1. Welcome to Aston University Presentation title
Sub head text
Professor Alec Cameron
Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive

2. About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966
Student population of 14,903 and from 120 nationalities
Top 20 for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2018)
Top 25 in the UK (QS Global Employability Rankings 2017)
Five star rating for excellence in teaching, employability, innovation, facilities, inclusiveness and internationalisation (QS Star Rating 2017)
Analysis by The Economist (12/08/2017) of the LEO data found Aston graduates had the second highest earnings value-add 5 years after graduating
I have included stats that are current and correct but Alec may want to explain that Aston has dropped in the UK rankings, primarily due to SSR and there is room for improvement. Academic recruitment will address this the impact of this will be seen in the 2019 league tables

3. Academic schools
Five academic schools committed to high quality teaching and research
Real world applications making a substantial and beneficial difference to people, organisations and society.
Aston Business School
Engineering & Applied Sciences
Life & Health Sciences
Languages & Social Sciences
Aston Medical School

4. What sets us apart
Our mission To be the UK’s leading university for business and the professions

5. Strategy review Context and rationale
Strategic choice and articulation
Focusing on beneficiaries
Aston’s organisation and culture
Example initiatives
Key enablers
Consequences for future size and shape of Aston

6. Investing in student experience and outcomes
Investment in IT infrastructure and attendance monitoring
70 new academic staff being recruited
New Students’ Union building for 2019
Aston Accelerator launching
Improving student services

7. High levels of student satisfaction
Ranked in the Top 25 for overall student satisfaction in the 2017 National Student Survey (NSS)
Aston’s Overall Satisfaction score is percentage points above the UK average at %, ahead of benchmark institutions such as Surrey, Warwick, Coventry
Three schools achieved scores of 90%+

8. Teaching quality
Triple accreditation for Aston Business School from the leading authorities - EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA
25th out of 129 UK Universities for Teaching Quality (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018)
~60% of Aston academics with HEA fellowship
Awarded TEF Gold in June 2017

9. The Aston placement year
A leading university for graduate employment success for over 25 years
A full year of graduate-level work experience in the UK and overseas
Students develop essential work skills, build industry connections and a professional profile
Supported by a dedicated Careers and Placements Team
Integrated into the degree programme

10. Degree apprenticeships
We were the first institution to offer degree apprenticeships
The first 11 degree apprentices in BSc Digital and Technology Solutions graduated in July 2017 and seven students were awarded first class degrees
New programmes in development across all Schools (e.g. Executive Apprenticeship MBA from autumn 2017)
Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund (DADF) award

11. Aston Online
Launch of Aston Online, a series of taught postgraduate programmes, delivered from September 2017
Working in partnership with Keypath, specialists in the recruitment of online students, to develop bespoke programmes and provide online support

12. +£23m 78% High quality research
Total research awards 2016/17 of research deemed World Leading or Internationally Excellent in the 2014 REF

13. Research pioneers We emphasise applied research with impact
Aston has more Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with employers than any other UK university when factored for size
Aston launched the blockbuster cancer drug Temodal and was the first to tackle childhood dyslexia
Today Aston works with BMW, Rolls Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and many others to create business solutions to current problems

14. About the West Midlands
New structures locally that we are engaging with:
Midlands Engine - Launched early Rebalancing the economy
Combined Authority / Metro Mayor - Andy Street elected - New powers evolving

15. Research and Knowledge Exchange: regional activity
Midlands Engine
Aston engaged in the Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) which identified the Midlands’ strengths in research and innovation (highlighted in the Midlands Engine strategy March 2017)
Midlands Innovation
A Midlands Innovation connecting capability fund application has been submitted for £5M to HEFCE (HEIF) involving all Midlands Innovation universities.
The Transport Innovation Accelerator bid led by Prof Paul Maropoulos has been worked up into a business case to include in the Midlands Engine Action plan as well as a direct submission to government (Current bid value £101M, Aston’s part £13.75M)
Midlands Engine – Aston engaged in the Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) which identified the Midlands’ strengths in research and innovation ( These were highlighted in the Midlands Engine strategy that was published in March 2017 ( and asks around the identified strengths were then developed to go into the Action plan which will be submitted shortly ahead of the autumn statement.
West Midlands Combined Authority used the data from the Midland Engine SIA to conduct a WMCA SIA. Andy Street was appointed Mayor in May 2017 and Aston has been working with other WMCA partners to secure funding for innovation projects that align with the SIA and deliver on WMCA’s need to improve productivity (these include; Consortium for Demonstration of Intelligent Systems and Aston Expressway to Productivity).
GBSLEP
– Foundation Gateway is through the first round of approval to the local growth fund and a business case is now being refined.
The Bridge Aston)
Is under consideration for local growth funding for the energy part of it. Other innovation initiatives under the Bridge umbrella include Transport innovation Accelerator and Medical Technologies that are being submitted via Midlands Engine.
Midlands Innovation
- A Midlands Innovation connecting capability fund application has been submitted for £5M led by Birmingham University to HEFCE (HEIF) involving all Midlands Innovation universities.
- The Transport Innovation Accelerator bid led by Prof Paul Maropoulos has been worked up into a business case to include in the Midlands Engine Action plan as well as a direct submission to government (Current bid value £101M, Aston’s part £13.75M)
- Midlands Health Innovation have developed an ask to include in the Midlands Engine Action plan of (Overall ask £138M, Aston part £6M)
Key Account Management
- There are now 35 Key Account Managed organisations (see

16. The role of enterprise
Enhance skills and employability for students and graduates; attract enterprising applicants
Provide entrepreneurs and business leaders with the skills and knowledge to drive business growth
Engage with policy makers and have an impact on the economic development of the West Midlands and the UK
Enhance skills
Enterprise in the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities
E.g. BSEEN, Pipe Club, Beautiful Canoe, Santander Universities
New ENGIE hackathon in Accelerate Week
Entrepreneurs/ business leaders
Effective programmes underpinned with research and evaluation
E.g. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, ERDF funded business support
Peer learning networks
Policy makers
E.g. Enterprise Research Centre
National sector networks – Small Business Charter
Support for spin-outs and commercialisation of IP
REF impact and environment