Educating the Next Generation
Under President Joseph Aoun, Northeastern University has embarked on a strategic plan that will guide it in its goals as a 21st century research university. Chief among those goals is to educate the next generation of creative thinkers and to be a powerful force of good in the world. In the year since we have adopted the strategies, initiatives, and guiding principles outlined below, we have made great strides in realizing those goals, emerging as an academic community defined by excellence, innovation, and distinctiveness.
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Enhancing Student Outcomes Through Experiential Learning
Northeastern University adopted experiential learning nearly a century ago, with the emergence of Cooperative Education. The long-standing success of this program is rooted in a broader educational philosophy that integrates study and practice. Northeastern students and alumni point to the value of the experiential model in shaping their search for fulfilling careers and the clear success of this model in placing graduates. -
Pursuing Interdisciplinary and Translational Research
The creation of new knowledge and new technologies continues to accelerate rapidly. Whether such advances are motivated by a desire to solve societal problems, remain competitive on a global level, provide economic prosperity for citizens, or extend human understanding, universities will increasingly play a critical role in shaping this research and scholarly agenda. With expanding opportunities, however, come increasing challenges.
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Enriching Intellectual Life and Creative Expression
The development of intellect and creativity is fundamental to all educational experiences-from the classroom to the conference room, from the library to the lab, and from the studio to the stage. All these settings provide contexts for learning. It is essential, however, to provide a balance of opportunities for students to explore and enrich their lives.
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Strengthening Urban Engagement
In order for Northeastern University to thrive in the twenty-first century, our institution must be engaged locally and globally in urban settings that represent an increasing portion of the world's population. Our commitment to partnering with the City of Boston and the neighborhoods that surround our campus will be accomplished through a clearly articulated set of institutional priorities that are carefully planned and implemented.
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Embracing Global Opportunities
The world and the world of higher education are undergoing enormous change. The global university, characterized by campuses in several countries and a strong presence in cyberspace, is rapidly becoming commonplace. U.S. dominance in higher education is threatened by expanding systems in Asia and the European Union. The knowledge economy, driven by globalization, is becoming a defining feature of the world.
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Our Plan: Standing on the Threshold of Change
The Northeastern University community stands on the threshold of change in the twenty-first century, eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will define our future and shape our destiny. Our success in attaining the outcomes we seek will be based on our commitment to the guiding principles of Excellence, Distinctiveness, and Innovation.
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Our Vision: Expanding Our Engagement with the World
Our mission is to educate students for a life of fulfillment and accomplishment and to create and translate knowledge to meet global and societal needs.
Our vision is to be a university that expands the meaning and impact of our engagement in the world, using our knowledge and resources as positive forces for change in both our local communities and our global society.