Our Values

Inclusion - LGBT Network

What Is an LGBTQ Inclusive Workplace?  In an LGBTQ inclusive workplace, all employees are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our staff LGBTQ Alliance employee network is working to represent and help transform the experiences of LGBTQ colleagues at work, and students in education. We seek to provide peer-to-peer support, raise awareness of LGBTQ inclusion and be a critical friend to the University in order to create a more inclusive environment for all. We seek to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

Collaboration - Disability Network

The University's Staff Disability Network views collaboration as an essential area of focus as we strive towards building a culture that is accessible and equitable to all. This is why we are collaborating with staff both internally and partners to co-produce a better shared understanding and respect of each other's support needs - a crucial endeavour in the quest for positive staff morale and wellbeing.

Honesty - Human Resources

The value of honesty and fairness is at the heart of what we do. We work to support and protect all our staff, through developing and implementing fair policies and helping the university to embed and uphold our values at all levels. One of the best ways to be fair in the workplace is through explanation, clarification, and honest communication. Not all changes or decisions will be liked in the work we do and being honest about the potential risks will leave us better prepared for the outcome.

Education - Faculty of Education, English and Sport 

In the Faculty of Education, English and Sport we aim to build on our long tradition of achieving excellence in sport and education by providing an intellectually challenging, inclusive and creative learning and research environment for staff and students where all individuals can achieve their full potential. We have impactful local, regional and international partnerships, with a course portfolio which is co-designed with partners and underpinned by the expertise of our research centres and global community. Transformational teaching leads to life changing experiences and outcomes for our students, and graduates who change the lives of the diverse communities they work within.

Compassion - Race Equality Network

The value of compassion enables us to understand ourselves better and others better, and the more we understand others the more we will want to relieve their suffering. One of our pivotal aims at REN is to provide a confidential, safe and supportive environment for staff members to share their views, experiences and concerns in the workplace. As we embark on various initiatives at enhancing our institutional inclusive culture, let's all develop the ability to sympathise and see things from someone else's perspective, connecting with staff on a deeper level, listening to and understanding what it means to experience inequality, and taking action in response. In return, this will lead to positive staff engagement, dedication, and loyalty- it also reduces pressure, anxiety, and makes staff more resilient to stress and burnout. After all, happy staff make for better outcomes.

Sustainability - Target Zero

Ensuring that our campuses are sustainable is one of our core values that has been embedded into our student curriculum and by altering how we run our buildings and campuses. Our Target Zero campaign has been the centrepiece of our efforts as we try to become completely carbon neutral by 2050 in alignment with the UK Governments climate change target. Through our sustainability efforts we have been able to retain our Platinum EcoCampus Award and eighth place position on the People and Planet University league rankings.

Community - Proud to be Black

This year our Proud to be Black campaign celebrated the diverse voices and cultures that make up our University community. Throughout our campaign we highlighted our Black students, staff and alumni and gave them a space to share and celebrate their heritage. This included a riveting talk from David Olusoga that drew the attention of not only our own staff and students but people across the country and internationally. We also created artwork and playlists that celebrated Black achievement and highlighted the stories of those within our community.

Excellence - Vice Chancellor Awards: Proud to be Beds

Our annual Vice Chancellor Awards: Proud to be Beds celebrates the excellent work of our colleagues across all of our campuses. We aim to provide a world class experience for our students, an aim that we can only achieve when colleagues across all levels of the university strive to produce excellent work. Our Proud to be Beds awards are our opportunity to recognise the incredible contributions of our colleagues and reward them for their excellent work.

Development - Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Sciences

Across the taught programmes and in the research performed within the CATS faculty, our students and staff embody the University value of Development. It is within our DNA. Each day, our academic and technical staff help nurture the talent, innovation and creativity that lies within our students manifesting itself in the development of their knowledge and the practical skills that allow them to fulfil their potential and career aspirations.

Success - Careers and Employability

The Careers and Employability Service work collaboratively with staff, students, and graduates to support our learner's progression into successful futures.​ The achievements of our student body are the key priority to the work we do, and we strive to ensure all students and graduates have access to a range of opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them well for their next steps. 

We are in the wonderful position where many students and graduates get in touch to tell us of their ​sucess, and we celebrate this with them.

Ambition - University of Bedfordshire Business School

The Business School has long-held ambition as central to its relationship with its staff and students. Since 2018 we have promoted the concept of BE MORE through a range of events and activities from welcome to going into employment to ensure students challenge themselves to be more in their aspirations in developing their knowledge, personal skills and expectations for future employment. For our staff we work hard to create more than a job – a career. So many staff can see how their career has grown through promotion to take on more senior roles and they have been able to shape their careers around teaching, research and working with enterprise to realise career aspirations.