Vice-Chancellor outlines decade-long vision
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebrahim Adia, outlines his plan for the University of Wolverhampton's future.
This week marks a significant date in the recent history of the University of Wolverhampton as we officially launch our new strategy which will set our ambition and trajectory up to 2035.
The strategy presents a very clear vision for our university – to create opportunity, transform lives and build a more inclusive, productive and sustainable society.
Since I arrived at Wolverhampton as the Vice-Chancellor and chief executive last autumn, I have been determined that the University continues to build on its rich heritage (which dates back to our origins as a Tradesmen and Mechanics’ Institute in 1827) whilst also looking ambitiously to the future.
I have met hundreds of our students and staff at the university as well as many of our key partners across the city and the wider Black Country region. During our conversations it became clear that the university’s overriding objective is to make a positive difference for the future – for our students and staff, for our city and region, for the nation, and across the globe where our international presence is growing.
The strategy reaffirms our identity as a civic institution, powered by our sense of place in the heart of the city and region, and strengthened by our connections to our communities.
Importantly, three-quarters of our students live within a 20-mile radius of the university and 77 per cent of our graduates go on to work in the West Midlands region after completing their studies.
I am convinced that a strengthened and successful university with a clarity of purpose can be both cause and consequence of a reinvigorated city and region, delivering benefits to communities and contributing to a highly skilled workforce.
Of course, we are launching our strategy at a challenging time for higher education, which I have referred to in the past as the ‘perfect storm’.
These financial challenges are being felt by everyone and everywhere – individuals and communities. I am determined that our new strategy will provide the basis for life-changing opportunities to many thousands of our students and their families whilst also playing a key role in boosting the economic and social fortunes of Wolverhampton, the Black Country and the West Midlands.
We recognise that to transform futures we must work collaboratively with our partners.
For our part, the university will help to raise aspirations in our communities, provide the widest possible educational opportunity both locally and globally, and will transform lives and futures by delivering outstanding education, research and knowledge exchange.
We look forward to you joining us on our exciting journey.
This article first appeared in the Express & Star on 30 April 2024.
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