic plan priority - staff

Staff

Enhancing our culture of support for one another, enabling colleagues to develop and sustain fulfilling careers while delivering our ambitions individually and collectively.

Strategic plan priority - research

Research

Producing world-leading research and innovation with national and global impact.

Strategic plan priority - engagement

Engagement

Partnering with key players to make a difference in our city, region, nation and the wider world, and harnessing the power of our global alumni network to support the University’s mission.

Strategic plan priority - health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing

Investing in our people’s physical and mental health, and enhancing society’s health and wellbeing through world-leading research and education.

Delivering our strategy together

If you want a sense of what Stirling is about, then the words of novelist and philosopher Iris Murdoch are worth considering: she said, education “opens our eyes, our ears”. Murdoch believed “the educated mind” is liberating and transformative. We know this to be true from the experience of seeing more than 110,000 Stirling students graduate.

Although we are a young university, our research and teaching is making a tangible difference to the world. At Stirling we value ability, not background.

Hear more from Professor Sir Gerry McCormac about our strategic plan >

 

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac in the Cottrell Building

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac
Principal and Vice-Chancellor