What are universities for?
A word from Vice Chancellor Janet Beer
As Vice-Chancellor I am very clear about what we are trying to achieve at Oxford Brookes. Our commitment is to lead the intellectual, social and economic development of the communities we serve. We do this with some of the UK’s best teaching and research and by some truly innovative partnerships nwith the business world and society at large.
Our contribution
Our contribution takes many forms, from our role as one of the region’s biggest employers, to the steady stream of Brookes graduates beginning their careers in Oxfordshire’s schools, hospitals, businesses, local authorities and charities.
Some of our contributions are simple to quantify – financial support for small businesses – money that would not have otherwise come to Oxfordshire, an annual expenditure of more than £151 million, and a contribution of more than £1 million a day to the UK economy.
But some things are less tangible; for instance the important role models we create through our community scholars, the ways that we encourage entrepreneurialism and competitiveness, or our volunteers in local schools where current Brookes students work to raise aspirations and ambitions.
Brookes 2020 strategy
This contribution to Oxfordshire doesn’t happen by accident. It is embedded in our strategy to 2020 that we will be a university dedicated to improving the human condition in Oxfordshire, with a strategic objective to:
Harness the creativity, knowledge, and commitment of the university’s staff and students to benefit urban and rural communities,principally within Oxfordshire.’
This is reflected in many ways. For example, pupils at state schools in Oxfordshire can take advantage of a guaranteed offer for an undergraduate course atBrookes and we have scholarships aimed specifically at local students.
The primary focus of this report is to look at the contribution that Oxford Brookes makes to the local, regional and national economy, but we also identify some of the other ways in which we contribute to society. We are committed to making Oxfordshire a better place to live, work and study and we hope that this report demonstrates some of the ways in which we meet that commitment.
Professor Janet Beer
Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
