Skip to main content
Our strategy 2022-2032

Why we need our strategy

A purple, swirling 3D-rendered sculpture. Two purple, metallic hands at either side appear to make the object float in space.
A purple, swirling 3D-rendered sculpture. Two purple, metallic hands at either side appear to make the object float in space.
Kate Petersons, 2023 BA Design for Branded Spaces, London College of Communication, UAL

We have launched this strategy, ‘The World Needs Creativity’, because, in the past 2 years, the world has changed.

Creative skills are more important than ever

New social movements have shaped the expectations of higher education.

New technologies have transformed the means of delivering it, and expanded opportunities to do so.

And new industries like artificial intelligence and virtual reality have made creative skills more important than ever before.

Our 3 guiding policies will renew our social purpose, ensuring it remains relevant for decades to come.

It will help our university become more sustainable, which will allow us to change the world, funding research and access.

  • A 3D-scan of a 3D-printed object, in an off-white colour. The top part of the object has the form of a lemon squeezer, with a ridged appearance, rounded top and pointy bottom. Three arms come out of this and attach to the bottom part of the object, which is long, curved and thins towards the end.
    Isabella Furness, 2021 BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: Grey Moth

    Guiding policy 1

    To give our students the education they need to flourish in a changing world.

  • A silver, metallic, 3D-rendered cube which features some erosion through and around the object. The erosion is similar to the texture of coral.
    ‘Imagination cubed’, Nicola Constantina, 2023 MA Art and Science, Central Saint Martins, UAL

    Guiding policy 2

    To bring a high-quality creative education to more students than ever before.

  • A silver, metallic 3D-rendered sculpture, which is an abstract take on the scales of justice. It features four pink hearts at the top.
    Joanna Domagalska, 2022 BA Graphic and Media Design, London College of Communication, UAL

    Guiding policy 3

    To change the world through our creative endeavour.

It has always been the task of creative people to imagine and prototype the future…Our strategy will renew our social purpose for a new world and a new era. It will build a university around that purpose so we can better serve our staff, students and the world.

-  James Purnell President and Vice-Chancellor

Why the world needs creativity

With Grayson Perry and James Purnell

Living up to our social purpose

Our strategy was developed by and with our staff. We will implement it together, starting by reviewing how we support them so they not only like working at UAL, but find their individual purpose within our social purpose.

It will be good for our students. They will be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need for the jobs of tomorrow. They will have even more scope for their creativity with an ambition to inspire change.

And our strategy will be good for the world, too. It will ensure our creative practice and knowledge is shared far and wide, so that others may share ideas and go about creating a better world.

In years to come, the world we hope to see will be more creative and innovative. It will be one where people across disciplines, like the arts and sciences, work together to solve common challenges.

6 Colleges, 1 University

Camberwell
College of Arts
Central
Saint Martins
Chelsea
College of Arts
London College of
Communication
London College
of Fashion
Wimbledon
College of Arts

6 Colleges,
1 University

Discover our colleges
  • A 3D-scan of a 3D-printed object, in an off-white colour. The top part of the object has the form of a lemon squeezer, with a ridged appearance, rounded top and pointy bottom. Three arms come out of this and attach to the bottom part of the object, which is long, curved and thins towards the end.
    Isabella Furness, 2021 BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: Grey Moth

    Guiding policy 1

  • A silver, metallic, 3D-rendered cube which features some erosion through and around the object. The erosion is similar to the texture of coral.
    ‘Imagination cubed’, Nicola Constantina, 2023 MA Art and Science, Central Saint Martins, UAL

    Guiding policy 2

  • A silver, metallic 3D-rendered sculpture, which is an abstract take on the scales of justice. It features four pink hearts at the top.
    Joanna Domagalska, 2022 BA Graphic and Media Design, London College of Communication, UAL

    Guiding policy 3

  • A purple, swirling 3D-rendered sculpture. Two purple, metallic hands at either side appear to make the object float in space.
    Kate Petersons, 2023 BA Design for Branded Spaces, London College of Communication, UAL

    Strategy 2022-2032