University of Stirling commits to social impact framework

In partnership with former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, the University will produce an impact report that will map its activities against the Purpose Goals framework. Launched in 2021, the Purpose Goals provide a framework to focus efforts on driving equality of opportunity at key life stages, as well as overcoming barriers people face. The 14 Goals provide a universal benchmark for organisations to measure their impact against.

The University of Stirling joins a growing number of higher education institutions that are committed to measuring their impact, including Glasgow Caledonian University, Northumbria University and Staffordshire University. Other organisations including the Co-op, Channel 4 and Amazon are also committed to the pledge, as well as a number of NHS Trusts and local authorities.

A long-term campaigner on social mobility and levelling up both inside and now outside of Parliament, in 2018 Justine Greening co-founded the Social Mobility Pledge to bring organisations together to improve social mobility. The Purpose Goals are the first major piece of work launched by the most committed of these organisations, the Purpose Coalition.

Justine Greening said: “Universities have a key role to play in spreading opportunities to those that need it most. As anchor institutions in their local areas, universities can ensure that more people, no matter their background, can get to higher education and improve their career opportunities.

“Our Purpose Goals give a clear benchmark for universities and other public sector organisations to measure and evaluate their social impact and identify areas where they can go further. This is particularly important given today’s cost of living crisis and the need to support students, colleagues and communities through this difficult time.

“I’m delighted that the University of Stirling has committed to this work and I’m looking forward to working with Sir Gerry McCormac and his team.”

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Since its foundation, the University of Stirling has prided itself on being an institution that provides education with a purpose. Our mission is not just to educate the next generation of professionals, but to help to make society a better place through the groundbreaking research that we pioneer through to our invaluable collaborations and partnerships with industry, charities, and public bodies, on our doorstep and around the world. We look forward to working with the Purpose Coalition to gain greater insights into our existing social footprint, and to enrich our understanding of how we can build on this critical work.”