Department values
Our department values are core to what we do and what we aspire to. They are the result of a wider project which invited staff and students to look at our culture of how we work and behave. We believe that the values we hold influence what we do and clarity of our values helps us be clearer about what we expect of ourselves and each other in the department.
- We place a high value on staff collaborating with colleagues across Oxford and beyond.
- We actively encourage participation in crossdepartmental activities by all members of the department. This is a recognised part of job roles and is valued by the department.
- We are ambitious in our goals and in the development of our people.
- We value teaching, research and contribution to departmental life at all levels.
- We recognise the often hidden contribution made by professional service staff to academic success.
- Line managers understand what motivates their team and how ambition may be achieved within individual roles as well as with colleagues across the team and department as a whole.
- We practise what we preach, we follow our policies and procedures, and we hold ourselves accountable for our actions.
- We provide regular opportunities for feedback and we act on the feedback we receive.
- We acknowledge mistakes and learn from them.
- Senior colleagues are reflective and review their performance regularly to lead by example.
- We innovate and foster creative thinking across the department.
- We are not scared to be the first to try new ideas in the way we work as well as our academic work.
- We accept that creativity is a journey which can take time and requires curiosity, flexibility and the courage to take risks.
- We offer fair and equitable opportunities for all colleagues to get involved in department activities and develop their careers.
- We allocate work in a fair and reasonable way.
- Senior staff hold themselves to account in a rigorous way. They are open to feedback from colleagues across the department and share feedback about themselves. They are expected to demonstrate the same adherence to departmental policies, procedures and values as everyone else.
- We all make the department a friendly, welcoming and enjoyable place to work.
- We know what behaviour is expected and undertake the relevant training to support this. Bad behaviour is not tolerated: it is called out and support is given to do better.
- Kindness and respect is at the heart of our development of academic and professional service skills. Everyone is encouraged to develop as a rounded professional colleague.