Strategy 2025-29 | 5
4-year strategy
Over the next four years, our research leaders will sustain a positive environment for growing research areas of exceptional quality, in fields of national and international strategic importance.
As these continue to flourish, they will demonstrate world-class expertise, secure significant and sustained external funding for research and facilities, enabling them to attract and retain leading researchers in their field.
Agile research leadership will better reflect the diversity of the university and the communities we work with and for. We will foster a vibrant and inclusive research culture where excellence is not only encouraged but expected, and achievements are suitably recognised and rewarded. Alongside providing opportunities for all, we will ensure that high performance is nurtured and celebrated, promoting an environment where ambition and performance drive success. Our outstanding training and development opportunities will cultivate the best in every researcher from postgraduate researchers to early careerists, technicians and research enablers, and emerging and established leaders. We will build a culture where leadership in research is defined by innovation, integrity and impact, underpinned by the values of good research citizenship and leading the advancement of open, engaged and transformative research.
During a time of rapid social and civic change, we will sustain Keele’ s research contributions by creating the conditions for a strong innovation-led local economy, working to ensure this improves lives and livelihoods for our local communities. We will work closely with industrial partners to align Keele’ s research and innovation activities to the UK Government’ s key Growth Driving Sectors where there is local comparative advantage and / or scope for growth, specifically clean energy industries, digital technologies and life sciences. We will continue to form research alliances with local, regional and national governments, the charity and voluntary sectors, and the cultural and creative sectors to achieve wide-ranging impacts for local communities. We will amplify and bolster our regional and national position by developing and growing our Science and Innovation Park into a UK-leading Innovation District; by working in partnership with the Midlands Innovation consortium of research-intensive HE partners.