Our values make us differentLet us tell you about them

To educate, to advance knowledge and to serve the public good

Our mission

The University of Winchester has been in the business of Higher Education for over one hundred and seventy years.

Welcome

We were founded by the Church in 1840

as the Diocesan Training School for

teacher education and whilst changing

dramatically in size and character over the

years, we have retained the same values-

driven approach to all that we undertake.

A group of staff were asked recently how

they would describe the University: here

are two of the responses which are very

much representative of the whole.

“The University of Winchester is an

institution that knows where it’s going but

cares about how it gets there.”

“Winchester is a small University with a big

heart, populated by people who want to

change the world for the better.”

As a University we value freedom, justice,

truth, human rights and collective effort

for the public good. Indeed, our mission

reflects this. It is ‘to educate, to advance

knowledge and to serve the public good.’

But don’t just take our word for it; do

engage with us further and judge for

yourself!

With very best wishes

Joy Carter

Vice Chancellor

Our values

We value freedom, justice, truth, human rights and collective effort for the public good. The plans and actions of the University of Winchester are founded in these ideals together with the following values:

Intellectual freedom

Social justice

Diversity

Spirituality

Individuals matter

Creativity

The University relishes creative thought and

the free and open expression of ideas. We

strive to create an academic climate in which

staff and students can pursue their intellectual

interests in robust dialogue with others in

and outside the University. The University

seeks to use its expertise to influence and

interrogate public life. We are a community

of critical thinkers and we want to encourage

our students to become active researchers in

their own right. The most innovative work

produced by our students is also published.

Intellectual freedomIntellectual freedom and its appropriate expression are at the heart of our business.

We believe that each individual has unique

talents and potential, but that some

individuals and groups receive an unbalanced

distribution of wealth and resources. We

strive to share the dividends deriving from

our community of learning and our physical

assets with all who can benefit from them.

In practice this means working proactively,

often in partnership, to identify disadvantage,

understand its causes and deploy resources to

support more equitable social and personal

development. We encourage our students

to value the worth of every individual and

to develop the skills and knowledge to be

advocates and agents for social justice.

Social justiceWe seek to embody social justice and develop our students as effective and fulfilled global citizens. They will be prepared to challenge the status quo and will have the strength to stand up for what they believe to be true.

We encourage and embrace diversity in the

backgrounds, culture and outlook of our

students, staff and governors. Diversity is

infused in our curriculum, pedagogy, research

and knowledge exchange, leading to deeper

understanding of the human condition

and strong, effective links with a range of

communities both close at hand and overseas.

We believe that diversity strengthens our

cultural values, stimulates creativity and

contributes to organisational development.

DiversityWe delight in diversity.

The University values religious ways of

knowing and provides opportunities for

students and staff to explore spirituality both

within and outside the curriculum. Most

students can elect to study modules related

to ethics and spirituality during their time

with us. Our Christian foundation is at the

heart of the University and that heart is broad

and inclusive. We enjoy the presence of a

diversity of religious and spiritual groups and

the perspectives of those with no faith. We

have a chapel, a Muslim prayer room, a cosmic

walk, religious choirs, a Centre for Religions

for Reconciliation and Peace and a number

of different faith groups. Within a culture of

intellectual enquiry we hope to create an open

and tolerant environment in which to explore

the ‘big’ questions together.

SpiritualityWe celebrate our Christian foundation encouraging those living within the Christian faith, whilst also welcoming those who live within other faiths and those who have no faith.

“The university is small, friendly and has a

‘human face’ - I feel I can have more of an

effect as an individual.”

We value the physical, social and emotional

wellbeing of each and every student and

member of staff and seek to create an

environment which cultivates openness,

friendliness and flexibility, whilst supporting

a healthy work-life balance. We value the

learning that results from engaging regularly

with the multiple voices within the University

community, and believe that all community

members should play a key role in shaping

their experience through sharing their

opinions and ideas. We recognise also that

we are part of a local and global community

and enjoy our wider relationships both at

home and overseas.

Individuals matterThe wellbeing of individuals is important, as are their opinions and views.

The University seeks to foster creativity

among staff and students through its

encouragement of imaginative thinking,

and the innovative application of ideas and

practices within all its fields of activity.

CreativityPermeability, agility and imagination are central to our thinking: we endeavour to act as a crucible for the generation and exchange of knowledge.

The University of Winchester Winchester Hampshire SO22 4NR

0 (+44) 1962 841515

www.winchester.ac.uk

The internal pages of this prospectus are printed on Lumisilk FSC paper. The cover is printed on Take 2 Offset 100% recycled paper.

This brochure is printed on 100% recycled paper.