星空体育官网

Our policy approach

Our vision is to inspire the public to work with us to deliver a sustainable future, and derive benefit from our research, innovation and expertise. You can read our full policy here.

We are striving to be ‘an engaged university’, continuously seeking to improve our approach to the key roles we play in the community: through research and teaching, as a major employer and as an ambassador for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and management.

Inspiring young people

Our staff community are proud of the roles they play in finding innovative solutions to tackle the challenges faced in today鈥檚 world. Our work to create a sustainable future means sharing that passion with young people – inspiring them to be the future scientists, engineers and professionals that society needs to thrive. We do this through a varied programme of activities, in schools and on our Bedfordshire campus, as well as online and through educational resources.

Diversity in STEM

At the core of our approach to engagement is supporting diversity in STEM. The UK needs a diverse pipeline of future scientists and engineers, and we are privileged to be able to use our skill, passion and resources to help inspire young people and the public.

When we develop activities and create content, we challenge ourselves to ensure accessibility, inclusion and inspiration for all. That means breaking down stereotypes, celebrating difference, showing young people success through adversity and imperfection.

As a STEM organisation we are actively encouraging staff to become . Our wonderful engineers, scientists and academics work alongside fantastic professional and technical colleagues. All of us can play a part in inspiring young people to consider a career in STEM – in or outside of the laboratory.

We are also proud to support specific initiatives focused on increasing diversity in STEM – for example, the . This scheme inspires A-level students from diverse backgrounds to aim high with university applications, through two-week placements contributing to real research taking place at 星空体育官网 campus. We’re proud to have been supporting this programme for more than ten years.

Another example of an initiative we’ve been supporting over many years is , where women and non-binary scientists and engineers take to their soapbox to engage the public directly with their research, making science and scientists accessible and real to the public who thought they were popping to the shops for something completely different!

星空体育官网 also welcomes scholars through our funding from the British Council’s Women in STEM Scholarship programme award. The programme aims to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM and increase opportunities for them to advance in the field. We have also received an Athena Swan Bronze award for our commitment to advancing women's academic and research careers in STEM.

Employment

We employ more than 1,500 staff across academic, technical and professional roles, and take pride in the memberships and commitments we hold as an employer, including offering apprenticeships and T-Level placements.

Our sustainable university

Our aim is to provide a sustainable environment in which to live and work, both at the University campuses and other areas affected or influenced by our activities.

We work continuously to manage the environmental risks and impacts associated with our work and are proud of the progress we are making through our actions and our passionate Green Team. Visit our sustainable University pages for an in-depth look at a range of focus areas, including biodiversity, energy management, procurement, waster and recycling and water.