Our Strategy
Future-focused now
Business has the potential to be a powerful force for social as well as economic good – and it is our mission to see that future realised. That’s why we are supporting regional, national and global organisations to take action against the greatest challenges that the world is facing.
Our students, faculty and partners are united by three key themes: environmental sustainability, responsible leadership and technological transformation.
Together, we are future-focused now.
The University of Exeter Business School is one of the UK’s leading institutions. Our School is where students and organisations connect with internationally-acclaimed business experts to inspire real and lasting change. With the support of our partners and access to state-of-the-art research facilities, the innovators here are creating a healthier, greener and fairer future for everyone. That's why we consistently rank among the top UK business schools on a number of performance indicators.
The world of business faces profound challenges: the rapid advances of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies, the accelerating climate and environment crisis, and the growing demand for responsible leadership. As part of the University of Exeter’s Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, we are strategically positioned to bring to bear the expertise and skills of Business School experts alongside engineers, climate scientists, ecologists, computer scientists, physicists and mathematicians to develop novel solutions. Through these interdisciplinary approaches to business research and education, we are driving action and enabling organisations and communities to thrive in the face of challenges.
Our context is also shaped by the significant changes and challenges facing business schools, and the wider higher education sector, across the UK. The ongoing financial sustainability of the School is therefore at the heart of this strategy, which places a premium on agility, innovation and the diversification of our offer to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
We have an important role to play in defining the path ahead.
Business as a force for social good: future focused now
Environmental Sustainability
Responsible Leadership
Technological Transformation
Structure
Our School comprises three academic departments: Economics, Management, and Finance & Accounting, and our interdisciplinary research centres. Based on the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus, and on the Penryn Campus in Cornwall, we are the only Russell Group, triple-accredited business school in the South-West of the England. We play an important role in our regional business ecosystem, achieving global reach through our education and research.
In education, we offer a diverse portfolio of programmes across the breadth of business education, enabling lifelong learners to study with us however and from wherever best suits them. This includes our comprehensive Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate portfolios, alongside innovative Degree Apprenticeship, Executive Education, CPD, Online and Transnational Education programmes.
Aligned with our core strategic pillars, our research combines internationally recognised scholarship with close collaboration with policymakers, businesses and other organisations to generate meaningful impact and help address the most pressing challenges of our time. These complex challenges demand diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives. By working across disciplinary boundaries, our staff and postgraduate researchers develop innovative insights and solutions that create lasting benefits for organisations, communities and society.
We are a truly global business school, with staff and students from around the world contributing to a diverse, inclusive and internationally connected academic community. Through a portfolio of high-value partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, we create opportunities for student recruitment and exchange, while enabling impactful international research collaborations for our academic staff. Our global engagement is underpinned by a commitment to academic excellence, financial sustainability and social responsibility, and is firmly aligned with our three strategic pillars.
Collaboration is equally central to how we engage with business and other external organisations. Through long-standing and trusted partnerships, we have developed a sector-leading portfolio of professional education programmes including degree apprenticeships and executive education, providing impactful solutions grounded in our research expertise.
In short, our School is characterised by:
- Scholarly rigour
- Interdisciplinarity
- Impact focus
- Collaboration
- Diversity of staff, students and stakeholders
- Lifelong approach to education
Mission, vision & goals
Our vision
We will create distinctive and impactful world-leading research. We will provide the highest-quality research-inspired education that encourages learners across all career stages to reflect our shared values and to realise the power of business as a force for social good. Together, we are future-focused now.
Our mission
Our mission is to create positive change by bringing together expertise across three core themes: Environmental Sustainability, Responsible Leadership, and Technological Transformation. We work with partners on regional, national and global scales to generate impact, enabling them respond to – and prepare for – the complex challenges of our time. We equip our students with the knowledge and values to lead responsibly and sustainably in the future. We bring our expertise directly into organisations and boardrooms, supporting better decision-making and meaningful change.
Our goals
- To produce world-leading interdisciplinary research to influence business and policymakers to create meaningful, lasting impact for organisations, communities and society.
- To provide a diverse in-person and online educational portfolio, allowing lifelong learners to develop as exceptional professionals, prepared to succeed and lead at every stage of their careers.
- To foster high-quality, strategically aligned and mutually beneficial global partnerships that enhance education, research, student experience and the School's international reach and influence.
- To position ourselves as a trusted partner to business, government and society, anticipating their most pressing challenges and providing impactful solutions.
How will our environment enable success?
Our staff, students and partners are the lifeblood of our School, and we are committed to fostering an environment in which everyone can thrive as part of a diverse, inclusive and supportive community. Success will be reflected in the following:
- A shared sense of purpose and pride in the School's mission to create social good through our core strategic themes.
- A diverse community, encompassing different backgrounds, cultures and disciplines, that is actively valued and contributes to the School’s success.
- Students and partners who can clearly articulate the connection between our research expertise, education and real-world application and impact.
- An environment in which people are empowered to innovate, collaborate and take informed risks in pursuit of meaningful outcomes.
- A culture in which collaboration, both across disciplines and with external partners, is a natural and valued part of how we work.