UWE Bristol launches its ambitious strategy for the next decade, Strategy 2030: Transforming Futures

The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has today launched its ambitious strategy for the next decade, including declaring a climate and ecological emergency and its vision for becoming a world-leading University Enterprise Campus.

Strategy 2030: Transforming Futures outlines how UWE Bristol will continue to provide a world-class education over the next 10 years, moving forward into an exciting future of new technologies, an evolving workplace, and a greater demand for enterprising and innovative graduates.

As the largest university in the South West, UWE Bristol is a key driver for employment, productivity and sustainable economic growth. With over half of its graduates choosing to stay and apply their skills in the region, UWE Bristol graduates are shaping and powering the local workforce and improving the lives of our local population. Strategy 2030 provides a clear vision of how the University will enhance the development of its students' skills and experiences, preparing its students to embrace the far-reaching possibilities of the future, and making significant contributions to the world of work and their communities.

Enterprise is a key theme for UWE Bristol over the next 10 years, with an Enterprise Campus Vision shaping the entire organisation, running across delivery of globally-recognised research centres in digital futures, health and wellbeing, sustainability by design, and creative and digital technologies; significant growth in apprenticeship provision, working with employers and further education partners; and a curriculum that sees enterprise embedded in all courses, to make sure UWE Bristol students are prepared to take on the opportunities and challenges of the future.

Another key theme of the Strategy is climate change and sustainability. UWE Bristol has now joined together with other organisations across the world to declare a climate and ecological emergency, building on its long-standing commitment to addressing the serious challenges presented by climate change. The commitments outlined in the Strategy include becoming carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030; establishing all its campuses as clean air and smoke-free zones; working with students to explicitly address climate change and environmental challenges through teaching, learning and curriculum; and supporting research that addresses issues relating to climate change, environmental challenges and biodiversity.

UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve West said of Strategy 2030:

“UWE Bristol is a University of and for the Bristol and South West region, and we're extremely proud of our position as a locally embedded organisation with an international, inclusive outlook.

“Our new Strategy acknowledges the complex challenges presented by new and evolving technologies, the changing face of business, climate change, and sustainability, all of which will play a huge part in the lives and careers of our students and graduates.

“Our commitments outlined in the Strategy are a true reflection of the scale of our ambition as an organisation over the next 10 years, and demonstrates where we will be focusing our energy and investment to fully realise our potential. As always, our priority is to deliver an outstanding university experience for our students through innovative, practice-led, research-informed courses, and this Strategy outlines exactly how we will build on that to prepare our graduates to not just enter the world of work, but to influence and shape it for the better.”