The Sussex brand
Our brand exists to inform, engage and inspire our audiences. It communicates Sussex's vision and values, defines our audience's expectations of what we can offer them, and is crucial in differentiating us from our competitors. Put simply, our brand tells people why they should choose Sussex over other universities.
Our brand is a promise to deliver a certain set of benefits, from academic excellence, research status, links with industry, and employability, to location, quality of life, and an international community.
Although the visual identity of the University is a key part of our brand, it's not just about logos, colours and typography – it is about the whole experience we can offer. Brand covers everything from how you're treated when you phone up with a query and the way tutors interact with their students, to the tone of voice we use in our written communications, and the style of our photography.
What our brand says about us
As is made clear in our strategic plan, Making the future, the University of Sussex is a place that is different. Founded in the 1960s with a challenging approach to higher education, Sussex pioneers new thinking, and has a tradition of internationalism and social engagement. In our teaching and research, our people and our campus architecture, we have set leading standards of excellence, creativity and innovation.
We exist to deliver innovative and inspiring research, scholarship, teaching and learning that lead to positive change in individuals, organisations and societies.
Our values
In pursuing our mission, the University of Sussex – our staff and students – share the following values:
- excellence, through a commitment to delivering the highest standards of research, scholarship, teaching and learning in order to provide a dynamic and stimulating environment for students and staff and to maximise their social and economic contribution to societies
- interdisciplinarity, through tackling multidimensional problems, while maintaining a strong, broadly based set of disciplines across the arts, social sciences and sciences
- engagement, by actively seeking and considering an external perspective on all our activities, including an international perspective
- challenge, in which all members of the Sussex community are prepared creatively to explore the status quo and alternatives, within the context of excellence and professionalism, and seek to make positive change
- partnership, by developing long-lasting relationships that bring together complementary skills and resources to create mutual benefit and to deliver impact that cannot be achieved by either partner alone
- professionalism, by upholding freedom of academic enquiry, undertaking activities in a responsible manner using robust, transparent processes and maintaining professional ethical standards in the conduct of all academic and support activities
- equality and diversity, by developing entry routes to the University based on educational merit and valuing the strength derived from contributions to our mission by people from different backgrounds, traditions, cultures and perspective
- service, in which members of the Sussex community seek to use their skills and talents to contribute to local, national and international communities and organisations.
For more information about the vision and goals of the University refer to Making the future.
The benefits of keeping Sussex on brand
Maintaining a strong, coherent brand has enormous benefits for the University. If all our communications, both internal and external, are branded consistently as part of the 'Sussex family', we ensure that every unit at Sussex derives the maximum benefit from their association with the University. Through this we can:
- recruit and keep the best students and staff from around the world
- reduce our costs through co-ordinated activity. Sub-brands only serve to weaken our brand, and waste precious resources
- improve our regional presence
- inspire greater loyalty from staff and alumni.
A strong and consistent brand is a necessity not a luxury. It ensures the co-ordinated and sustained growth of the University's identity and reputation.