Chairman's Introduction
The year has again been one of continued progress, with considerable achievements across all aspects of the University's activities.
Our research profile has continued to expand. We became one of only two universities in the country to be awarded a sixth Queen's Anniversary Prize – an endorsement of the real-world relevance of our research – and the quality and value of our work was underlined by an outstanding record in attracting more than £28 million in external research funding. Figures released this year by HEFCE, the national funding council for higher education, also showed Loughborough to be among the top universities in the country for qualification rates among its postgraduate research students, reaffirming our position as a leader in education provision.
Research and teaching are integrated at every opportunity to provide the highest quality learning experience for our students, and Loughborough excels in areas that matter to them. We were ranked in the top 15 of UK institutions in every national league table this year, providing a welcome external validation of our quality. The latest employability figures show us in the top range of universities for graduate employment, with 71.5% of students attaining graduate level jobs after university.
Our students remain among our greatest advocates. In this year's National Student Survey they voted Loughborough one of the top five UK universities for student satisfaction, and we also won the only two Times Higher Awards to be voted for by students – for the Best Student Experience, and Outstanding Support for Overseas Students. All of this is a powerful endorsement of the high value that our students place on their programmes, on the support they receive and the Loughborough Student Experience.
Loughborough's reputation for the breadth of its partnerships with business and industry was also strengthened further this year when it was selected, as part of the Midlands Consortium, to host the headquarters of the Energy Technologies Institute. This was a significant achievement for the University that will enable us to enhance and develop our expertise in this area and play a crucial role in tackling climate change. My congratulations and thanks go to all those involved in bringing this very important initiative to our region.
This year, through its new Strategic Plan, the University has taken stock of its current position and established a vision for the future. We will increase knowledge and understanding through relevant research, provide a high quality education for our students to equip them for the global workplace, and influence the economic and social development of individuals, business, professions and communities. Loughborough University – Towards 2016 is an ambitious plan based upon challenging but achievable goals. Realising our vision will require energy and commitment from the whole University community and from our key partners and supporters. The challenges are substantial. However, I am confident that, working together, we will achieve the aims of this plan and play a significant and distinctive part in higher education across the world.
Sir Bryan Carsberg
Chairman of Council and Senior Pro Chancellor