Our engagement with North America 2 North America A warm welcome from the University of the Year At Birmingham, we are proud not only of our roots but of our ambition. Our recent recognition as University of the Year 2014 by The Times and The Sunday Times cements our place in the top 100 universities in the world; acknowledging Birmingham as a forward-thinking institution with civic roots, national eminence and global reach. We believe Birmingham is a truly global Our international strategy is evidenced to date are varied, ranging from student exchanges and university; a prestigious institution boasting by numerous significant initiatives including our teaching partnerships to joint research on global global experts who address the future challenges landmark Birmingham Guangzhou Centre, a issues and cultural engagement. facing the modern-day world. Our global novel partnership with the municipal government footprint is both distinctive and expanding. We in Guangzhou; our considerable joint investment As the world of higher education continues are developing our international presence and with The University of Nottingham in Brazil; to change at an unprecedented rate, collaborations across academia, industry, culture extensive engagement with partners in Chicago Birmingham continues to adapt to meet the and government across all continents. and the American Midwest; and our permanent global challenges and opportunities ahead. presence in New Delhi, Shanghai, We will continue to develop the quality and With almost 5,000 international students from Nigeria and Brussels. distinctiveness which defines us locally more than 150 countries, and a third of our and represents us as a global university. academic staff from overseas, our campus is Our ties with North America are of key truly a diverse and global place. Our researchers importance and have flourished over recent years This means continuing to attract the are instrumental in collaborating and creating with extensive strategic engagement in both the brightest and best international students impact with partners across the globe; from USA and Canada. These include, for example, a and staff, and expanding our portfolio of medical advances and scientific innovations signature partnership with the University of Illinois leading international partners. to influencing policy and enhancing cultural at Urbana-Champaign and strong links with understanding. This broad international eminent universities such as The Ohio State It is this that will enable us to become perspective enables our graduates, academics University through our membership of the one of the world’s great universities. and professionals to develop into individuals Universitas21 consortium. This brochure will give with the knowledge, skills and qualities to you a flavour of the wide variety of activities the fulfil their potential as global citizens. University of Birmingham is engaged with in Malcolm Press, North America and the thriving network of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research partnerships we are proud to be a part of. Our and Knowledge Transfer connections and partnerships in North America Chair, International Board Contents Our global engagement 3 The value of UK–North American partnerships 4 Chicago and the Midwest 6 Research 8 Collaborative rail research and education 10 Cultural engagement 11 Creating global citizens 12 Global connections and partnerships 14 North America 3 Our global engagement We are a leading global university linking people, organisations and places to opportunities and discoveries across the world. Fundamentally, everything we do in terms of Through our wide-ranging international networks, Our partnerships allow the collective sharing our global partnerships is about enhancing we engage in collaborative opportunities on of knowledge and expertise at the highest level; our research, creating real-world impact and many levels with universities, governments from medical advances and scientific innovations providing opportunities for the reciprocal and companies, and create global experiences to influencing policy and enhancing cultural sharing of knowledge. for students and employees. understanding. We have international partnerships across all continents and It is through these partnerships – formed both From industry to individuals, much of our work are continually developing our international in the UK and internationally – that we work to with international partners delivers discernible presence and collaborations, seeking mutually address emerging global challenges. Although global impact – tackling issues such as the beneficial partnerships to complement our partnership activity is truly global, we have planet’s future energy demands, healthy ageing our significant existing global footprint. identified China, India, Brazil and North America and world poverty. as the key strategic regions where we will seek to focus our engagement. Our position in the ‘knowledge’ heart of Europe is also increasingly At Birmingham, our approach is to develop distinctive, long-term strong; further enhanced by the opening of our international partnerships that are sustainable and mutually office in Brussels in 2010 – making us the first UK university to have a committed, dedicated beneficial. From individual academic engagement to institutional presence in the political nerve centre of the EU. partnerships our networks are not only wide ranging, but profoundly Within these strategic regions, we work instrumental in addressing the worldwide challenges of today and collaboratively, through mutually beneficial tomorrow. We make meaningful global connections – linking people, partnerships, to produce groundbreaking research, deliver innovative teaching and organisations and places with knowledge and opportunity create opportunities for our students and staff to gain meaningful international experience. Andréa Edwards, Director of International Development and Mobility Birmingham is a founder member of Universitas 21 (U21), an eminent consortium of world-leading research- intensive universities that promotes international engagement among its 27 member institutions across 17 countries. The U21 network enables collaboration between member universities on a scale none would be able to achieve even through bilateral alliances. Among our key sponsorship partners is the UK government’s global Chevening scholarships programme, which brings the international leaders of tomorrow to Birmingham. 4 North America The value of UK–North American partnerships Our ties with North America have flourished over recent years with extensive strategic engagement particularly in the USA and Canada. Given the equivalent notable quality and offers a major opportunity to build meaningful Expanded and invigorated exchange ambition of universities in North America, we partnerships, promote knowledge exchange, networks between the UK and North recognise the potential to develop mutually educate new audiences and support global America – each the most popular destination beneficial partnerships with leading institutions engagement for partner organisations on for study abroad for the other – creating in North America, with collaboration including both sides of the Atlantic. distinctive opportunities for students activities such as: Prestigious and exciting transatlantic Our North America strategy grew from opportunities that provide attractive ways Long-term research collaborations the recognition that UK–North America to engage prospective students and Researcher mobility partnerships would generate a wealth of academic staff Doctoral training mutually beneficial outputs, including: Educational collaboration and mobility of staff and students Transatlantic research networks that Interactions with industry in both North generate high-quality, impactful publications, America and Europe to enhance research and increase exposure to world-leading Business engagement and knowledge transfer researchers on both sides of the Atlantic Strong UK–North America relationships to The United Kingdom and North America enjoy increase access to major transatlantic and the most productive bilateral higher education international research funding, including relationship in the world. Enhancing dialogue EU, NSF, and NIH research funding, and with partners in the UK and North America competitiveness for national research council grants The University of Birmingham was honoured to welcome His Excellency Matthew Barzun, Ambassador of the United States of America to the United Kingdom, to campus in early 2014 North America 5 At Birmingham we are making significant signature partnerships we have strengthened investment to support academic engagement our global reach, with this impact transcending in North America. As part of our engagement we sector, discipline and geographic lines. have developed a flourishing network of faculty relationships with leading academic institutions, In Canada we have developed strong generating research results and funding partnerships with a number of leading successes. Exciting educational opportunities universities, including McGill University have been established for students through new and the University of British Columbia, exchange partnerships, prestigious internships as part of the Universitas 21 network. Our and collaborative teaching arrangements. academic community leads a number of faculty-to-faculty engagements with leading We have had tremendous success in developing Canadian universities in a wide range