FOREWORD BY VICE-CHANCELLOR AND CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL

This Corporate Plan sets out the University’s overall Vision, Core Strategic Aims, Crosscutting Aims and key supporting objectives for the five-year period from 2006/07 to 2010/11. It has been produced following extensive engagement with staff in faculties and departments and reflects our shared vision for the University. The development of the plan has benefited greatly, at all stages, from the comments received from individuals, groups and committees and we thank all of you who have contributed to its evolution.

The Corporate Plan sets a path for the future that has at its centre inclusiveness, transparency and cohesiveness. It defines ‘what this University is about’ and sets for us all a vision and core strategic aims that reflect our distinctive mission, recognises our campus strengths while supporting a unitary approach, and reflects a common purpose. The plan provides clarity, in particular, regarding the role that the University will play in contributing to the development of the region but it also recognises its contribution to, and impact on, developments being progressed in national and international arenas. It provides the overarching framework within which the University will take forward key activities and gives guidance on where we will focus the efforts of our staff and the targeting of resources. To this end the University’s focus will be on providing excellent learning opportunities; excellence in selected areas of research; promoting our leading role in widening access to higher education; promoting creativity and innovation; and conducting our activities in accordance with our core values and to the highest standards of corporate governance. In all of these activities sustainability will be a common theme for us to address, as will rewarding staff who contribute towards the achievement of excellence.

While we do not underestimate the significant work that has been undertaken already in each of these areas we still have substantial gains to make in order to achieve our vision, and to compete in an ever more demanding operating environment which will see the changing fee structure for students; an increasingly competitive research environment; the need to facilitate widening access and increased participation; increased demands for access to upto-date technology; and, within Northern Ireland, an uncertain arena for a return to devolved government. This cannot be done in isolation and therefore at the heart of this plan is an on-going commitment to partnership - partnership both within the University through participation by all staff and externally at the regional, national and international levels.

We will face many challenges over the period of this Corporate Plan, in a fast moving and ever-changing marketplace, and we will be faced with difficult decisions. However, we believe that this plan provides a blue print for each of us, and our partners, to engage with, to support and nurture and to be actively participative in its delivery. Working together we can build on the University’s strengths, exploit opportunities for the institution’s benefit and strive to minimise risks and threats. Our core values will guide our day-to-day work, personal standards and professionalism as we strive to achieve our vision. Through an on-going commitment to improve our communications, at all levels, and to ensure inclusiveness and transparency in our decision-making, the University will facilitate discussion and debate with the aim of securing collective ownership of decisions.

We look forward to your personal participation in delivering this plan. We recognise the individual contributions that you make to the University on a daily basis and for this we commend you. But we also ask you to continue to work with us to improve and enhance the working environment, the experience for our students, the University’s reputation (regionally, nationally and internationally), and to thereby secure the University of Ulster’s future success.