Strategic pillars

We deliver impactful and innovative disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in Economics, Finance, and Management that is driven by Empowered people and underpins our Education excellence.

We will do this by:

• Enabling thematic strengths in our existing research portfolio, allowing new ones to emerge, and identifying and realising opportunities to increase impact. 
• Fostering a dynamic research environment that empowers research colleagues, develops the next generation of research leaders, and attracts and retains diverse, high-quality researchers.

We will evidence progress by:

• Securing a top 20 ranking in the Business and Management Unit of Assessment (UoA 17) in REF 2029 with a unified School-wide submission. 
• Being in the top 100 for international academic reputation within the next decade. 
• Increasing and evidencing the number of high-quality research impact examples.

We build on our unique sense of place and legacy of education excellence informed by World-leading research to foster a supportive and immersive community that delivers a transformative student experience and to make a difference in the world with Empowered people.

We will do this by:

• Designing and delivering excellent in-person, blended, and digital undergraduate and postgraduate learning and executive education that attract brilliant minds from across the globe and develop highly skilled, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible leaders who value diversity and have a global outlook.

We will evidence progress by:

• Maintaining our position in the top five for student experience between now and 2029.
• Enhancing students' knowledge, skills, and capabilities aligned with the University strategy.
• Improving our international reputation for teaching and establishing a portfolio of high-performing blended, digital, and executive education programmes that open the St Andrews student experience to new audiences.

We connect critical thinkers from Economics, Finance, and Management with colleagues across academia, government, and public, private, and third-sector organisations to tackle societal challenges and enable Education excellence and World-leading research.

We will do this by:

• Harnessing the unique convening power of St Andrews.
• Connecting the University with people, communities, and organisations locally and globally to form interdisciplinary partnerships that inspire leaders to drive positive change. 

We will evidence progress by:

• Bringing more world-leading public, private, and third-sector practitioners into the School to enhance the student experience. 
• Delivering more collaborative projects across the University and with external partners to drive research and impact. 
• Taking concrete steps towards achieving international business school accreditation. 

We equip our staff and students with the necessary tools and support to excel by creating a dynamic, outward-looking, entrepreneurial, and equitable working environment and facilitating diversity and inclusion. 

We will do this by:

• Inspiring and enabling innovation, agility, and entrepreneurialism aligned with the School's mission and vision and removing barriers to success. 
• Embedding culture and values in our behaviours and processes. 
• Enhancing mentorship and staff development opportunities.
• Augmenting career and professional skills support to undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research students to enhance their employability and future prospects.

We will evidence progress by:

• Building a positive, entrepreneurial, and empowering culture, measured by collecting and responding to colleague feedback as well as tracking and celebrating pioneering learning and research initiatives. 
• Achieving the Athena Swan Bronze Award by 2026. 
• Regularly measuring the proportion of recent alumni in graduate-level careers.