A better world,
through knowledge and action

Our strategy to 2033

Our mission

We forge positive change through all of our activities: from education to research, creative and professional practice and knowledge exchange. There is a synergy between our work, sparked by the innovative and enquiring spirit fostered since we welcomed our first students as a place of higher education in 1905.

With all our academic subjects taking a creative approach to address what it means to be human in the 21st century, we nurture skills with criticality to inspire transformative intellectual and personal development in our students.

Our community has an impact on society, culture, the economy and environment in our home borough of Lewisham, in London, across the UK and around the world, with our students, graduates and staff equipped with the ability and insight to benefit society while building rewarding and relevant careers.

Our vision

We will make the world a better, more equitable place by applying knowledge through action. As a progressive university, we will use innovation and creativity to challenge the status quo.

With a strong focus on local and global equality, we will tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of our time to deliver positive, ambitious and sustainable change.

Our academic pillars

A distinctive learning environment

Our dynamic range of innovative educational programmes and partnerships will offer transformative experiences that foster intellectual and emotional growth and resilience. Our students will develop an appreciation of complexity, subtlety and diverse perspectives.

They will learn to leverage personal experiences to drive critical enquiry and creative practice. They will value collaboration over competition and achieve their goals both effectively and ethically.

Our graduates will be reflective, values-driven citizens and professionals who are equipped to have ongoing social, cultural, economic and environmental impact within their chosen fields and communities.

Read more about our academic pillar, A distinctive learning environment (PDF).

Research addressing the great challenges

Research at Goldsmiths will be shaped through attracting, retaining and supporting world-class talent. Brilliant ideas will come to fruition by providing solid ground for exchange and experimentation and they will be tested and strengthened in real-world encounters.

Our research will be deepened and made more resilient through collaborating closely with external partners. We will co-create solutions to enduring global problems.

We will draw on our rich history of creative practice and imagination for societal wellbeing and we will provide the tools to hold truth to power. We will learn and grow through engagement with others.

Read more about our academic pillar, Research addressing the great challenges (PDF).

Social innovation central to all we do

We believe that new ways of thinking, doing and creating can effectively address society’s problems and needs. By embedding social challenges within our curriculum, we will empower our graduates with the skills and attributes necessary for their careers and civic lives.

Our distinctive mix of disciplines will allow us to advance research and knowledge exchange priorities, collaborating with local and global communities to drive cultural and societal enrichment.

Guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we will focus on tackling inequalities, enhancing culture, promoting social justice, and fostering health and wellbeing.

Read more about our academic pillar, Social innovation central to all we do (PDF).

Our operational pillars

An excellent student experience

Our physical and digital campuses will reflect how students want to learn today. We will provide wrap-around support for all aspects of our students’ lives, supporting intellectual, emotional, reflective, and experiential growth to help point them to their future lives and careers.

Continuous improvement grounded in student and staff feedback and co-creation will ensure that effective processes and systems provide a foundation to enable our students to grow and explore.

A culture of good work

We will foster a supportive and collaborative staff community, built on trust and empathy. Just as we do with our students, we will ensure that effective processes and systems provide a solid foundation where roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and work is aligned with our strategic priorities, effective governance, and transparent engagement.

Our commitment to staff wellbeing and tailored professional development will ensure that our colleagues thrive. We will celebrate our unique culture and values, with equality, diversity, and inclusion at the core of everything we do.

A better world, through knowledge and action