Building a shared research and innovation strategy for the University of Winchester

The University of Winchester needed to create a new Research & Innovation (R&I) strategy that could be submitted to sector bodies and used externally to promote its work. The ambition was to build a strategy that was not just top-down but genuinely representative of the diverse teams involved, from doctoral training to innovation and commercialisation.

The challenge lay in aligning multiple priorities, ambitions, and perspectives into one coherent framework that could guide resource planning, operational delivery, and external positioning for years to come.

Carswell Gould worked closely with the University’s leadership and R&I teams through a structured programme of workshops and facilitated sessions.

The process included:

• Discovery and ambition setting – working with heads of department to articulate their vision, clarify ambitions, and explore how each area could shape reputation, income, or both.

• Collaborative workshops – bringing together leaders and their teams to develop detailed sub-strategies, refine operational plans, and identify key performance indicators.

• Integration and alignment – facilitating review sessions with senior leadership to refine, align and bring together the five sub-strategies into a unified Research & Innovation strategy.

• Practical outputs – producing a clear strategic framework supported by operational roadmaps, enabling the University to implement its vision effectively.

The University of Winchester successfully delivered its Research & Innovation strategy, achieving a shared and aligned approach across all teams.

The strategy provided:

• A unified vision for research and innovation across five key areas

• Operational plans that are practical, measurable, and deliverable

• A consistent language and framework to communicate the University’s ambitions externally

• Greater alignment between academic, operational, and commercial priorities

The strategy has given the University of Winchester a robust platform for growth, collaboration, and reputation building in research and innovation. The process not only produced a clear set of strategic priorities but also strengthened internal alignment, ensuring leaders and teams are invested in delivering the outcomes.

This project reflects our DNA as creative problem solvers. By guiding the University of Winchester through a collaborative, human-centred process, we helped turn complex ambitions into a clear, actionable strategy that will shape the institution’s research and innovation journey for years to come.