UNE maps strategic direction for the coming decade

Published 03 February 2021

The vision for the next 10 years was launched through a website and online event to staff today and will be rolled out to community and student stakeholders at events over the coming weeks.

UNE’s Vice- Chancellor and CEO Professor Heywood said that the plan is not just words on paper but the result of the University’s largest-ever open consultation of staff, students, partners, community and alumni, with over 1000 separate engagements.

“We have developed a vision for higher education which focuses on transformative opportunity, partnerships, engagement and research,” Professor Heywood said.

“Future Fit was prepared at a time of challenge, but it reaffirms this University’s commitment to support all our students – present and past – in their educational requirements. We know from the past year that the way we work and the way we engage as communities is going to change.

“We are embarking on an innovative plan which will build strongly on the value of our relationships with our students, staff, alumni, partners and communities to create future-fit graduates and communities.”

Future Fit builds on the extensive consultation process that took part during 2020, running in parallel to the Time for Change restructure program which was prompted by the financial burdens imposed by drought, bushfires and COVID 19 as well as some longer term structural issues.

“A ten year plan may seem ambitious at a time when all the systems that sustain us – financial, political, health, education, the Earth's biosphere itself – are all under stress,” said Professor Heywood.

“However, as individuals and as a university, we need to be ambitious, think creatively and plan long-term. Achieving this purpose is no small task, making the necessary cultural, technical and operational changes will take time, determination and investment,” she said.

Future Fit is built around three core goals:

  • Personalised learning journeys – crafting, adapting and supporting learning journeys that are distinctive in their accessibility and flexibility,
  • Empowering communities – creating and sharing knowledge to make a difference locally, regionally and globally; and
  • Building resilience – committing to environmental, social and financial resilience for the University, our staff, our students and our communities.

More information is available on the Future Fit website.

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