Our strategy

Our strong vision and values, coupled with our four key focus areas (People, Research, Teaching and Learning, and Social and Civic Responsibility), help us in our mission to deliver excellence to 2030 and beyond.

More information: Strategy 2030

To assess how well we are performing, our Strategic Performance Framework (SPF) sets out how we will achieve our goals over the period of the Strategy. Our SPF takes into account internal and external factors which influence or affect our work.

Aligned to our four focus areas is our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Strategy 2030 recognises that the University has the opportunity to contribute to the SDGs in different ways across our communities and across our different locations.

More information: Sustainability

Performance framework 

In Strategy 2030, we highlight that our vision to continue delivering excellence to 2030 and beyond is rooted in our values, with a focus on our four key areas. We have structured our key performance indicators (KPIs) around these four key areas (People, Research, Teaching and Learning and Social and Civic Responsibility) to reflect the University’s ambitions outlined in Strategy 2030 and to demonstrate how well we are performing against them. 

The information below shows our performance in each of these focus areas. Unless indicated otherwise, data shown reflects 2024/25 performance. 

Strategy 2030 focus area: People

Our students, staff, alumni and friends are our lifeblood.

Widening participation: Number (and proportion) of undergraduate entrants from an SIMD20 (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation - most deprived 20%) area

261 (11.3%) (2023/24: 241 (10.7%)

International student diversity: Ratio of largest international market to 5th and 10th largest overseas markets

Ratio to 5th: 23:1 (2023/24: 25:1)

Ratio to 10th: 42:1 (2023/24: 38:1)

Staff equality, diversity and inclusion: Gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps (measures are 2022/23 as reported biennially)

Average gender pay gap: 13.9% (2022/23: 15.3%)

Average ethnicity pay gap: 13.2% (2022/23: 10.3%) 

Average disability pay gap: 5.2% (2022/23: 8.1%)

Staff satisfaction, 2024/25 staff survey

Staff engagement: 58% (2022/23: 54%)

In development: 4. Efficient systems and user-friendly processes.

The key performance indicator for efficient systems identifies eight processes which have been assessed to determine their current maturity levels.

Sustainable development goals:

4. Quality education

5. Gender equality

8. Decent work and economic growth

10. Reduced inequalities

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Strategy 2030 focus area: Research

Our ethos of working without boundaries will deliver a step change in innovation and research.

Research quality/competitiveness: REF performance, supported by a between-REFs proxy including share of UKRI income (2023/24 data)

5.64% (2022/23: 5.64%)

Research activity: Total research income

£375 million (2023/24: £365 million)

Research activity with industry: Total value of industrial and translational research awards

£112.5 million (2023/24: £150.8 million)

Innovation & collaboration: Research and entrepreneurship related City Region Deal TRADE targets

Research income

£187.3 million (2023/24: £158.1 million)

Entrepreneurship companies: 89 (2023/24 108)

Interactions: 114 (2023/24: 135)

Sustainable development goals: 

4. Quality education

8. Decent work and economic growth

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Strategy 2030 focus area: Teaching and learning

Our teaching will match the excellence of our research. We will improve and sustain student satisfaction and wellbeing.

Talent – data skills: People gaining qualifications via certified data skills courses and MOOCs

39,910 (2023/24: 100,092)

In development: 10. Curriculum transformation: we are refocusing our curriculum transformation efforts on a smaller scale to support our financial sustainability activities.

Student experience: Student satisfaction as reported in the NSS and other national student surveys

NSS 2025 position 65.2% (NSS 2024 position: 60.6%)

PTES 83.1% (2023/24 PTES: 79.1%)

PRES 82.5% (2022/23 PRES: 77.2%)

PRES collected every second year

Graduate outcomes: Graduates entering graduate level employment or further study:

87.4% 2022/23 graduating cohort (85.5% 2021/22 graduating cohort)

Sustainable Development Goals: 

4. Quality education

5. Gender equality

10. Reduced inequalities

Strategy 2030 focus area: Social and civic responsibility

Our vision is to make the world a better place, so we will ensure that our actions and activities deliver positive change locally, regionally and globally.

Social impact: Community Grants awarded

17 micro grants awarded £8,244

18 community grants awarded £82,567

(2023/24: £100,673 total grants)

Innovation: Number of start-up companies

60: 55 student start-ups, 5 staff start-ups (2023/24: 122: 116 student start-ups, 6 staff start-ups)

Net zero: Absolute (and relative to £m turnover) carbon emissions (tCO2) 

Absolute carbon emissions (CO2): 81,723 tCO2 2023/24: 78,720 tCO2

Relative carbon emissions: 55.2 tCO2/£m (2023/24: 54.9 tCO2/£m)

Sustainable Development Goals:

7 Affordable and clean energy

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

11. Sustainable cities and communities

12. Responsible consumption and production

17. Partnerships for the goals