Skip to main content
University Strategy
Students walking on a cobbled street

In our City and Region

Guitarist singing in the Oriental Museum

Working with a range of partners and stakeholders, we are actively contributing to the economy, culture, society and reputation of Durham’s city and region.  Our work with regional schools aims to raise aspirations and extend educational opportunities to all.  

We were a major partner in the County Durham UK City of Culture 2025 bid. We remain engaged in further collaborative activity in culture and heritage, drawing on the expertise of our staff and our internationally-important collections and culturally-significant buildings within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
University Strategy
2017-2027

What we are already doing well:

  • We have Memoranda of Understanding with Durham County Council and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. Other partnerships are with Durham Constabulary and the Darlington Economic Campus, as well as the four other regional universities, local businesses and residents’ groups. 
  • We have a comprehensive programme of school outreach and engagement activity and our museums and attractions are open to the public at little or no cost. 
  • Our Durham Inspired North East Scholarships are a £1 million programme offering low-income students in North East England support to study at Durham. 
  • Our School of Education is integrated into the community through its student placements in 300 schools across County Durham and North East England. 
  • We actively support culture-led regeneration in areas across County Durham.
  • We represent five per cent of County Durham’s total employment. 

We will:

  • Embed Durham as an anchor institution in the region, and as a key partner in the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority, providing leadership in cultural and economic development, social impact and innovation.  
  • Build on our work with other universities in North East England and the N8 Research Partnership to greatly increase the ambition, research and impact of our links in the region and beyond.
  • Increase our activity in all areas of business and industry engagement through our relocated Business School in Durham city centre. 
  • Invest in Research and Innovation Services and our regional partnerships to drive innovation and growth in our region and achieve a stronger national policy voice. 
  • Fundraise for a new cultural centre focused on Arts and Humanities research, education, knowledge exchange and cultural partnerships. We will also seek to establish a new research facility for heritage to drive social and economic opportunities for future generations in North East England and beyond.
  • Deliver our new sixth-form Mathematics School, supporting excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.