Deakin's strategic direction

Deakin’s strategic plan sets out an optimistic future powered by ideas and framed by five Impact Themes that act as our compass for navigating opportunities and decisions.

Deakin 2030: Ideas to Impact demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and employability, discovery and creativity, digital capability, social justice, inclusivity and the strength of diversity. Through our balanced excellence in education and research, we create a rich and complex ideas ecosystem that delivers lasting value for our students, partners and communities.

Learn more about our strategic plan (PDF, 1.8MB)

Deakin's strategic plan on a page (PDF, 228.2KB)

Our innovation and excellence in both education and research generate ideas that transform lives and communities. We will be Australia’s most progressive and responsive university, leading in blending digital capability with our distinctive campus precincts. We will leverage strong partnerships to maximise the social, cultural and economic impact we deliver regionally, nationally and globally.

These five Impact themes are our compass, helping us navigate opportunities and decisions.

• Advancing society, culture and the economy
• Building safe and secure communities
• Creating smarter technologies
• Enabling a sustainable world
• Improving health and wellbeing

Our annual report addresses statutory requirements and updates the community on our activities and outcomes.

Deakin’s Business School was the first in Australia to develop a focus on integrated reporting to improve transparency and trust in reporting. We've put this research into practice by using integrated reporting principles for our annual report. We're the first Australian university to do so and one of few in the world. Our annual report has been designed and formatted to meet the ISO standard for a universally accessible PDF.

Throughout 2022, the Australian and international community gradually emerged from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the renewed activity and prospects after the worst years of the pandemic, there are new headwinds that are presenting ongoing challenges. Deakin has navigated the prevailing turbulence, seized new opportunities, and continued to deliver superb outcomes for our students, partners and supporters.

The 2022 report details how Deakin creates value for our students, communities and stakeholders, acknowledging that we rely on more than financial capital to create long-term value. Deakin uses the term ‘enablers’ rather than 'capitals' (a term often used to describe the key pillars of integrated reporting).

The Deakin Enablers are:

• Students – the heart of Deakin and our partners to create successful learning, rewarding experiences and engaging and inclusive communities
• Staff – our knowledge creators empowered to learn, develop, excel and inspire others
• Friends and alumni – our relationships with our friends and alumni are integral to our success now and in the future
• Partnerships – our relationships with academic, community and industry partners and with government are also integral to our success now and in the future
• Digital technology – our innovative digital capabilities that seamlessly connect blended online and on-campus activities
• Campus infrastructure – our welcoming and contemporary campuses that practise and promote sustainability
• Smart and efficient working – our processes enable our staff and students to achieve their best and support our partnerships
• Financial sustainability – our funding, grants, fees and donations and sound financial management.

We invite readers’ comments by emailing council-secretary@deakin.edu.au. Does the report give you a clear picture of Deakin’s work? Is there other information you would like to see? Do you get an understanding of how Deakin is responding to the major challenges facing our community?

We welcome your feedback.

Download the 2022 Annual Report (PDF, 13.7MB)

Download 2022 consultant payments details (PDF, 135KB)

We're committed to quality and accountability in all our operations. This ensures there are appropriate  processes in place to maintain and enhance the quality and integrity of our research, our teaching and learning and how we engage with the communities we serve.

Academic study programs and integrity

We maintain the quality, standard and integrity of our academic programs through our policies, as well as by planning, conducting surveys, analysing business intelligence data and ensuring we comply with Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) requirements.

Research integrity and safety

We provide our researchers with induction, training and support in: research integrity; human research and animal ethics; and biosafety, biosecurity and radiation safety.