Annual reports and financial statements

Making an impact: halfway through Vision 2028

Over the past five years, the University has undergone significant transformation. Vision 2028, our 10-year strategy, has provided a roadmap for our continuous progress, evolution, adaptation, and growth.

In 2023, the cumulative impact of our transformational achievements may be best summed up by our shortlisting for one of the most prestigious recognitions in UK higher education: The University of the Year by the Times Higher Education 2023 Awards.

We were also shortlisted by THE Awards for Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year, a testament to our commitment to innovating educational technologies. Our graduating students expressed their satisfaction with an 83 per cent overall positivity score in the National Student Survey, the 13th best score in the country. Over 2,500 employer partners are actively engaged with us – nearly 10 times more than we did in 2018.

We have won awards for our strategies and programmes, created ground-breaking integrated professional services and implemented a pioneering Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness curriculum which has helped us engage students more than ever and prepare them for the jobs and opportunities of a fast-change future.

Our Connected Campus investment continued to enhance our physical and digital infrastructure and we marched forward in our quest to be net zero carbon by 2030. We worked to reduce health inequalities, improve the lives of children and keep people safe online. We expanded our global partnerships while strengthening our position as an anchor institution in east London.

We collaborated with partners to create the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, a regional hatchery for green innovation and enterprise launched in December 2023.

We also took over as the cultural operator for the flagship Stratford Youth Zone, part of a new partnership with Newham Council. The venue, located in the former Stratford Circus building, will deliver a programme of creative and performing artsbased activities for young people as well as the larger community. 

There is still much to be done, but we take pride in what we have accomplished. As we close out year five of Vision 2028, we continue to support a community of students, staff and stakeholders seeking to build a fairer and more sustainable world.