Global Ambitions

Professor Ian Diamond  
Professor Ian Diamond

The University of Aberdeen has provided excellence in learning and teaching for five hundred years, exporting outstanding graduates and world-shaping ideas from our corner of North-East Scotland to the far reaches of the globe.

This plan, which will shape our actions over the next five years, builds on our history but is rooted firmly in the realities of twenty-first century life. It also builds on the success of the last few years in which we have encouraged creativity in our academic staff; broken new ground with our new curriculum; and built wonderful facilities. As a result, student numbers have risen and our students are truly excited and challenged by their education.

Our aim now is to move forward with ever more path-breaking research; to ensure our students have an intellectual experience second to none; and to capitalise on our dual role as one of the north’s major institutions, and as a central plank of regional economic and cultural life. In all our activities, we will seek opportunities to work in collaboration and partnership with like-minded universities and other organisations, locally, nationally and globally.

Yet, like all universities in the UK, we face major challenges as the higher education landscape alters. The nature of the relationship between the student and their institutions and, in research, between government and researchers is changing. We will need to meet fiscal and other challenges to ensure that we continue to be attractive and accessible to students from all over the world. We will need to ensure that our research is both competitive and, where appropriate, of societal value.

As over the past five hundred years, the University of Aberdeen is ready to take on these challenges and as a community of staff, students and partners, has discussed its future. This Strategic Plan for 2011-2015 sets out how we intend to tackle the issues and square up confidently to future challenges to meet our global ambitions.

Professor Ian Diamond FBA FRSE AcSS
Principal and Vice-Chancellor