To Advance Knowledge To Serve the Common Good

Building on the successful outcome of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, we will focus on developing and investing in existing areas of research excellence. Through an enhanced research infrastructure, a targeted staff recruitment strategy and streamlined process, we will ensure the submission of the highest possible research outputs and impact case studies to the next REF.

All of our research will underpin excellent teaching. Our research will inspire and inform our students at all levels, and will contribute to the University’s ‘whole person’ approach to higher education. Through our course approval process, we will ensure that our undergraduate and postgraduate students at every academic level have the opportunity to engage with current, relevant research and that we work with them to develop their own research skills to equip them for their future careers. We will further develop the Winchester Research Apprenticeship Placements programme, funding undergraduate students to work with academics on their research.

We will increase doctoral student recruitment in areas of research strength and offer a small number of targeted doctoral scholarships in areas of research excellence. We will improve completion rates in all areas.

We will significantly grow our external research grant income, contract research and consultancy and CPD income, together with our innovation and consultancy work in order to broaden our impact in the community and ensure income diversification and financial sustainability.

Our research focus will support our development of professional education at the University, and where appropriate we will develop new areas of applied research, which will contribute to our mission to serve the common good.

We were founded in 1840 by the Church of England to change the world through education. Our foundation values and mission are still at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are in the top 100 universities in the world for reducing inequalities and we are proud to be a University of Sanctuary, providing educational opportunities for some of those students seeking refuge from war and conflict. We will continue to serve in this way, building philanthropic giving from alumni and others to support us in this important work and to help us grow it.

We believe that anybody with the ability to succeed with hard work and effort should be given the opportunity to benefit from higher education, and should not be held back by their circumstances. We will continue with our mission to change the world through education, because we know that it improves the lives of our students, their families and their wider communities.

At the University of Winchester we want to see our city and surrounding area grow and flourish. We will work closely with and for the community and our partners to support our collective vision for Winchester. We will make an ever-greater contribution as an anchor institution in the city to help meet the needs and aspirations of local communities and support economic growth. We will work with partners to support economic prosperity, grow graduates who meet workforce needs, and develop a vibrant and entrepreneurial business community and a flourishing cultural life.