Strategic Targets - 2011-2015

Target 1

We will deliver a high-quality student experience, growing the population where there are opportunities to do so through the recruitment of students with outstanding potential. In support of this, we will:

 

1.1

increase our postgraduate population to 3,375 and our part-time population to 1,520
 

1.2

achieve National Student Survey satisfaction levels that place us within the top 10% of institutions
 

1.3

attract high-quality students with entry qualifications that equate to entrants to the top 20% of institutions
 

1.4

widen participation through flexible entry routes to our programmes, increasing the number of programmes offering further education articulation routes by 30% 
 

1.5

improve our retention rates to 4% better than our benchmark figure
 

1.6

achieve graduate-employability rates that place us within the top 10% of institutions

Target 2

We will improve our competitiveness as an international research-driven university, and be at the forefront of setting and delivering the research agenda, nationally and internationally. In support of this, we will:

 

2.1

be within the top 15% of institutions in the UK in at least 11 areas in the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
 

2.2

have 60% of our submitted research rated 3* or 4* in the REF
 

2.3

be among the top 20 UK universities in terms of competitively-won research income
 

2.4

increase the postgraduate research student population to 1,100
 

2.5

deliver, together with our collaborative partners, the Scottish Food and Health Innovation Service
 

2.6

increase opportunities to engage with companies by providing industry-facing events twice a year
 

2.7

create 10 new spin-outs, conclude 25 new licences and generate £1.5M licensing income (including fees for patent spend), have 70 new Knowledge Transfer Partnerships awarded, increase consultancy income by 40%, and receive £20M of income from industry

Target 3

As well as encouraging blue sky investigator-led research, we will use our broad disciplinary base to focus on a small number of multidisciplinary themes in which Aberdeen is, or has the potential to be, a world leader or global partner of choice, and which fi t with our institutional values and characteristics. In support of this, we will:

 

3.1

achieve one major funding award in each of the four areas set out in our Strategic Plan by July 2012:

  • Environmental sustainability
  • Energy
  • Pathways to a healthy life
  • The North
 

3.2

allocate strategic funding for the development of new interdisciplinary areas

Target 4

We will embed a culture of internationalisation across our activities and in so doing enhance our reputation as a global university. In support of this, we will:

 

4.1

establish 10 new international strategic partnership arrangements with institutions in priority regions
 

4.2

establish three partnerships with countries or regions leading to joint institutes, the first of these to be a Confucius institute
 

4.3

enable 1,200 of our students to have an overseas experience during their time at Aberdeen
 

4.4

increase the number of international students to 2,360
 

4.5

improve our position in international league tables particularly in relation to the proportion of international students and international staff

Target 5

We will continue to promote partnership working in all that we do and engage fully with our regional, national and international partners, our stakeholders, and our alumni. In support of this, we will: 

 

5.1

deliver a British Science Festival in 2012 that delivers a legacy including stronger community, partner and sponsor relations and a more prominent ongoing Techfest Festival
 

5.2

co-ordinate a multiple themed Café Science programme across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire that aims to be the most diverse and best attended in the UK achieving an average of four events per month by 2012
 

5.3

stimulate a year on year growth of student ambassadors in STEM (science, technology, engineering and medicine) promotion as measured by the STEM Ambassador contract-holder for the region
 

5.4

continue to engage proactively with our alumni community, increasing contactable alumni by 20%
 

5.5

deliver a new Aquatic Centre by 2012, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland

Target 6

We will have in place support and infrastructure that will support the achievement of our academic aspirations. In support of this, we will:

 

6.1

generate adequate cash to fund reinvestment as approved within the 10 year plan, with a target of at least £8 million of cash in any financial year (which equates to moving towards a historical cost surplus of 3% of turnover)
 

6.2

continue to operate within the limits of our borrowing facility
 

6.3

launch an ambitious new Development Campaign, which builds on the success of our Sixth Century Campaign
 

6.4

promote wellbeing at work for all our staff through achieving Healthy Working Lives Silver accreditation during 2011
 

6.5

reduce carbon emissions arising from energy use, limiting emissions from gas use at King's College to 6,707 tonnes per annum by 2013
 

6.6

improve business processes and efficiencies, delivering a University-wide integrated system to manage University processes