If we are to achieve these ambitious goals, we need to create at Warwick a culture that is energetic and innovative, with a strong sense of community and mutual support, based on a campus that operates in a socially responsible manner. Many of these elements are already present in the Warwick of 2007: we need to build on this foundation to produce the University we envisage for 2015. 

A Fast, Innovative Culture

Unlike many institutions, Warwick has never been hidebound by the view that the production of ideas in universities is the sole prerogative of the academy. As the history of the Warwick administration demonstrates, our culture has been one of innovation, where ideas are widely generated and where short lines of communication allow these ideas very quickly to become reality. We now need to develop this further – investing in information technology, the Library and other communications – to make it clear that new ideas, big or small, can be generated by anyone in the University and that in this way everyone can contribute towards taking Warwick further. We need, in other words, to make the University into an arena for ideas about its future.

Means:

• Establish an annual innovation fund that can quickly respond to ideas and suggestions from staff and students.

Improving the Campus Community

A community is defined by the space in which it lives and works. At Warwick we are fortunate in our campus. Yet there is clearly room for improvement – steps that could be taken to engender a greater pride in the campus, that could make it more vibrant and interesting for its community. There should be greater opportunities for staff and students to meet in more casual surroundings than those of the lecture theatre, the laboratory, or the seminar room. We need, then, to give the University a greater sense of place, and that, in turn, will naturally engender a greater sense of campus community.

Means: 

• Consider how to produce an effective staff social space that is worth visiting and patronizing, as well as more social spaces in academic departments.
• Produce a greater staff presence on campus through the construction of a University village for staff.
• Enhance the entrances to the University; soften the appearance of older, more functional buildings; turn the University campus into a botanical showcase.
• Have new building schemes designed through international competition so that in time the University has a more commanding and interesting physical presence.
• Continue to purchase site specific art.
• Upgrade general sporting and recreational facilities; we will aim to construct an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
  

A Socially Responsible Campus

Universities are socially responsible institutions and Warwick is no exception. For many years, we have striven to maintain our campus according to environmental principles and sustainability. Now many of our community wish to go further and to make the campus into a genuine green icon. We have therefore decided that ‘greening’ the campus is an integral part of our strategy. This will involve careful attention to both general policies and specific details, as well as influencing behaviour, and will pervade all of our activities. We intend to make the Warwick campus a living demonstration of the principles of environmental sustainability. 

Means: 

• Design all new buildings and refurbish existing buildings to the highest of green standards, to include whole life cycle costing.
• Prioritise recycling and energy management even more highly.
• Reconsider transport provision including enhanced public transport and new cycle paths.
• Continue to develop WISER, Warwick’s Institute of Sustainable Energy and Resources.

The Library

Community and Region

The University Art Collection

The Sports Centre

Campus Development

Warwick and the Environment