External Relations & Communications

The External Relations & Communications (ERC) department comprises of Development, Marketing as well as Brand and Communications. Our strategic goals are based on the University's four areas of weighted effort:

1) Increasing non-exchequer income:

To grow the base number of qualified (language and entry requirements met) student enquiries, applications and matriculations in key target markets:

• International (undergraduate and postgraduate – both those living overseas and those domiciled in the UK)
• Undergraduates from the ‘Rest of UK’ (non-Scotland based)
• Postgraduates from the UK
• Support marketing/PR in priority transnational education markets highlighted in faculty plans.
• Support marketing/PR in priority online education markets highlighted in faculty plans.This activity should be aligned with the activity and goals of the faculties achieving the revenue targets jointly set.

To develop and launch a major funding campaign for the University – aligned to the research, commercial and philanthropic revenue targets - with a goal of securing £50million over 7 years:

• Develop and implement Campaign strategy and operational plan
• Work with faculties, institutes, centres and service areas to set priority revenue generating projects
• Agree and establish financial targets and reporting methodology

2) Increasing Student Graduate Employability.

• Supporting the ‘Stand Out’ graduate employability project with internal and external marketing
• Work with graduates and other key supporters to increase the number of scholarships with work placements and paid placements.

3) Increasing National Student Survey results

• Support the University-wide initiative to increase student participation in the 2014 National Student Survey.  
• Identify activity across all teams within ERC who can align resources to activity that could help enhance the student experience including student communications and increasing funding available through the student grant initiative, specifically providing support to activities which benefit the largest number of students, sports clubs and societies.

4) Research

• Implement a PR and digital campaign to raise awareness of our research staff and key research priorities
• Ensure that research and commercialisation of research is embedded in the 50th anniversary campaign
• Ongoing review of REF submission and other research developments to ensure that PR opportunities are maximised.
  

5) In addition, we are also committed to supporting employee engagement and internal communication. This involves the delivery of staff internal communications plan, to be closely aligned with HR objectives