News

New look for University’s brand

 
A major project to make the University’s brand clear, consistent and easier to use for all has been unveiled. 

It follows feedback from the Communications and Marketing Review which highlighted limited brand awareness amongst internal and external audiences. 

The brand is about how people both internally and externally perceive the University and, therefore, it is critical to have a strong, consistent and coherent brand which articulates who we are and what we stand for.  

The essence of the brand was developed using the feedback from the consultation sessions and is based on three founding principles to which the University still holds true as we approach our 50th anniversary: international, interdisciplinary and inclusive. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan said: ‘In order to be successful in communicating to our audiences, a consistent and coherent brand is a necessity. Developing and building understanding of the University of Essex brand is therefore central to our future success.

A brand goes beyond use of a logo; it is shorthand for the values, vision and qualities that make the University of Essex distinctive.’ 

Head of Corporate Marketing Claire Lindsay said: ‘A toolkit has been developed to help all areas of the University communicate our brand messages. It also details a refreshed visual identity, which has been designed to offer a variety of flexible elements, allowing us to tailor our communications to the range of audiences with which the University communicates’.  

There will now be a phased roll-out of the design, with Communications and External Relations working with sections and departments to apply the new principles. Wyvern will be re-designed during 2010, as part of a review of University publications, to reflect the new brand identity.

The brand toolkit with guidelines is now available to view at www.essex.ac.uk/brand

 

European excellence ranking for Essex

Essex has been rated as ‘excellent’ in economics, political science and psychology, in European rankings compiled by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) in Germany.

Only 11 UK universities attained Excellence Group status in all three academic disciplines. The CHE Excellence Ranking highlights the research strengths of more than 100 European higher education institutions in 20 different countries.

Excellence Group status is based on five indicators relating to research publications and citations, and an international dimension relating to masters degree programmes, student mobility and staff mobility.

The CHE-Excellence Ranking provides a comparison of the best European university research facilities for prospective postgraduate students.

The results are published in the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit, and online at www.zeit.de/excellenceranking. The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) is an independent institution that is committed to reform of the higher education system.

 

Also in the printed December edition of Wyvern:

• Royal award for human rights
• Knowledge Gateway moves forward