We engage with international agencies, governments, think tanks, academia, charities, business and global trade and humanitarian organisations. We are a respected voice in national and international debate and have influence on the critical issues of our times. We are research-led and much of what we do relies on in-house expertise in the languages and cultures of different parts of the world. Those languages and cultures are what make us distinctively human and are thus at the forefront of our ambition to remake Global Affairs.

We are committed to equitable, ethical and sustainable futures – in which human qualities and differences have clear value.

The twenty-first century has seen dramatic shifts in the global order, with a pandemic, new technologies, territorial wars and struggles over climate targets and truth.

These are the Global Affairs of the Lancaster School:

• the exploration and regulation of Artificial Intelligence
• the negotiation of environmental futures
• thinking and acting on medical and health challenges
• critical and informed engagement with all truth claims – against the general backdrop of a new global security environment

We are a place of academic excellence, engaged in the highest quality research. We also believe there should be spaces for creative, playful and quick thinking. We attract students who want to make a difference through ethical leadership and interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise.

This approach places an emphasis on understanding and addressing the unique social, economic, cultural, and environmental characteristics and challenges of England’s North West. We have fine castles, the world-famous Lake District and other beautiful preserved landscapes.

We also have rising seas, changing climate, nuclear and post-nuclear landscapes, coastal communities and poverty, historical and contemporary prosperity, post-industrial environments, conflict over land – between farming and conservation – governance, and big tech and innovation.

• Local focus: Research and interventions are tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the North West to address distinct issues and opportunities.
• Community involvement: Engaging local communities and stakeholders is central. This involvement ensures that research and solutions are informed by the lived experiences, knowledge, and priorities of the people in the area. Working with real people enhances our learning and research – seeing the role of complexity, history and compromise in finding future-oriented solutions.
• Long-term commitment: We have a sustained commitment to the North West, not only through formal agreements but through spirit and ethos which has led to deeper understanding and stronger relationships.
• Policy and practice integration: The findings from place-based research readily inform local and national policies, as well as practical interventions, ensuring that strategies are relevant and effective in the local context.
• Equity and inclusion: Our approach aims to address inequalities by focusing on areas that may be underserved or marginalised. We work for fair and inclusive outcomes.