Space to Develop: Bath Spa University's Vision and Strategy to 2015

Bath Spa University Vision and Strategy to 2015

CE TO Develop

Foreword

In 2015 Bath Spa University will celebrate over 160 years as an educational institution and ten years as a university. Our Vision and Strategy for 2015 show how we will expand our educational offerings and develop research in our areas of key strength; notably creativity, culture and enterprise.

Building on our distinctive reputation, we will internationalise the University, introducing global perspectives to our curriculum and opening our programmes to an increasingly international student body.

Bath Spa University Vision and Strategy to 2015

Our Vision for 2015 is underpinned by principles derived from our long history and proven strengths. It is inspired by our idyllic location in the world heritage city of Bath in which work and play, science and fiction, technological development and environmental awareness converge to stimulate creativity and innovation.

This new Strategic Plan sets out clear goals for the Student Experience, Research and Internationalisation. These are supported by essential enabling strategies for our People, our Estate and our long-term financial future.

Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor

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Our vision for 2015

To be a leading educational institution in creativity, culture and enterprise.

Through innovative teaching and research, the University will provide a high quality student experience.

Based in a world heritage city and connected to a network of international partners, Bath Spa University will ensure that its graduates are socially engaged global citizens.

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Principles underpinning our vision

Our focus is on the student experience which is internationalised and socially engaged: – our student body includes those from different regions and countries – our students are flexible, self-reliant and enterprising – our students develop as global citizens – our students are prepared for regional and international employment.

We are academically led: – we value excellence in research, scholarship and teaching and learning – we promote creativity and interdisciplinarity – we embrace new technologies to enhance our academic practice – we value the contribution of our professional service departments in enhancing the overall experience of our students.

We behave ethically: – we are committed to sustainability and environmental improvement – we play our part in the wider economic and cultural well-being of the region – we expect tolerance and mutual respect among staff and students and embrace diversity.

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Building on our history

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother opening Bath College of Domestic Science in 1960

Bath Spa University is built on a long and distinguished history.

In 1852 Bath School of Art was founded and has been nurturing the talent of artists ever since. It relocated to Corsham Court after the Second World War and was renamed Bath Academy of Art. Newton Park became home to Bath Teacher Training College in the 1940s and merged with Bath College of Domestic Science in the 1970s to form Bath College of Education.

Newton Park was built for Joseph Langton from 1762-65 and is set in Capability Brown gardens. It is Grade 1 listed and leased from the Duchy of Cornwall.

In the early 1980s Bath Academy of Art became part of Bath College of Higher Education and in 1992 the College was granted degree-awarding powers. In 1997 we became Bath Spa University College and in 2005 Bath Spa University when we were granted full university status.

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A distinctive student experience

Student Life

Student Learning

Student Voice

We will foster vibrant, creative student communities.

We will deliver worldclass student learning opportunities.

We will learn from our students.

Our student experience strategy builds on strong foundations of quality and distinctiveness and is aligned with our goals for internationalisation and research. Our location in the world heritage city of Bath provides the backdrop for delivery of outstanding academic programmes in creativity, culture, enterprise and education.

Our practitioner-focussed approach features studio and small group teaching, supported by the latest developments in e-learning.

We work in partnership with the cultural and creative industries as well as regional, national and international education partners to produce employment-ready graduates who are socially engaged global citizens.

We will continue to improve our facilities by modernising student accommodation, investing in high-quality academic and social learning space and working with student representatives to enhance services for students. We will actively promote widening participation and successful student outcomes through fair admissions policies, aspiration-raising in schools and support for student welfare and career development.

We will continue to maintain and enhance teaching quality, developing our curriculum and student learning opportunities to maximise student success and graduate employability.

We will embed global perspectives and environmental awareness in student learning opportunities, equipping graduates with skills in enterprise, communication and digital literacy.

We will enhance how we engage with our students, listening to their concerns and responding to their needs from application to graduation and beyond. We will celebrate the diversity of our student body, meeting the needs of students and applicants of all nationalities and backgrounds. We will work with the Students’ Union to engage students as active partners in policy and decision making. We will celebrate graduate talent and the achievements of our alumni.

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Engaged research with impact Our research focus is on creativity, culture and enterprise with established strengths in Art and Design, Music and Performing Arts, Humanities and Creative Writing and Education. We will develop these priority areas and enhance our reputation by increasing external funding, growing postgraduate research and teaching activity, enhancing international partnerships and maximising impact and engagement.

Research quality and reputation

Postgraduate research and teaching

Public Engagement

We will deliver excellence in research.

We will provide a vibrant postgraduate community.

We will foster a spirit of innovation and inquiry.

We will invest in key areas of strength which attract external funding and deliver high-quality research outputs with impact.

We will develop strategic partnerships with national and international research collaborators and users.

We will be a vibrant and well-connected centre for new ideas with no internal boundaries and an international profile for creativity, culture and enterprise in research.

We will develop and promote our practice-based postgraduate research pathways, forging links with practitioners and across the creative and cultural industries. We will foster a spirit of innovation in all graduate learning opportunities and we will grow our postgraduate student numbers.

We will engage the public in our research, working with community networks and established partnerships across the creative and cultural industries. We will develop new initiatives in dialogue with stakeholders to maximise the benefits of public engagement and knowledge exchange. We will draw on our research strengths to enhance the quality of our taught provision.

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A world university Our strategy for internationalisation will transform our international profile, embed global perspectives into our curriculum and grow international student recruitment.

Establishing our profile

Developing our Global curriculum

Growing our overseas student body

We will establish the profile of Bath Spa as a World University.

We will develop graduates who are socially engaged global citizens.

We will increase our overseas student numbers.

We will raise our profile through networks of international partners, employers, staff, students and alumni. We will forge strong links with leading Liberal Arts institutions.

We will maximise the reputational benefits of existing European and International activities and networks.

We will embed international perspectives into the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum and we will enhance students’ global awareness through programme pathways, international placements and study abroad opportunities. We will enhance training opportunities, student support, information and resources to enable students and staff to meet the challenges of internationalisation.

We will increase international student recruitment through targeted marketing activities and the development of Trans-National Education, aligning provision to meet the needs of prospective international students and employers. We will enhance student support to meet the needs of our evolving student body and ensure regulatory compliance.

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An inspirational setting

Our campuses are beautiful and steeped in history. Our modern facilities blend sympathetically with the older buildings, boasting a wealth of cutting edge technology behind the classic architecture.

Staff and students work and learn in a secure and well-maintained environment, where investment in infrastructure reflects modern teaching styles and anticipates future needs.

By 2015, a major redevelopment of the Newton Park Campus will provide worldclass facilities for students, designed to be in-keeping with the stunning surroundings.

The development will meet stringent standards of environmental performance reflecting the University’s green credentials.

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Working together

Sustaining our future

We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding working environment for all staff.

Our approach to finance and investment reflects the need for creative responses to the increasingly challenging economic climate.

Our culture is one of commitment, inclusivity, collaboration and reward, in which the endeavours of academic and professional service staff are equally respected and mutually sustaining. Through our People Strategy, we will promote a winning culture of maximum performance and recognition. We will develop people to enable them to adapt and deliver at a time of unprecedented change in the Higher Education environment.

We will work hard to optimise how income from student fees is used to improve and enhance the student experience. We will build on past successes and learn from the experience of our colleagues and partners to maximise the effective use of resources.

We will seek to diversify our income streams embarking on new ventures and mutually beneficial collaborations to ensure financial stability for the long term.

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Newton Park Newton St Loe Bath BA2 9BN T: +44 (0)1225 875875 F: +44 (0)1225 875444

Sion Hill Lansdown Bath BA1 5SF T: +44 (0)1225 875875 F: +44 (0)1225 875666

Corsham Court Corsham Wiltshire SN13 0BZ T: +44 (0)1225 876383 F: +44 (0)1249 714293

www.bathspa.ac.uk enquiries@bathspa.ac.uk