Just over two weeks ago we launched our global conversation to shape our strategy for 2025 and beyond. I’ve been delighted by the way in which colleagues from all five of our campuses have engaged and shared their ideas. Within the first week we received over 100 votes and the strategy 2025 site has been visited 1,783 times. We’ve also had inputs from colleagues, students and alumni and I’m keen for that trend to continue as we move forward.
Our first question was about our ambitions for the future and we shared six ideas that had emerged from other workshops and conversations. The results to date show that the wellbeing agenda and work-based learning have gained the most traction. We’ll look to reflect this feedback as we develop the strategy. We also asked for other ideas and this threw up some provocative suggestions that ranged from establishing a medical school to focusing on the Swiss real estate market. There were however, some recurring themes. Work-based learning and Wellbeing also scored highly here but three other ideas came up again and again. First, as a multi-campus university we should look to capitalise on the Go Global experience for staff and students. Second, that we should look to enhance our online activities. Third, that we should focus clearly on the values that make Heriot-Watt great and that bind us together to create as one response said “a real sense of community”.
New Advisory Group
We’ve now established an Advisory Group to help draw in views from every part of the University. You’ll find the membership of the Advisory Group here. Whilst we’d be delighted to hear more of your views on our ambitions, we’re now turning our attention to the University’s distinctive heritage, values and attributes.
Thanks for getting us off to a great start. Please continue to participate in our global conversation and encourage others to do so too.
Our Heritage
In developing our new strategy, we want to engage as many people as possible in helping shape the future of Heriot-Watt University. Looking back to our origins in 1821, it is clear that we are educational pioneers. As we approach the 200th anniversary of our foundation, we want to look confidently toward the future. Our pioneering foundations connect directly to our aim of becoming a truly global, truly integrated, multi-campus university.
As the world’s first Mechanics Institute we established a new type of education targeted to meet the needs of local employers and simultaneously to offer individuals the chance to acquire skills that would make a difference to their careers. As pioneers we introduced the world’s first online MBA and we now offer students the chance to internationalise their education through our Go Global programme.
As we work on Strategy 2025 we’re keen to hear from you about those aspects of our heritage that we need to retain and enhance. Equally, it is timely to consider those parts of our heritage that we might need to adjust to better reflect changes in the world of education and research. As we look ahead to the next 200 years of the Heriot-Watt story, please help us curate our heritage.
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Submit your ideas in the poll displayed to the right on a desktop or below on a mobile device.