The University of Stirling

Since its founding in 1967 the University of Stirling has been helping its graduates, staff and students to shape the world. Our history begins with a visionary who recognised that society was being transformed and it needed people skilled in navigating change. Lord Robbins, our first Chancellor, was an economist who changed the face of British higher education. He understood the importance of a skilled workforce to the future wealth and wellbeing of society. For Robbins it was all about ‘education with a purpose’ and his Robbins principle declared that university places 'should be available to all who were qualified for them by ability and attainment'. The Robbins Report widened access to higher education, and since then the University of Stirling has been delivering the progressive vision and transformative thinking he first articulated in the 1960s. On 18 September 1967, 164 undergraduate students and 31 postgraduates began their courses at the new Pathfoot Building. Since then we’ve grown to over 14,000 students from over 120 nationalities and we have over 92,000 alumni in 170 countries. We’re distinct for the way we built our teaching on flexibility, choice and innovation. Our key research innovates in the fields of:Cultures, Communities and SocietyGlobal Security and ResilienceLiving WellIn addition the Institute for Advanced Studies supports our thriving postgraduate community. We also have a number of internationally respected institutes and centres covering a broad range of subjects. We have degree course partnerships in China with Hebei Normal University and in Singapore with Singapore Institute of Management. Our campus is located on the edge of the bustling city of Stirling, close to Glasgow and Edinburgh. We’re situated on the site of the historic Airthrey estate which includes the Robert Adam-designed 18th century Airthrey Castle. In 2016 our campus was rated first in the UK by International Student Barometer. In 2002, the University of Stirling and the landscape of the Airthrey Estate was designated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites as one of the UK's top 20 heritage sites of the 20th century.Our visionTo be recognised across the world as a University that addresses the needs of society through innovative and interdisciplinary research; learning and teaching of the highest quality; and by sharing our knowledge with the world.Positioning statement; At the University of Stirling our thinkers are bright, inquisitive and innovative. Everything we do, as an institution and as individuals, has purpose and impact. This shapes our culture, our personality and our mindset. It encourages us to challenge the status quo and push the norm. We have a constant desire to innovate and improve in order to benefit society and make a difference to the communities we serve. We use our thinking to improve everything. By connecting, innovating and transforming, we believe our thinking can change the world.Our missionOur contribution and approach are defined by:Developing people and helping society through the pursuit and understanding of knowledge. We create the conditions for innovative, interdisciplinary research, and communicate what we have learned to the wider world in a clear and useful manner. Transforming the lives of our students and staff by giving them opportunities to reach their full potential intellectually and emotionally; by making them resilient and giving them the skills they need for the modern world; and by instilling in them a sense of responsibility to promote public good. Creating global citizens, working in partnership with governments, business and industry, the public and third sectors, and colleagues in other institutions, to identify and meet the changing needs of society.The core strength of the University of Stirling is our people. To build on our success, we invest in the best staff from around the world to deliver on our ambitious strategies for research, teaching and our international partnerships. Our staff guide and inspire our students to become graduates with the knowledge and skills to help shape the world.The essence of the University is its great people: its staff (1,500+), students (14,000+) and alumni (92,000+) are helping to shape the world. In 2020, the University retained its five-star QS rating, awarded to world-class universities. With more than 120 nationalities represented on campus, Stirling is a truly global university of distinction and an employer of choice. From nurturing local Stirling talent to supporting global experts in their fields, our people are our most valuable asset. At Stirling we offer more than just a job. We offer rewarding and exciting careers and we encourage ambition, reward excellence and foster innovation.The University of Stirling is an international university with a global reputation for high-quality teaching and research. By striving for success, our teaching and research makes a real and demonstrable impact on the economy, environment and society, in Scotland and beyond. The Strategic Plan 2016-2021 set ambitious targets, underpinning a vision to be recognised across the world as a university that addresses the needs of society through innovative interdisciplinary research, learning and teaching of the highest quality and by sharing our knowledge with the world.

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