Durham University

Our University Strategy

At Durham, we produce world-leading and world-changing research. Our education is challenging, enabling, research-led and transformative. Our wider student experience is among the best in the UK.

Our University Strategy Document 2017 - 2027 is built on these three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and on inspiring others to achieve their potential.

Since the launch of the Strategy in 2017, we have had some major developments. These include a revised purpose statement and core lived values, new Global and Digital Strategies and a refreshed Wider Student Experience Strategy. Further examples can be found further down this page.

We have recently reviewed our University Strategy to ensure that we remain a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, and a collegiate community of extraordinary people.

Our refreshed Strategy sets out key recent achievements and developments and our priorities to 2027, taking account of significant changes to the external environment. An ongoing priority is our existing and future estate. In particular our focus is on how changes to our ways of working, and the expectations of our staff and students, affect building designs and requirements.

Our Ambition

Our vision is to ensure that Durham University delivers its mission of excellence in education, research and wider student experience in the most sustainable way possible.

Sustainability at Durham

We are committed to delivering solutions to the net-zero transition. We are well-placed to contribute to delivering solutions in the broad areas of energy, food, health, social impact and water.

The Greenspace Movement brings together Durham University's environmental initiatives and activities. The University’s Energy and Sustainability Team delivers Greenspace, which promotes all of the University’s Environmental Policies, Plans and Procedures.