It is a pleasure to introduce these Annual Accounts. Having joined the University in August 2024 as Vice-Chancellor & President, I am struck by the talent and dedication of our staff, students, members of Council, Students’ Union, alumni, and our many partners and supporters. I’d like to start by thanking them for helping us navigate the last year so successfully, during a challenging time for our sector.
The University of Bath has had another strong year, reflected in recent domestic and global rankings results. Domestically, we remain in the top 10 universities in the UK in all four of the main university rankings. Internationally, we are ranked in the top 10% of universities worldwide, retaining our global position in the top 150 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. I am particularly pleased that we have climbed into the Top 100 globally in the related World Sustainability Rankings, whilst remaining ambitious to do more in this area.
We were delighted to be awarded triple ‘Gold’ in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in September 2023 and were found to have typically outstanding quality across student experiences, and outstanding quality across student outcomes. We performed strongly in the 2024 National Student Survey, exceeding sector averages across six out of seven measured survey themes. Colleagues have also successfully rolled out the first year of Curriculum Transformation across our undergraduate courses to help us continue to deliver excellence in education.
This year has seen further progress in enhancing our research power and impact, particularly in the areas of sustainability, health & wellbeing and digital. The total value of research awards has continued its upward trajectory and new research institutes have been established, with the official launch in September 2023 of the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS). In addition, activity is expanding through our Bath Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change, Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, and Institute for the Augmented Human. We also announced a second round of Bath Beacons for 2023-24 including in the areas of harm reduction, antimicrobial resistance, Universal Basic Income, cross-disciplinary research on innovation and sport and technology in a digital society. We also announced a new, £13m Centre of Excellence in water-based health monitoring which will be established following an £8.4m investment by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation.
Bath has a long tradition of sporting success, and we were proud to cheer on our athletes in major international competitions. In the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Bath-associated athletes won six medals in total and in the Paralympic Games Bath-based athletes brought home 11 medals between them.
In the last year, we have also strengthened and deepened local civic partnerships. In May 2024, we signed the Future Ambition Civic Agreement alongside Bath Spa University, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. With our partner anchor institutions, we are working ever more closely together for the benefit of the region. Although the last year has seen many positive developments, it has also been one with real challenges. It has been set against a backdrop of increased global tensions, including conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, with its impacts being felt by many members of our community. Our priority has been to provide support to students and staff affected by conflict and to ensure our campus remains a place of safety for all.
Addressing sustainability and climate change is another challenge and one made more acute given current financial constraints. In addition to the extensive sustainability research we conduct, the last year has seen us embedding sustainability and climate into curriculum transformation, 38 laboratories have achieved sustainability certification to Bronze LEAF standard, and we’ve implemented a new Thermal Comfort Policy and Sustainable Food Commitment as well as launching a Climate Ambassadors scheme to connect climate experts with local schools. The cost of living and the financial climate for Higher Education remains challenging both for universities and members of our community, given recent inflationary pressures. We have continued to provide a range of support, from our Financial Support Fund to the £1.50 value meals available across our food outlets. More broadly, as an institution we have put real focus on operating as effectively and efficiently as possible. Looking ahead, we will continue to carefully manage our resources, so that we can make the investments needed in research, education, physical and digital infrastructure and sustainability in the coming years.
Overall, we have strong foundations as well as enormous potential, and I look forward to working together to achieve even more over the coming year.
Professor Phil Taylor
Vice-Chancellor and President