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 values
We will be guided in our mission by our institutional values:
Ambition for our people, our institution, our city, region and the global community to be the best they can be.
Integrity in how we behave – being recognised as open, honest and trustworthy.
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:
People: Our community supports one another to deliver excellence in all we do.
Place: From our roots in Stirling, we are making an impact regionally, nationally and globally.
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:
Students
Focusing on personal and academic growth to cultivate creative, responsible, skilled and resilient graduates.
Staff
Enhancing our culture of support for one another, enabling colleagues to develop and sustain fulfilling careers while delivering our ambitions individually and collectively.
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.
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 100,000 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
Principal and Vice-Chancellor