Our University

We are strongly embedded in our local region.

Through research and innovation, our national and international impact brings recognition and opportunity to the region supporting growth and development.

The University of Suffolk is all about transformation — transforming individuals, our community, our region and beyond. Education, training and research are powerful tools to support transformation and change; we believe that by facilitating the development of skills, knowledge and behaviours, we will enable our students, our community and our region to be enriched, enhanced and impacted socially, culturally and economically.

We are committed to putting students at the centre of our thinking, and the strong partnership between students and staff at the University is central to our ambitions. In a rapidly changing world, we have created a stable and supportive community where our students experience the highest quality in teaching, learning and social environments. Scholarships and high-impact research are ingrained within the institution, and we offer our students a transformational experience to prepare them for their future.

Strategy and Vision 2020-2030

Our mission is to transform lives and our region, through education, training, research, business and community engagement,

View Strategy

Close-up of student in their cap and gown

How we are Governed

The team ensures the effective organisation, direction and management of the university and its deployment of resources.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

The responsibilities of the Board of Directors include the determination of the educational character, mission and corporate plans of the University and for oversight of its activities, including ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources.

DIRECTORS

A key part of the role of the Senate is to advise the Vice-Chancellor and the University of Suffolk Board on the development of the academic activities of the University and the resources needed to support them and to advise on such other matters as the Board or the Vice-Chancellor may refer to the Senate.

WHAT THEY DO

In October 2022, the University Board agreed to establish a dental social enterprise, the University of Suffolk Dental CIC (CIC), alongside dentistry-affiliated academic programmes in a new Centre for Dental Development.

The proposal is a joint development with Suffolk and North-East Essex ICB (SNEE) as part of a wider programme to address issues surrounding the shortfalls in NHS dental provision in Suffolk. The CIC will provide NHS-only dental appointments with no private provision. The University will initially provide a BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy, with plans to expand to dental nursing and technician apprenticeships, and ultimately undergraduate dentistry.

The CIC starts operating in spring 2024, gradually phasing to full operating capacity over the year. Services are delivered under contract by SNEE, awarded after a competitive bid process.

Articles of Association - University of Suffolk Dental CIC

Professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) is the term used for a group of different bodies that recognise, approve or accredit courses. Some PSRBs have a statutory or regulatory responsibility to set minimum standards of entry into a particular profession.

FIND OUT MORE

There are a number of policies and reports in operation to ensure the smooth and effective running of the University.

View documents in the Publication Scheme

Governance Structure

The University of Suffolk is bound to act in accordance with its Articles of Association which define the University's structure and the way in which the University is governed by the Board of Directors. Reporting to the Board of Directors, formal decision-making within the University is conducted through academic and executive governance structures.

A group of students gathered with guests at the Arts Degree Show

Civic University Agreement and Economic Impact Assessment

Our Civic University Agreement is an initiative that will harness the work, influence and energy of the students, staff and alumni of the University to promote societal, economic and environmental advancements in, and for, the people of Suffolk.

Civic University Agreement

The Economic Impact Assessment is a comprehensive analysis, which has taken economic data from the 2021–2022 academic year, stands as a testament to the significant influence and impactful contributions the University of Suffolk has made in our communities in Ipswich, Suffolk and beyond.

Economic Impact Assessment