Close
| Principal theme: Communicating and engaging |
What does the world think of UCL? One way to find out is by asking our key stakeholders – our most influential friends and peers working in areas such as government, healthcare, higher education and the media, nationally and internationally.
We’ve been running stakeholder perceptions surveys biannually since 2008, providing a benchmark for how our reputation is developing among this group.
Our most recent survey was run in 2015-2016, in collaboration with Ipsos Mori, and focusing on the themes of UCL 2034. A sample of 1202 stakeholders resulted in 207 interviews. The survey allows quantitative comparisons with previous years, but the qualitative feedback is especially valuable.
The latest survey showed that UCL’s reputation among our key stakeholders remains strong, with virtually no perceived weaknesses. The majority of stakeholders would advocate on our behalf. Our key strengths are seen as UCL’s research quality and ‘real-world’ focus, the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of our research, and our London location. Initiatives including our Grand Challenges were cited as examples of UCL exploiting its strengths to global benefit.
Suggestions from the survey about how we can further enhance UCL’s strength and reputation range from developing strategic partnerships, through to prioritising a specific sub-set of areas in which to excel. Stakeholders want to see UCL gain a higher profile in public debate on areas relevant to higher education, including immigration policy, cuts to research spending, and undergraduate application and funding measures.
The survey shows where we need to enhance our communications, including focusing on the student experience; reiterating our key messages; and encouraging more academics to act as spokespeople for UCL.
The preferred means of communication among our stakeholders are face-to-face meetings and electronic newsletters, and there is modest increase in the number of stakeholders who wish to engage via social media.
How does UCL perform on its key statements?
Note: Base 2015 (207); London (36)
Source: Ipsos MORI Reputation Centre
| Previous case study |
Next case study |
