老司机福利社’s vision is to be valued globally for tackling the real-world issues of today to deliver a sustainable future. We work in partnership with business, academia, governments and other organisations to develop and deliver applied research and innovative education in science, technology, engineering and management.
As a partner, we live and breathe our values of Ambition, Impact, Respect, and Community and we seek to establish close and lasting partnerships with likeminded organisations.
To us, Ambition and Impact means that we may work on projects that involve issues of sovereign interest or in countries transitioning to a stronger democratic tradition. The business transitions we support, and technologies we research, involve progressive and planned moves to a lower carbon future, as we decouple from carbon-intensive livelihoods and operations. Our focus on Respect and Community means that we subscribe to the Nolan principles of public life, translated into ethical principles that are acted upon by all members of the Cranfield community.
We will therefore be honest and truthful; act in accordance with all relevant legislation and statutory requirements; declare interests and appropriately manage possible conflicts; be transparent and consistent in our decision making; maintain our independence in engaging with outside parties; and conduct fundraising activities in line with the principles in our ethical principles.
We are open to challenge and always looking to improve and learn, so we actively encourage our colleagues and partners to share ideas for improvement or raise concerns relating to ethical matters as they arise for discussion and decision.
Our aim is to become the ‘Partner of Choice’ across the full range of our stakeholders (academic institutions, industry, policy makers, charities, funders and regional bodies), placing Cranfield at the heart of a national and international collaborative network in which all partners mutually benefit. The global trading landscape is creating many new opportunities. However, these are being tempered by heightened sensitivities to geopolitical differences, enhanced national and sovereign interest and a tightened global security agenda.
Working closely with our staff, students and wider stakeholders, we will:
- articulate the defining purpose in all our partnerships, anchoring these around our values and ethical code;
- review our existing partnership portfolio, assessing the corporate value of each with absolute clarity, ensuring they are nurtured and grown; assigning accountabilities for their delivery;
- manage business risk and opportunity proportionately in all our partnerships, including through prior due diligence appraisals;
- seek to craft and influence agendas without dependence.
As we review our partnerships, there may be areas of our business we decide not to pursue, to give greater definition to our brand value and unique position in the higher education landscape. We will establish working criteria for responsible academic partnerships that:
- are consistent with our charitable objects, values and code of ethics;
- enhance our ability to delivery our corporate strategy;
- are balanced in their benefits for all parties, signalling a long-term intent to secure a measurable impact in each case;
- place the student experience at the fore, with clear outcomes for our learners;
- adopt financially viable revenue models;
- build prestigious research communities and develop global citizens; and
- support the UK Government’s various policy ambitions, as they relate to higher education.
