Research lies at the heart of a university’s life and its contribution to society 

Our research is important because it:

• Contributes to the development of intellectual and social capital, generating economic, cultural, social, public policy and quality of life benefits and impacts
• Enhances our reputation as an international centre of knowledge and expertise
• Provides a basis for collaboration with other organisations in the UK and internationally across the public, voluntary and private sectors
• Attracts high quality staff and students from all over the world
• Shapes the content of all curricula
• Enhances the student experience helping to produce skilled, intellectually adept and employable graduates
• Informs the professional development of all staff

As the first university to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the framework for its research strategy, research at GCU addressess the Goals via proposed three societal challenges (i) Inclusive Societies (ii) Healthy Lives (iii) Sustainable Environments- each underpinned by the University-approved research centres and a set of less-formal and fluid research groups. The SDGs and the associated societal challenges were indentified following due consideration of the University's mission "For the Common Weal", consistency with the University's Outcome Agreement with SFC and requirements of the funders of local, national and international research

As will be seen in these webpages, the COVID-19 pandemic and its wider social and economic implications have only reinforced our commitment to the SDGs as a framework for our institutional Research Strategy