The city

Our history, culture and civic responsibilities are interwoven, from our foundation in 1583, through our flourishing of talent and sceptical enquiry during the Enlightenment of the 18^th century, through to the present day.

Living lab

Edinburgh is a living lab for our research and is an open classroom for our students to develop and apply their skills.

Our research expertise and our graduates’ skills are at the heart of the most dynamic growth sectors of the local economy. We partner with industry across Edinburgh and beyond.

Our heritage buildings and modern campuses dovetail with the setting of the wider city. Our physical presence in the city frames our interactions with the rest of Edinburgh’s citizens.

Investment and support

Investing in the city and our physical presence, we will:

• invest £1.5 billion in our estate over the next decade;
• strengthen relationships between the University and the city, opening our buildings to the community;
• ensure that we have a well-equipped, accessible estate, large enough to meet the needs of staff and students;
• create a sense of place for our staff, students and the citizens of Edinburgh, and a sense of community across our five campuses;

• make improvements across all our campuses, refurbishing iconic buildings such as Old College and the McEwan Hall and creating spaces to house new initiatives such as the Data Technology Institute;

• deliver teaching and learning spaces that support more flexible styles of learning;

• meet the needs of researchers, with sustainable labs and room for collaboration and innovation;

• deliver residential accommodation that supports students to play a full part in the community;

• build sustainability into our planning processes, ensuring that our new and refurbished buildings are equipped to meet and address the threats of climate change by being energy efficient and meeting waste and carbon standards throughout their lifetimes;

• protect our heritage, ensuring a future for buildings that are key to the University’s and the city’s history.

Supporting our people, we will:

• maintain a fair, inclusive and diverse community of students and staff, enriching the learning, working and social experience of all and demonstrating our commitment to social justice;
• ensure all staff and students achieve their potential by providing a supportive environment and learning culture;
• widen educational and employment opportunities for those from traditionally under-represented groups;
• enhance our scholarship support for all students, especially those from under-represented backgrounds;
• develop our culture of high performance and create the right environment for our staff to grow and develop;
• promote health and wellbeing for staff and students through a range of initiatives, facilities and support services including counselling and disability services and Sport & Exercise;
• foster a culture of lifelong learning, providing staff and students with opportunities to enhance existing skills and develop the new skills needed to thrive in a constantly changing world.