We have developed several key measures which are designed to track our progress against our strategy.
Aligned with our ambitions, these performance indicators are grouped into two categories:
- Strategic Performance Indicators (SPI) - these allow us to see how we are delivering the strategy as a whole.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPI) - relate to each of our Strategic Action Plans allowing us to track more specific actions for each plan.
Where relevant and possible, these measures will be monitored at both department level and at University level.
Inclusive Education and Research
The measures below are related to the action we are taking in relation to Inclusive Education and Research.
In some cases, we have aligned these with existing targets or measures. For example, as inclusive education is at the heart of our strategy, the existing Access and Participation Plan (APP) target to reduce awarding gaps is included as an SPI.
- Improve our National Student Survey (NSS) positivity ranking compared to institutions included in the Guardian League Table.
- Increase income from Research.
- Reduce the awarding gap between black and white students.
- Reduce the awarding gap between students from IMD Q1 and IMD Q5*.
- Improve our Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) performance.
- Increase cash and in-kind contributions to publicly funded research.
Skills for Choice and Opportunity
These measures are designed to monitor our progress in developing skills for both students and colleagues.
The range of skills needed at a university is significant – these SPIs cover research and education specifically, with the final measure helping us to understand the development of skills for both academic and professional services colleagues.
- Improve our Graduate Outcomes ranking in the Guardian League Table.
- Increase participation in Research Excellence Skills development.
- Increase colleague accreditation with the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
- Increase positive responses to the People and Culture survey question on opportunities to learn and grow.
Civic minded, Globally engaged
A key ambition of our strategy is to become more connected with our communities, partners and peers, both locally and globally.
These SPIs are about our position in the world and how we relate to it – in particular, achieving the Engage Watermark is a key opportunity for us to understand our impact in a global environment.
- Increase the number of students joining the university through pathway programmes.
- Submit an application to the Engage Watermark.
- Achieve the Engage Watermark.
- Improve our ranking in the QS League Table compared to UK institutions.
- Improve our ranking in the Times Good University League table.
- Participate in the Times Impact Ranking League Table.
Partnerships and Collaboration
The fourth ambition, Partnerships and Collaboration, is measured throughout a number of the SPIs given above – in particular measures such as improving our performance in KEF, participating in the Engage Watermark and the Times Impact Rankings and increasing the number of students joining through pathway programmes.
Financial indicators
These measures focus on building a sustainable financial position for the University so that we can invest in innovative and strategically important activities.
Our estate needs to be maintained and improved and we must generate a surplus to make this viable. We must also ensure that our activity means we are within the conditions set on our borrowing.
- Increase our on campus student population.
- Increase our operating surplus.
- Increase our capital investment in infrastructure.
- Increase net cash flow.
- Reduce the TRAC research sustainability gap.
- Increase overhead recovery.
- Reduce long term borrowing.
