Corporate Plan 2014-2019 Learners Staff Alumni Partners One University shaping our future
Foreword The rapidly developing global higher education marketplace means that Cranfield University must raise its ambitions to meet the challenges of the future. The University has a valuable and distinguished heritage. Looking forward, we must build from this foundation and re-assert our distinctive position in Higher Education as one of the world s most influential networks. Our mission is clear: To be an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. This Corporate Plan, developed through extensive and positive engagement within the Cranfield community and with our partners, identifies four strategic priorities which will be our focus over the next five years. 1 2 3 4 To provide a premier learning experience that enhances the capabilities of individuals and their organisations. To be recognised for outstanding transformational research that meets the needs of business, government and wider society. To grow an efficient, effective and sustainable enterprise. To be renowned for our impact and influence - regionally, nationally and internationally. 2
This is a simple Plan to which everyone can contribute. Its success depends on forging the future as One University. Our ethos is defined by our people: our staff, our learners, our alumni and friends. We value and respect your knowledge and skills, your confidence and integrity, your ambition and success. This Plan provides a focus for the effective engagement of the entire Cranfield community towards a shared ambition. Realising this vision to strengthen our position in Higher Education requires exceptional performance. We must measure our progress against agreed stretch targets, informed by national and international benchmarking. We commend this plan as the template for the development of our University over the coming five years. We look forward to working with you all to realise our shared ambitions. Dame Deirdre Hutton DBE Pro-Chancellor Chair of Council Professor Sir Peter Gregson FREng MRIA Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor Chair of Senate 3
1 To provide a premier learning experience that enhances the capabilities of individuals and their organisations. Cranfield has pioneered the development of education programmes that enhance the careers of our professional learners and the businesses sponsoring them. As the largest UK provider of Masters-level graduates in engineering with a flagship MBA and extensive customised Executive Education and Professional Development programmes, Cranfield s education portfolio is renowned for its relevance to business and government. We will provide: world-class education for professional learners outstanding employer engagement exceptional experience at Cranfield and Shrivenham campuses excellent staff-learner engagement. We will monitor our performance against agreed targets for: providing a UK top 10 postgraduate learning experience recruiting high-quality learners to all programmes enhancing the careers of our alumni. 4 Career enhancing
Cranfield is different because our focus is on professional learners and real business issues. Our aim is to enhance learners careers and transform the organisations they work in. Professor Lynette Ryals, Pro-Vice-Chancellor The Cranfield Students Association is fully committed to making Cranfield University an excellent place to learn and experience the best student life. Habeeb Ajimotokan, Cranfield Students Association President 5
2 To be recognised for outstanding transformational research that meets the needs of business, government and wider society. Cranfield has a niche position which must be strengthened. Together with our partners, we must be recognised for cutting-edge thinking and for transforming knowledge to benefit society. Our research teams must enhance their leadership of peer-reviewed programmes and the dissemination of high-quality research, as well as transforming their work into commercial development. We will provide: academic staff recognised as thought-leaders critical intellectual mass innovative business-engaged research high impact and highly-cited research outputs. We will monitor our performance against agreed targets for: achieving 400 fully research active staff increasing research income improving citation rates growing the impact of our research. Our partnership with Cranfield provides a powerful and unique way to tap into a knowledge base that gives our company an edge. Professor John Casey, Unilever Research and Development, Vice-President (Biological Sciences) 6 Creating and transforming knowledge
Our high-quality research spans the technology readiness levels from the generation of ideas through to their implementation. Professor Tom Stephenson, Head of the School of Applied Sciences My PhD at Cranfield University allows me to work in a world-class research environment in partnership with leading organisations in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment. Yadira Bajón Fernández, PhD Student, School of Applied Sciences 7
3 To grow an efficient, effective and sustainable enterprise. Cranfield must grow, and in a sustainable way. Our people are the University s most valuable resource, and our future success depends on their high performance. We must ensure that all contribute to the effective and efficient enhancement of our University. We must embed a culture of positive performance across the University, rewarding excellence and addressing under-performance. Under-investment in the estate at Cranfield must be addressed through substantial investment in a capital plan which supports our core mission of education and research. We must build on our ISO accreditations to ensure the safe and sustainable development and operation of our University. We will work with the Defence Academy to ensure that we enhance the experience for our staff and learners at Shrivenham. Investment in our people and in our infrastructure requires sustained resourcing. We must grow both our operating surplus and our income, based on high quality education and research. We will ensure that our activities are aligned to our mission and the strategic priorities set out in this Plan, and that they are delivered with greater efficiency and effectiveness. We will: develop a Performance Enhancement Framework enhance organisational efficiency and effectiveness grow our income base develop our estate sustainably. We will monitor our performance against agreed targets for: highly-performing and well-rewarded staff generating 5% operating surplus ensuring stakeholder satisfaction committing investment in the estate. 8 Sustainable growth
Sustainable growth depends on increasing our income and enhancing our efficiency and effectiveness. Philip Aspinall, Group Director of Finance and Resources Attracting, nurturing and retaining the best people is vital to achieving our ambitions. Lesley Broughton, Director of Human Resources and Development 9
4 To be renowned for our impact and influence - regionally, nationally and internationally. Cranfield s business-engaged education and research programmes have a disproportionate impact and influence on society. We support technological and organisational innovation in global corporates and their supply chains. We need to be recognised as closest to business. We must develop an internationalisation strategy and establish a co-ordinated professional marketing function to widen our international presence. We must work together to provide the most effective engagement with our stakeholders learners, alumni, government and business. Alumni have a crucial role to play; they are our best ambassadors, they contribute to the exceptional experience of today s learners, and they can support the development of our University. We will: achieve impact and influence on society host national facilities provide a creative environment for innovation deliver global opportunities for our people. We will monitor our performance against agreed targets for: enhancing our impact on the economy, the environment and society increasing our contribution to innovation improving alumni engagement strengthening our relationships with global partners. 10 Closest to business
Our graduate programmes allow learners to enhance their careers and make an impact on society. Melvyn Peters, Director of Graduate Programmes, School of Management Organisations and governments turn to Cranfield with its deep knowledge of aviation. Professor Graham Braithwaite, Head of Transport and Safety Engineering 11
Plan 415i This Corporate Plan presents four strategic priorities that strengthen Cranfield s distinctive position in Higher Education. Each priority includes a core goal resulting in Plan 415i. 400 Towards 400 fully research active staff 10 Towards a UK top 10 postgraduate learning experience 5 5% Operating surplus i Impact, influence, internationalisation 12
As an environmental services engineer, my learning experience at Cranfield University challenged my way of thinking and has had a positive impact on my career. Yewande Akinola, Cranfield alumna, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2012 Our alumni are our greatest advocates and ambassadors and we must nurture our relations with them. Alumni and friends of Cranfield will have a substantial role in the future success of the University. Benedicta Morrow-Slason, Director of Alumni Relations and Development 13
Delivering the Plan To deliver on this Plan we must raise our ambitions and move beyond incremental change. We must set clear and benchmarked targets, be focused on outcomes and openly assess our progress. To realise our ambitions we must work together as One University. Excellent leadership of our academic provision and professional support services is required, with clear responsibilities for all our staff. We will make substantial investments in people, services and sustainable infrastructure. We will achieve this through growth in our education and research portfolio and through greater leverage of external funds. We will foster an environment for transparent decision-making and effective implementation. We will engage effectively with the whole Cranfield community giving us all the opportunity to play our full part. Our themes pull together the breadth of the talent and experience across our University enabling us to work in a truly multidisciplinary way. Professor Rajkumar Roy, Head of Manufacturing and Materials Department and Manufacturing Theme Leader 14
It is very important that we act as One University. We must be as consistent as we can be and only as different as we need to be. Professor Phil John, Head of the School of Engineering Every member of the Cranfield Community can contribute to Plan 415i; together we will shape the future of our very distinctive University. Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor. 15
Cranfield University Bedfordshire MK43 0AL T: +44 (0)1234 750111 E: corporateplan@cranfield.ac.uk www.cranfield.ac.uk