Our vision is to be recognised worldwide as a leading university for inspiring learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society through the fusion of education, research and practice.
Professor Alison Honour, Vice-ChancellorWe have around 17,000 students and we are ranked as one of the top 100 young universities in the world (THE Young University Rankings 2024) but our ambition doesn’t stop there.
Our motto at BU is Discere Mutari Est – to learn is to change. It’s a principle that runs through everything we do across education, research, professional practice, and public engagement. When you join us, you become a part of a learning community that strives to make an impact on the world around us – aiming for a more sustainable, inclusive, and healthy society.
Our vision of Fusion brings together the key elements of education, research and practice, creating something which is greater than the sum of its parts. Through the impact of our research and education, and the contribution of our staff, students and graduates, we are able to make a difference to the world we live in. We help people live better for longer; protect and preserve a sustainable environment; help to prepare for and recover from crisis; challenge marginalisation, misinformation and underrepresentation; and help creative industries and cultural heritage to thrive. BU is a catalyst for growth to boost local skills and advance the region we call home, with regional partnerships in healthcare, business, sport and more. Many students and staff benefit directly from these partnerships, with organisations like University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) and Premier League football club AFC Bournemouth.
Our students experience the benefits of Fusion, learning from those with experience in industry or practice, working on real world problems and applying research skills. Across BU, we work closely with employers, practitioners and professional organisations. This supports graduate employability as well as informing our research. BU has a long-established reputation for our commitment to work placements and experiences as part of a degree. Every undergraduate student at BU has the opportunity to undertake a work placement or work-based learning experience as part of their course, adding vital experience to their CVs and helping them to gain employment after their course.
In the Research Excellence Framework 2021, 94% of our research was found to be internationally-recognised or above, with 19% found to be world-leading in quality. This reflects our commitment to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for research to flourish, and ensuring research activity supports our engagement with industry and practice and informs education.
We benefit from a wonderful location, situated between one of the UK’s newest national parks and a seven-mile long sandy beach. We’re also home to the second largest natural harbour in the world, with the World Heritage Jurassic Coast located nearby. This makes for an excellent test-bed for our research, and a wonderful place to relax and call home after work or study. Good transport links means that London is only two hours away.
We employ around 1,800 staff and we continue to invest in our buildings and facilities, such as our Poole and Bournemouth Gateway Buildings, or our sports facility, Chapel Gate.
We are serious about our commitment to sustainability and we are delighted to have been ranked in the top 40 universities measured across the world in the THE Impact Rankings 2023 for our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BU also ranks first internationally for UN SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production. The rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ SDGs, which aim to protect people and the planet. We are committed to achieving carbon net zero by 2030.
Our strategic plan, BU2025, sets out our vision, values and outcomes, with the Fusion of education, research and practice at its heart.
I am proud to lead this institution. I hope you enjoy looking around our website, which gives you a flavour of life here at BU. I would encourage you to get in touch or come and visit us if you would like to find out more.
Professor Alison Honour, Vice-Chancellor