offering the highest quality of degree programs across close to the full range of academic fields and disciplines
improving equity and access for those groups who traditionally had not been included among university student populations
aspiring to the highest international standards of research
managing internal arrangements as non-hierarchically as possible.
In 1997, the University adopted a formal Statement of Intent. Since updated, it remains the explicit formulation of the fundamental philosophy and the basis on which planning and priority setting is based.

The document Flinders Strategic Priorities and Future Directions 2001-2005 was subsequently developed as a broad statement about the University as a whole for both internal and external audiences.

The distinctive characteristics
The following have been identified as the key characteristics of Flinders:

an internally cohesive university, which combines a participatory mode of governance with effective and responsible leadership, and with a sense of community characterised by a regard for the well being of students and staff and a commitment to equity, diversity and cultural inclusivity;
an outward-looking university which seeks out, listens to, takes seriously and meets wherever possible the needs of the multiple external communities that have expectations of universities generally and of Flinders in particular;
a university of academic breadth, depth and high quality which supports both disciplinary specialities and cross-disciplinary collaborations in education and research, encourages innovation and applies a future oriented critical perspective to all its current and proposed new activities.