At Newcastle University, we have always focused on academic excellence and the impact of our academic work. Today, these long-held ideals are more relevant than ever. They define our vision for the University – the kind of University we wish to be. Our mission statement recognizes the breadth of our academic purpose, our current and aspirational strengths, and our pivotal position in society. We aim to:
- Be a world-class research-intensive University
- Deliver teaching and facilitate the learning of the highest quality
- Play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England
Our principles and values recognize and build upon a foundation that is shared across the higher education sector. We are committed to specific fundamental values shared throughout the higher education sector, including:
- Academic freedom
- The pursuit of knowledge and understanding
- A sound academic disciplinary base
- A methodology based on reason and evidence
- Social responsibility
- Transparency
We aim to deliver teaching of the highest quality and provide an environment within which effective learning can occur. Our teaching and learning philosophy is based on the concept of education for life. By this, we mean providing knowledge and understanding which will last a lifetime, providing knowledge and experience relevant to life and the world around us. Our vision and mission can be distilled into several institutional objectives, categorized in our core functions, core structures, and corporate activities. As a university, our objectives are to achieve and maintain a:
- Place in the top 20 in the UK for research
- Place in the top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction
- Focus on three Societal Challenge Themes: Ageing, Social Renewal, and Sustainability
- Significant international, national and regional profile and reputation
- Financial and environmental sustainability.
The University can trace its origins to the School of Medicine and Surgery, established in 1834. Armstrong College, founded in 1871 for the teaching of physical sciences. These two colleges formed one division of the federal University of Durham. The Durham Colleges formed the other division.
The Newcastle Colleges merged to form King's College in 1937. In 1963, when the federal University was dissolved, King's College became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The University changed its trading name to Newcastle University in 2006. The name University of Newcastle upon Tyne is still used in the most official contexts, including on degree parchments.
The first Chairs at the Colleges were in fundamental disciplines such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, arts, and literature and the regionally significant applied sciences such as geology, mining, naval architecture, engineering, and agriculture. Newcastle became known worldwide as a hub of industrial activity, with a robust civic university as its intellectual underpinning.
Vision and values The combination of being globally ambitious and regionally rooted forms the basis for Newcastle University's future vision. We believe in and strive for world-class academic excellence. We work on the supply side of knowledge creation and dissemination and respond to societal challenges' demand side. We are a large employer and a magnet for tens of thousands of young people and form an integral part of civil society. That is the hallmark of a civic university. The search for a combination of global excellence and local relevance is replicated in many places in the world. We believe that our success will in itself become an exportable commodity.
Martin Luther King's honorary degree ceremony Each year, the University confers honorary degrees upon candidates worthy of such distinction. Dr. Martin Luther King has an honorary degree from Newcastle University. We have footage, transcripts, and images from the ceremony, which took place on 13 November 1967.
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