Vision and mission 

Mission 

Dedicated to benefitting society through advancing the frontiers of technology and the economies and enterprises into which it is deployed, we deliver outstanding education, conduct world-class research, and foster discovery and innovation. We support students, staff, industry, and society by nurturing talent, promoting individual enterprise, and building partnerships that benefit society. 

Vision 

We strive to continue to be a global leader in education, research, and innovation, inspiring a community of staff, students, alumni and external partners that drives technological progress and societal impact. Building on the fundamental underpinning technologies that we work on, we envision a future where our commitment to excellence and collaboration empowers individuals and industries to solve complex challenges and shape a better world, particularly in the areas of health and wellbeing, sustainability, increased competitiveness, security and resilience. 

Strategic Planning 

The School's goal is to support top-quality research, education and innovation in a wide range of areas. We enhance departmental activities but allow each department or institute to lead its own initiatives. 

The Office of the School works with its departments and institutes to prepare strategic plans, which are updated on an annual basis. These plans feed into the University's annual Planning Round. This process helps the University monitor progress and understand the resources needed to meet its goals. You can read about the University’s financial and academic planning on the AFPA website. 

The School's planning process begins each July with a Strategic Away Day. During this event, we review our strategic plan, with a focus on particular areas of current relevance. Over the next few months, the School Office team works with our departments to update our plans based on current priorities and risks. An updated version of our strategic plan is then submitted to the University at the end of the Michaelmas term (in December). Members of the University can view the most recent annual planning submission (internal only).

Our planning covers both academic (education and research) and financial planning, aiming to estimate spending and income over five years. Income sources include research grants, trust funds, donations and government grants. We also project student numbers, based on input from departments. We ensure that our plans are consistent, realistic, and affordable.