STRATEGIC PLAN
2015-2018
CONTENTS
About the Collegepage 3
Missionpage 4
Strategic Objectivespage 5
Strategic Aimspage 6
Aim 1: Learning and Teachingpage 6
Aim 2: Student Experiencepage 7
Aim 3: Researchpage 8
Aim 4: Knowledge Transfer / Outreachpage 9
Aim 5: College Profile
page 10
Aim 6: Sustainabilitypage 11
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Heythrop College is the specialist Philosophy and Theology College of the University of London,
which it joined in 1970. The College was founded in 1614 by the Society of Jesus and still receives
substantial support from the Society, through the Trustees for Roman Catholic Purposes (TRCP),
and since 2006-07 also from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The College offers
University of London degrees in Theology and Philosophy.
Although a small and specialist College within the University of London, with under 800
undergraduate and postgraduate students in 2015, it probably has the largest number of students
studying these subjects in one institution, supported by a unique historical/specialist philosophy and
theology library of 200,000 volumes. The College also has around 70 full and part-time academic
staff undertaking teaching, research and knowledge transfer/outreach activities, with a wide range
of expertise in these subjects, supported by 70 professional, administrative and support staff.
Heythrop College is also the lead institution for the External Degrees in Theology and Divinity in the
University of London International Programmes (formerly the External System), on which there are
around 200 distance-learning students around the world.
Changes in the UK Higher Education environment since 2012 have made it increasingly challenging
for Heythrop College to meet the costs of being a small autonomous institution. By 2014 it had
become apparent that these costs had become greater than could be provided for by the College’s
various sources of income, including likely levels of tuition fees, which for the College come from just
two subject areas. Since the College was no longer viable in its current form alternative approaches
were investigated, including forming a strategic partnership with another institution, setting up a
consortium of small institutions to share the costs of services and continuing as an autonomous
institution with radical reshaping. In 2015 the governors concluded that none of these approaches
would allow the College to continue to deliver its mission in a sustainable fashion. Consequently,
after much reflection, and with great sadness, the governors of Heythrop decided that Heythrop
College, University of London, would continue until 2018 and then cease to be a College of the
federal University, although this did not preclude a future relationship with the University of London.
The College will give highest priority to protecting and enhancing the student experience during the
teach out.
Heythrop College in its many incarnations has survived for more than 400 years because it has
changed when change has been needed. Further change is now needed and the governors are
committed to continue the mission and work of the College.
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MISSION
The Mission of the College is:
•
To serve society through philosophy and theology
•
To offer its students an education marked by intelligence, scholarship and generosity of spirit
•
To foster interfaith dialogue
•
To be a resource for the Christian faith community
•
To provide leadership in Catholic thought
4
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
The College’s strategic objectives are:
• To teach out its existing University of London degree programmes to a high standard
• To find and implement a new form in which the mission and work of the College, including the
ecclesiastical faculties, will continue after 2018
The objectives of Heythrop College are, from within the Catholic tradition, to make a significant
contribution in the fields of theology and philosophy to the intellectual and educational life of the
University, of society in general and of the Christian community in particular; and to maintain its
reputation for scholarship nationally and internationally. The College seeks to meet these objectives
through its teaching for degrees and diplomas in theology and philosophy, through its research
and supervision of graduate students, through its excellent library, the Heythrop Journal and other
publications and through the wider influences of members of the faculty and its graduates.
5
STRATEGIC AIMS
AIM 1 - LEARNING AND TEACHING
To provide students with excellent academic teaching, learning resources and support, thereby
enabling them to achieve their full potential and make a valued contribution to society.
OBJECTIVES
To continue to implement the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy throughout the teachout,
with the following general principles:
• To provide students with programmes of study that reflect the College’s Mission
• To follow an outcomes-based approach to learning with alignment between learning, teaching
and assessment practices
• To take an enhancement-led approach to all learning, teaching and assessment activities
• To understand and act upon the aspirations of learners, employers and other stakeholders
• To encourage respect for the views of others and an understanding of the dangers of extremism
• To promote student engagement in the learning and teaching process
• To provide learning resources to enable students to achieve the learning outcomes of their
programmes of study, in particular to develop the use of technology to support and enhance
learning and curriculum developments where appropriate
To develop between 2015 and 2018 a new Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy appropriate
to the College after it ceases to be a college of the federal University of London.
6
AIM 2 - STUDENT EXPERIENCE
To provide appropriate facilities and services to foster social, academic and personal growth, thus
enabling students to make the most of their time at the College.
OBJECTIVES
To continue during the teach out to develop and implement a Student Experience Strategy based on
the following principles:
• To provide students with opportunities for personal and professional development outside the
academic curriculum, including through the Student Experience Commitment
• To support and promote the role of the Heythrop Students’ Union in ensuring a high quality
student experience
• To continue to develop and implement student support services in relation to counselling,
chaplaincy, accommodation, careers guidance, study and employability skills
• To promote student engagement in the provision of services and support
To develop between 2015 and 2018 a new Student Experience Strategy appropriate to the College
after it ceases to be a college of the federal University of London.
7
STRATEGIC AIMS
AIM 3 - RESEARCH
To make a significant contribution to research in the academic disciplines of the College.
OBJECTIVES
To continue during the teach out to implement the Research Strategy based on the following aims:
• To enhance the research environment for both staff and students
• To enhance the quality of research outputs
• To enhance the national and international reputation of the College for research
• To continue to integrate and develop the contribution of the Centres/Institute to research
activity and environment
• To foster the integration of research and teaching
• In support of the above, to foster resources dedicated to research
To develop between 2015 and 2018 a new Research Strategy appropriate to the College after it
ceases to be a college of the federal University of London.
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AIM 4 - KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER/OUTREACH
To provide opportunities for academic and pastoral reflection, dialogue and critique and training and
resources for ministry.
OBJECTIVES
• To provide resources to meet the pastoral and professional needs of both the Catholic community
and other churches and faith groups and secular agencies
• To undertake research and knowledge transfer in relation to ecumenical learning and ministerial
training
• To provide opportunities and resources for pastoral/ practitioner reflection
• To engage in the political and social realm in relation to interfaith dialogue
• To promote the College’s Centres and Institutes
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9
STRATEGIC AIMS
AIM 5 – COLLEGE PROFILE
To sustain the College’s profile, nationally and internationally.
OBJECTIVES
• To promote the reputation of the College for high-quality teaching and research
• To continue international collaboration and partnerships
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AIM 6 - SUSTAINABILITY
To safeguard the College’s academic and financial sustainability.
OBJECTIVES
During the teach out
• To ensure resources are allocated appropriately to meet the College’s academic strategy
• To maintain the Financial Strategy based on value-for-money, efficiency, effectiveness and
income-generation, consistent with the aims and values of the College
• To continue to generate income from the site through the Estates Strategy
• To provide an environment to enable staff and students to achieve these aims
Between 2015 and 2018 to develop and commence implementation of a new model for the College
to allow it to continue its mission and work sustainably.
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Heythrop College, University of London
23 Kensington Square
London, W8 5HN
q 020 7795 6600
E [email protected]
a www.heythrop.ac.uk
Philosophy & Theology
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON