University of Bradford Annual Report 2000/01

Vice-Chancellor's Report

Dynamism, energy and solid successes are the hallmarks of 2000/2001.

We have radically overhauled our planning and budgeting procedures to increase transparency, effectiveness and efficiency, building on an innovative Corporate Plan, which sets the blueprint for our future direction.

During the year we achieved 'excellent' scores in three further subject reviews demonstrating our commitment to academic quality right across the University through 'Excellence Plus', a pioneering initiative to ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop subject-specific and transferable skills throughout their studies.

We have improved facilities for our students with investment totalling over £7m, including the launch of our new Graduate School to support postgraduate students.

Our collaborations continue to bear fruit for the region and beyond. Educational collaborations and agreements with Bradford College, and Leeds Metropolitan University will support our plans to grow whilst our collaboration with Leeds University's Medical School offers more opportunity for students from deprived or culturally diverse communities to enter medicine. We have continued to build on other links with colleagues at Salford, Keele, Hull and Lancaster. Overseas links, too, have built on our tradition of welcoming international students. Graduate employment rates remain amongst the highest in the country at 94.5%*

Partnerships with the City of Bradford, with the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and with industry bodies and partners regionally and nationally, have given a strong focus to our place within both the local community and within the business community. Post-Ouseley, our commitment to raising aspirations and playing an active role in regeneration locally becomes ever more important and we will continue to build on the work of colleagues across the University in supporting our City and our communities.

3rd mission activity has grown, bringing additional revenue to the institution and supporting wealth creation for the region as a whole. In parallel, we have boosted our commitment to widening participation with initiatives including the launch of foundation degrees, Junior University Summer School, new guidance opportunities and more outreach and community work.

The University has made significant progress and more is to come. We operate in a difficult climate and in difficult times, but can differentiate ourselves through our vitality and innovation. We have a wide social base, excellent, vocationally orientated teaching provision, many areas of high-quality research, and a true commitment to 'Making Knowledge Work'. It is from this platform that our institution will respond positively and enthusiastically to the challenges facing us now and in the future.

* 2000 statistics derived from annually published data based on those UK domiciled graduates who are available for employment and further study and whose destinations are known.