Blue boy statue and Pathfoot building

Strategic priority: staff

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

Our success depends on our people. We have 1,800 members of staff and expect this number to grow proportionally over the course of this plan as student numbers and research activity develop and increase.

We will achieve our institutional objectives if we can create the conditions where our teams and individual staff members can optimise their performance. We are committed to ensuring every colleague has the opportunity to achieve their professional ambitions, enabling them to feel, individually and collectively, that their contribution is valued and that they have made a difference

We want work to be fulfilling, and we recognise our staff have competing responsibilities and priorities as they balance work and personal lives. We will build our staff experience by engaging with colleagues and learning more about what is really important to them. We have shown agility in supporting a shift from the traditional working week and will continue to support new ways of working. We will reevaluate how we use our estate, and reconfigure space to ensure it meets evolving needs.

In a global marketplace, competition for the best people is fierce. We continue to be an employer of choice by nurturing a culture of ambition, integrity and respect, where our people feel capable and empowered to make a difference.

What the University will do for staff

Over the course of this strategic plan, the University will:

Engage and retain talent in support of our growth ambitions, and provide our staff with training and career development opportunities.

Prioritise personal and professional growth, and support staff in developing their skills and careers at Stirling, recognising their commitment to excellence is key to our success.

Enrich lives and generate new knowledge by creating opportunities for cross-university collaboration, broadening networks, and fostering a dynamic learning community.

Enable staff to work more effectively and efficiently by investing in digital skills and technology, while assessing our skills base, building on progressive work practices and celebrating success.

Ensure decisions are taken at appropriate levels within the University, enabling and fostering trust and accountability to best progress institutional objectives.

Measures of success

By 2030 we will: 

  • Attract talented people and growing staffing levels in proportion to teaching and research activity.  
  • Achieve high rates of staff engagement and support our staff to build fulfilling careers and deliver excellence.
  • Improve staff retention and support early career staff in developing and progressing within the University.
Member of HR staff standing in front of a Be Heard sign

The difference is... talent

By attracting and retaining talented staff, and investing in their skills development and career growth, we are committed to creating a rewarding place to work. 

In a competitive global jobs market, we are committed to improving our employee experience and prioritising the health and wellbeing of our staff. Through our Be Heard staff surveys, we are listening to our people and using their feedback to enhance the employee experience, while empowering our leaders to drive change throughout the organisation.  

We are continually evolving and our approach to agile working enables staff to do their best work and deliver on business needs, while providing flexibility and inclusive working practices. 

Students studying in campus central

The difference is... transformation

By harnessing cutting-edge technology, refining our virtual learning environment, and providing first-class digital skills support, we empower our staff and students to thrive in work and study. 

By 2030, our smart campus will maximise our use of emerging technologies, improve our use of space and minimise environmental impact – creating innovative ways for people to work, learn and live. This work will further enhance our dynamic and digital environments, both on and off campus; integrate automation and artificial intelligence; and provide infrastructure to digitally advance our teaching and research community.