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Working groups
HomeAbout the UniversityMission and strategies: Vision for YorkWorking groups

Our working groups

We set up 11 working groups to look in detail at aspects of our Vision for York.

In selecting the membership of the working groups we ensured as wide a representation as possible. Each group includes a member of the University Executive Board as project sponsor, and a senior member of professional service staff acting as project lead.

The overall working group membership was selected according to a number of criteria including interest, expertise, cross-faculty and disciplinary representation, gender balance, and with a view to representing a range of perspectives and insight.

Find out more about how our strategy has developed following the input of the working groups.

1. World-leading research

The world-leading research working group looked at how the University can enhance its reputation as a world leader in curiosity-driven research, supporting research of the highest quality.

2. Teaching organisation

This working group focused on flexibility in developing our teaching portfolio, and working creatively across departments to meet the requirements of pedagogy, timetabling and module sizes.

3. Civic responsibility

The civic responsibility working group looked at how the University will be a leading contributor to public good in our city, as well as across our region.

4. Integrated student experience

The integrated student experience working group looked at how we can ensure students leave the University with skills that enable them to make a contribution to society and the public good.

5. International

This working group focused on extending international reach through collaboration with partners across the world, and engaging internationally in teaching and research.

6. Organisational structure

This working group looked at how we develop as an agile organisation, adapting to new challenges and opportunities, and encouraging interdisciplinarity through flexible processes.

7. Composition of the student body

This working group considered long-term aims around numbers of students, and the balance of students across undergraduate and postgraduate study, and home and international students. 

8. Financial planning and incentives

This working group focused on how we ensure that our medium-term financial planning allows our organisation to plan for the future and incentivise innovation and income growth.

9. Infrastructure: renewing our estate

This working group looked at the issue of renewing our estate - an imperative for a University founded in the 1960s, with much of our original estate still in place.

10. Infrastructure: technology and digital services

This working group focused on our ability to respond to the challenges and opportunities of technology, ensuring that technology enables, rather than drives, the strategy. 

11. Community of shared purpose

This working group looked at how we maintain a strong sense of shared purpose across the University community, and how we support all members of our community to achieve their potential.