Jones, Simon2015-08-052015-08-052014-06http://nur.nu.edu.kz/handle/123456789/281This paper addresses some of the characteristics of successful universities the author has been involved in over the last 25 years across 3 continents.The perspective is personal, oriented to the STEM-based institutions I have largely engaged with and reflects my own instincts for invention, innovation and wealth-creation being the load-bearing structures of contemporary institutions. The paper considers firstly the environment within which a university operates and the impact of different student bodies. University branding and the impact disruptive technologies are addressed, followed by the requirements for success in terms of faculty, leadership and finance. It ends with a discussion of the role of valorisation in making a 21s t century university a success.enResearch Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education::International educationsuccessful universityfacultyenvironmentInstitutional brandingDisruptionleadershipArticle