Town House Strategy sets radical new direction for Kingston University

Kingston University has launched its long-term strategy to deliver a progressive model of higher education, founded on its sector-leading Future Skills campaign.

Called the Town House Strategy after its internationally acclaimed, award-winning Town House building, the strategy will prepare students for the future world of work, increase the University's research and knowledge exchange, enhance its collaboration with local communities, business and industry, strengthen its impact on policy and support the goal of building a more sustainable society and economy.

Speaking following a launch event for the strategy, Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier said: "The success of our Future Skills campaign, through which we are highlighting the importance of skills for innovation and the vital role they play in driving a thriving national economy, along with our strong research are evidence of our growing impact."

The new Town House Strategy would transform students' education by embedding the future skills sought by business and the professions across the University's curriculum, Professor Spier said. It would also give greater visibility and support to research and knowledge exchange. "Equally importantly, it will help create a culture of high performance that is inclusive, innovative, ambitious and enterprising," Professor Spier said.

"The strategy will ensure our graduates, our staff and the University itself are sought after. In other words, students will seek to broaden their knowledge and skills at Kingston University because it will help them make the most of their higher education and get on in life. Staff will choose to work at the University because they can be effective, innovative and develop their careers, while businesses, organisations and government bodies will seek to partner with us because of our approach, expertise and values."

Kingston University's Town House Strategy is built around four themes:

• Driving a progressive new model of education, combining subject-specific knowledge with the future skills and attributes most needed by employers.
• Partnering with industry to develop students' skills, and engaging government and organisations with the University's expertise to further debate and influence policy.
• Having impact in research, knowledge exchange and professional practice.
• Providing an innovative and high-performing working environment for staff.

The Town House building, after which the strategy was named, gave physical form to the University's ambitions, Professor Spier said. The building was last year named winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize and, earlier this year, carried off the EU Mies van der Rohe Award – the highest accolade in European architecture.

• Find out more about Kingston University's Town House Strategy.
• Read more about Kingston University's Future Skills campaign.