02 | FOREWORD


Introduction


Below: Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Strike left, and Chairman of the University Board, Stephen Henwood


“ We believe that the University of Cumbria is in a good place to face these new challenges and to continue to build on the successful turnaround of the last 18 months.”


2010/11 was an important year for the University of Cumbria. It marked a year of significant progress as the strategic development programme initiated in 2009/10 was taken forward and significant changes were put into effect. These developments resulted in the introduction of new organisational structures, refreshed governance arrangements and a review of our strategic direction. It was a year in which we performed increasingly strongly with some excellent financial and academic achievements.


The year saw us achieve a significant financial surplus, for the first time since our creation in August 2007. We also saw excellent outcomes from a QAA Institutional Audit and from an institutional Ofsted visit of our initial teacher education. These external assessments are vital as a confirmation of the high quality of our academic programmes. There has also been a significant increase in satisfaction levels from the National Student Survey, with overall satisfaction increasing by five per cent. We are determined to continue this direction of travel to achieve ever


higher levels of student satisfaction. The progress we have made has been achieved against a background of further structural reorganisation within the university, resulting in the transfer of our further education provision to two new providers, Askham Bryan College at Newton Rigg and Carlisle College in Carlisle. All this has been done within a volatile HE policy and funding environment which has affected all three of our major HE funding contracts.


During 2010/11 we initiated a review of the strategic plan. Following consultation, the University Board agreed new Mission and Vision statements, together with an outline strategic plan, in March 2011. The University Board agreed that the plan provided an appropriate foundation upon which the senior management team could develop detailed business and operating plans for 2011/12 and which provided the necessary flexibility for future aspirations. Given the volatile and changing external policy environment, the University Board will consider further the strategic


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