AnnualReview 2013 – 2014
Annual Review
Contents 03 04 08 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 39
Welcome Academic leadership International reach Student success Learning and teaching Research with impact Engagement with industry Investing in our estates Working with Birmingham Key facts and figures Key officeholders
Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor
Welcome It is my pleasure to welcome you to Birmingham City University’s Annual Review, covering our achievements during the 2013/14 academic year.
This period coincided with the launch of our vision for the next five years, with the delivery of our Strategic Plan, establishing our priorities up to the year 2020. The key theme of the plan is ‘transformation’ – we are seeking to have a transformative effect on our students. Our academic, research and support staff are all part of this life-changing process. It is our responsibility to prepare students for successful professional lives, and as such, we need to be leading the way on creative, professional and practice-based education; continuing to transform our provision to ensure it meets the needs of the modern world. We are an important part of the economic, cultural and social life of the city and the region and will play our part in their transformation and future development, forging productive collaborations and engendering innovation. Our aims for the future can be divided into four broad themes – transforming the University, transforming students, transforming practice and transforming the city and region. This is reflected in the content of this year’s Annual Review. Thank you for your interest in the University and I hope that we will continue to enjoy your support in the future.
Professor Cliff Allan Vice-Chancellor
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Transforming the University
Academic leadership
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Our academics continue to lead the way in their fields, helping to enhance the University’s reputation through their pioneering teaching and research. They come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring the University stays up to date with the latest thinking in their sectors and providing real-life insight for our students. Our academics’ expertise also benefits business and industry through knowledge and skills transfer, working together to solve real-life problems.
Criminologist presents research findings in House of Commons Senior Lecturer in Criminology Imran Awan was called on by politicians to offer his expertise in how to tackle issues relating to anti-Muslim prejudice. He attended the House of Commons in September, to speak on key issues at the ‘Victims of Anti-Muslim Hate’ hearing of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia, following a written report he had submitted on the subject. He highlighted that although ‘street-level Islamophobia’ remained an important area of investigation, more needed to be done to give the same level of attention and resources to the rise in anti-Muslim abuse online.
Imran believes that it is important that the Government looks deeper into the causes of cyber hate, in order to help find solutions. He argued that if the government, and society as a whole, did not begin to challenge this type of online behaviour, there was a risk of damaging the Government’s social cohesion strategy. He said: “This report aims to shed light on the often ignored but equally important subject of online Islamophobia. As a society we must look at long-term engagement regarding the issue of cyber-hate, otherwise we risk seeing online anti-Muslim hate continuing to spread.”
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© Honlodge Productions Martin Freeman in The Voorman Problem
Oscar nomination for University tutor’s film A Birmingham City University tutor had cause to celebrate after a short film he produced was nominated for an award at the Oscars.
Lee Thomas
The Voorman Problem, produced by Lee Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Film Distribution and Marketing, was one of five films shortlisted in the Best Live Action Short Film category for 2014. Produced by Lee in collaboration with emerging talents Mark Gill and Baldwin Li, the short film tells the story of Doctor Williams, played by Martin Freeman, who is called to examine the enigmatic Mr Voorman, a prisoner who believes he is a god. Doctor Williams is left to question the sanity of Mr Voorman, played by Rev star Tom Hollander, and decide whether he is a fake or a lunatic. Lee said: “It’s great to be involved with a short film that has been nominated for an Oscar. It still doesn’t seem quite real.
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“Producing is a tough and challenging game and it’s moments like this that give us a real lift and remind us why we slog away looking for stories that will ignite an audience’s imagination and, who knows, maybe attract some occasional recognition to help us along.” The short is based on an extract from the novel Number9Dream by author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas) which Lee is also developing into a feature film with director Asif Kapadia (Senna) and Film4 (12 Years A Slave). The University’s MA course in Film Distribution and Marketing is the first of its kind in Europe, and is led and taught by established industry practitioners.
Academic Leadership
Britvic IT boss takes up University role
In brief 1 Documentary shortlisted for international award
It was announced in March that Dr Rob Pritchard, IT Director for Britvic plc, was to work with the University as Professor of Applied Information Technology and Corporate Strategy. Rob Pritchard
He will be helping our students to benefit from insights into the latest developments in that field. Working alongside staff at Birmingham City University’s School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks (CTN), Rob will support the School’s engagement with industry as well as encourage graduate employment opportunities for students. Rob previously spent eight years in IT consulting with Hewlett-Packard, and went on to work
Students on computing courses have access to a wide range of graduate employment opportunities
for Deloitte as a director in their management consulting department for six years. Rob is also a Fellow of the British Computing Society, the Chartered Institute for IT. Speaking of his new role, Rob said: “I am delighted and honoured to have had Birmingham City University ask me to support them and I am looking forward to helping them bring more industrial relevance to teaching and research.”
A documentary produced by Senior Lecturer in Radio Sam Coley was among the finalists at the 2014 New York Radio Festival. Let’s Dance at 30 was shortlisted in the Best Music Special category – the only entry from a UK university to make the list. The hour-long documentary was broadcast on Absolute Radio to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s album Let’s Dance.
2 Academic considers future of planning Professor of Environmental and Spatial Planning Alister Scott contributed to a book on the future and purposes of planning, which was launched in Parliament in November by Shadow Minister for Planning, Roberta Blackman-Woods MP. Professor Scott’s chapter in New Directions in Planning: Beyond Localism highlighted the importance of rediscovering the ‘urban-rural fringe’ in England’s planning system.
3 University academic in theatre spotlight A Visual Communication lecturer has worked with one of the world’s top directors on a new theatre production. Ravi Deepres teamed up with Phyllida Lloyd CBE – known for her work in theatre and for Oscar and BAFTA-winning films like The Iron Lady and Mamma Mia – for the play Josephine and I, based on the life of performing artist Josephine Baker and her experiences of racial prejudice in America.
4 Lecturer’s hat-trick of success A PhD researcher and visiting lecturer showed a head for design when she won an award from Vogue magazine for her incredible hat designs. Monique Lee received the ‘People’s Choice’ award for her unique creations, often adorned with Lego. Monique’s hats picked up a lot of attention at last year’s Royal Ascot after fashion journalist Maya Williams was snapped wearing one of her designs.
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Transforming the University
International reach
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With students coming from around 80 different countries, Birmingham City University benefits from a truly global outlook. From our partnerships with leading institutions overseas to our research collaborations across the world, all of our students benefit from being part of a vibrant, internationally facing learning environment. Plainsopoly in action
Playing with rural futures in Birmingham and Nebraska Researchers from the University teamed up with their counterparts at the University of Nebraska to develop a board game to improve the way in which the public engage with, and understand, complex land and resource management issues facing their communities. Plainsopoly is based on the highly successful Rufopoly game, developed by researchers at Birmingham City University, where people answer real life questions from research on the rural urban fringe. In collaboration with professors Alister Scott and Richard Wakeford from Birmingham City University, a team of researchers, led by Professor Jessica Shoemaker from the University of Nebraska College of Law, adapted the UK research questions to cover contemporary land use and rural development issues in the Great Plains. The result was centre stage in a session at the recent Rural Futures Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Over 60 participants played the game within a hypothetical landscape reminiscent of the Great Plains. Using dice, players moved around the board, discussing various land-use questions and scenarios that enabled them to create their own visions for the area. Finally, participants were invited to analyse which tools of government – at federal, state and local levels – would either help or hinder the realisation of their visions. Professor Scott, the architect of the original Rufopoly game, commented: “Games have a way of taking people outside their usual agendas and viewpoints, creating new learning and opportunity spaces to engage with complex planning issues. The dice provide a powerful manager of the agendas players have to confront.”
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BCUIC welcomed its first students for the 2013/14 academic year
In brief 1 Visitors from Mexico explore opportunities for collaboration
International College continues to expand Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC), the University’s international partnership with Navitas Group, continues to develop at an impressive rate and, to date, has accepted over 320 students from 32 countries to study on international pathways with the University. Navitas is the world’s largest provider of university pathway education with over 30 partnerships globally. Since its first enrolment period in September 2013, international students have enrolled on over 15 separate academic pathway types and also on the University’s own pre-sessional English language provision through the Centre for Academic Success. BCUIC pathway expansion, increased integration of the college into the University’s
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international planning and strategy, and further cooperation with relevant faculties promise sustainable mutual growth and a strengthening of the University’s international profile through the Navitas partnership. BCUIC Principal Cheryl Badhams said: “The strength of the University-College relationship and our shared strategic ambitions are the key drivers of the initial success enjoyed by BCUIC. We look forward to further enhancement of that relationship and to meeting the ambitious goals we have set ourselves for the future.”
The University welcomed a senior delegation from the University of Puebla, in Mexico, to explore future areas of collaboration between the two institutions. Academics from both universities will be working together to develop a number of collaboration activities in the fields of Mechanical/ Automotive Engineering, Computer Science and the Built Environment, ranging from joint research to academic and industry links.
2 Business students named European champions Students from the University were named as winners of The European Business Masters Cup: a competition to find Europe’s most entrepreneurial students. Laura Attwell, Vladina Chira, Andrei Tiu, Jeremy Cooper and Osman Malvankar battled it out against rival universities from Austria, Germany, Hungary and the UK in a series of challenges to mastermind the fortunes of a fictitious company.
International reach
Learning without borders for Brazilian students A total of 22 Brazilian students spent the whole of the 2013/14 academic year at Birmingham City University as part of the Science without Borders scholarship programme, funded by the government of Brazil. The Science without Borders programme sends 100,000 Brazilian students on undergraduate and PhD sandwich courses, and full PhDs in science, technology, engineering, medicine and the creative industries, at some of the world’s top universities. Student Gabriele Mauany, who took part in the scheme, commented: “The infrastructure offered here gave me the chance to explore my creativity and develop my skills. My year at Birmingham City University’s School of Media worked for me as a lantern and a lighthouse, enlightening – until then unknown – possibilities I could, and I will, explore. I would like to thank very much all my lecturers, especially Jon Hickman,
and all Birmingham City University staff for that.” Professor Bashir Makhoul, Pro-ViceChancellor (Academic Portfolio and Market Development) who oversees the University’s international strategy, added: “The Science without Borders programme is one of the largest student mobility programmes in the world, and demonstrates Birmingham City University’s increasingly international outlook and presence.” Following the success of the programme, a new cohort of 32 students will be studying at the University for the 2014/15 academic year.
3 Birmingham’s Forum48 takes city review global A high-profile delegation from Birmingham City University visited Chicago in November 2013 to address the global potential for cities to act as key drivers in learning, investment and economic growth. Led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan, the group met with over 70 representatives from Chicago’s public and private sectors under the banner of ‘Forum48’, an international think-tank event designed to help cities become ‘smarter’ and more cost efficient.
4 Discussing the future of the book International experts from 14 countries came together to discuss the state of the book – past, present and future – at the first Resurrecting the Book Conference. Held at the new Library of Birmingham in November 2013, and organised in partnership with the University’s Typographic Hub, the event brought together academics, artists, book historians, librarians, publishers and those involved in digital books, to look at books as physical objects.
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“The Science without Borders programme... demonstrates Birmingham City University’s increasingly international outlook and presence.” Professor Bashir Makhoul
University signs agreement with Qatar Foundation The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Foundation’s Academic Bridge Program (ABP), which paves the way for students who successfully complete the ABP and meet specified criteria to progress directly to the first year of study here. In particular, the agreement provides well-qualified ABP graduates with streamlined entry onto digital media technology, film production technology, construction management and mechanical engineering courses.
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Transforming students
Student success
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We aim to provide the learning and support that enables our students to progress to successful achievement in their chosen field. The regular stream of prizes, awards and accolades received by those studying on our programmes provides ample evidence of the benefits they gain from studying at a forward-thinking and innovative university.
The stars of The Midwives on BBC2
Dany Morris-Spence featured in the ITV series
Students provide insights into health careers Two groups of students gave an insight into the dayto-day life of healthcare workers when they appeared in separate TV documentaries during the past year. Midwifery students made their television debuts during September 2013 on The Midwives – a six-part documentary for BBC2, which featured three student midwives from the University as they gained hands-on experience at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The series showed the extraordinary responsibility and difficult decisions they faced every day on the frontline at one of the busiest delivery units in the country, from helping women get through high-risk pregnancies to protecting babies once they go home. Louise Toner, Associate Dean at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Health, said: “We are very pleased with the series – it shows the reality of being a student gaining experience in a specialist hospital, the close partnership that
exists between the Faculty and Birmingham Women’s Hospital and, in particular, the role of practice-based mentors who provide the essential support for students during their placement experiences.” Meanwhile, nursing students featured in the ITV series Student Nurses: Bedpans to Bandages, which followed the day-to-day lives of trainee nurses in Birmingham and Manchester, both in training and on the wards. The series offered an insight into what it takes to become a nurse in the 21st century, uncovered the motivation behind the student nurses’ dreams and showed the challenges they faced on a daily basis juggling academic study with home life and work on the wards.
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Scene from the trenches of World War One, recreated in paper (above and below left)
Paper exhibition commemorates World War One centenary Students at Birmingham City University recreated a poignant scene from the World War One trenches using just paper and cardboard, to mark 100 years since the start of the conflict.
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Using the Battle of the Somme – in which more than one million men were wounded or killed – as the setting, the student-curated exhibition took visitors on a journey back in time to show the hardships and struggles of soldiers in the battlefield.
With a budget of only £450 and a timescale of less than four weeks, first year Theatre, Performance and Event Design students worked tirelessly to put a show-stopping set on display during February, with sound effects and impressive lighting to create colour.
Life-size trenches, poor outdoor sleeping quarters and injured soldiers are some of the sets that were created out of brown paper, which gave a touching snapshot into a ‘typical’ day on the battlefield during World War One.
Course Director Paul Barrett said: “As well as abilities that are difficult to teach like tenacity and determination, I’m particularly proud of the way that this group has dealt with such an emotive subject in such a mature and respectful manner.”
Student success
Film graduate mentored by ‘Luther’ star When BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology student Andrew Bond started his studies at the University, little did he know that it would lead to him being mentored by one of the UK’s most respected actors. He was chosen by Idris Elba, star of Luther and Mandela, as his protégé for Samsung’s Launching People project, which searched for the brightest young talent in the fields of food, film, music and photography. Andrew’s pitch for his short film, Howard’s Happy Place, beat off competition from around 250 other entrants to win the film category. Andrew spent two weeks working with the actor, which was captured in the Sky 1 television series The Ones to Watch. His film tells the story of an anxious man who finds solace by retreating into an imaginary
happy place in his mind, where he is joined by his best friend Paul, a giant teddy bear. The drama takes a sinister turn when Howard finds himself trapped in his happy place, and he and Paul come across various bizarre characters. Andrew said: “It was an incredible experience and completely different to anything I’ve done before. I had to cut a lot from my original idea to get it to 10 minutes, but the essence of the story was still there and I was very happy with the end result.”
In brief 1 Picture perfect for Birmingham student in international competition A BA (Hons) Media and Communication student who spent three months helping to tackle poverty in Malawi has won an international photography competition. Sabah Chohan took part in the International Citizen Service programme, which brings 18 to 25-year-olds to some of the poorest communities in the world, with the photography competition giving volunteers the chance to share images of their work.
2 Double award honour for animation graduates Creative graduates from Birmingham City University received a double honour at the 2013 Royal Television Society’s Midlands Centre awards. Rizwan Khan, from Edgbaston, was named winner in the Student Animation category for his film Chime – an animated short film about a man who lives inside a clock. Fellow animation student Michael Price was also shortlisted for his stop-motion film Oh Well.
3 Graduate launches first children’s book A Fine Art graduate from Birmingham City University has released his first children’s book, The Legend of Everwinter. Matthew Hill, a BA and MA Fine Art graduate and a Post Compulsory Education Art Trainee at the University, illustrated the story while working on the project over the last year with his partner Tara Behan, who wrote the book.
4 Prestigious scholarships for law students Andrew Bond with his mentor Idris Elba
“It was an incredible experience and completely different to anything I’ve done before.” Andrew Bond
Two Law graduates are well on the way to successful careers after securing scholarships from two of the four Inns of Court which have the exclusive right to call students to the Bar. Ellis Isherwood was presented with a full Lord Denning Scholarship by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, while Joshua Longhorne received a Lord Harmsworth Scholarship from Middle Temple.
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Transforming students
Learning and teaching 16
Our students start on their career path the minute they join us, benefiting from industry-standard facilities and lecturers with relevant experience in their chosen sector. As well as allowing our students to shape their own learning through the Student Academic Partners scheme, we now also employ them in various roles across the University, providing real-life work experience. Our green screen studio can be used for a wide variety of productions
Birmingham acting course now to include green screen training Students on our MA Acting course now have the chance to perform alongside animated characters and pre-rendered backgrounds on Europe’s largest static green screen. The postgraduate course is the first to use the University’s new £62 million TV production facilities at the University’s Parkside Building.
“I am thrilled that we are able to offer students this unique training opportunity,” said Head of School, Stephen Simms.
Studio B is a green screen studio for recording material that will then have CGI (computergenerated imagery) added to form the final image. The studio has a motion control camera, ‘Milo’, which can reproduce the same programmed move repeatedly. This allows the CGI and the live image to be synced.
“With so much work taking place in virtual environments – think of the Oscar-winning Gravity – the ability for students to train for this important aspect of the profession is a great asset for Birmingham School of Acting.”
The MA Acting course will also give students a chance to work with animators and visual effects (VFX) artists to make the most of working with production-level, green screen backgrounds. The move signals an intent from the drama school to provide greater screen time for acting students, to mirror the modern challenges of an actor.
“I am thrilled that we are able to offer students this unique training opportunity,” Stephen Simms, Head of School
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An increasing number of games are being designed for mobile devices
University pioneers two-year degrees The team behind our Master’s-level Gamer Camp courses introduced a further innovation during 2013/14 when we became one of the first UK universities to launch a twoyear undergraduate games development degree. With UK degree courses normally lasting three to four years, the new Interactive Entertainment courses in Games Development, Digital Art and Digital Marketing, condense a full-time, three-year course into just two years. Rather than the UK average of 14 hours contact time per week over a 39-week year, students on the highly vocational Interactive Entertainment courses are expected to work and study 9am-5pm, 42 weeks of the year.
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Programme Director Zuby Ahmed, who is also Managing and Creative Director of indie developer SmashMouth Games, said: “When we speak to our partners in the games and digital industries, they constantly stress the need for graduates to have real experience in their specialism, and in working collaboratively alongside people with different skillsets. The idea is to simulate a real-world studio experience, to provide students with the experience needed to find a role in a highly skilled, competitive jobs market.�
Learning and teaching
Prison partnership will see greater opportunities for students Birmingham City University entered into an exciting partnership with security firm G4S and HM Prison Birmingham, and developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the two organisations that will provide excellent research and study opportunities for Psychology students.
In brief 1 Milestone as first student moves into full-time role As the University’s in-house employment scheme, OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus, moved into its second year for 2013/14, a student recruited through the programme has become the first to progress to a full-time role. BA (Hons) Business Law and Human Resource Management graduate Nazush Chohan was appointed as an Administrative Support Assistant in the Human Resources department, having worked there part-time during the previous year.
2 Library staff praised for first-class customer service Staff from Library and Learning Resources have been praised for their first-class work as part of a national standard accreditation. The department has received accreditation to the national Customer Service Excellence standard, given out by the government’s Cabinet Office to reward public services for providing excellent customer service.
3 Course exposes realities of life behind bars
HM Prison Birmingham
The collaboration between the two partners will allow students on the accredited BSc Psychology and MSc Forensic Psychology courses to develop better research links and undertake more projects involving offenders, prison officers and the wider criminal justice system at large. Some psychology students have already visited the prison as part of their first semester of activities on their programmes. The link will also allow G4S, which operates the prison, to undertake its own internal research projects, specialist training and needs analysis with methodological support and ethical guidance from University academics.
Professor Craig Jackson, Head of the Psychology Division at the University, said: “The challenges faced by HMP Birmingham and the wider current prison system are important to the city, the local population, prison staff, the families of the men inside, and the students who are studying here.” We are looking at the many ways we can provide useful help to HMP Birmingham while at the same time learning from what they do best.”
The University has launched a new project to give psychology students the skills they need to work in the criminal justice system. We teamed up with the New Bridge Foundation – a non-profit organisation which works with prisoners to create links between offenders and the community – to devise a one-year course which provides an in-depth look into the prison system and life behind bars.
4 Health students experience realistic accident scenario More than 100 health students put their clinical and communication skills into practice when they joined firefighters to help manage a major incident in a dramatic accident scenario. A realistic coach crash with multiple casualties was simulated at the University’s City South Campus in March.
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Transforming practice
Research with impact
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Professor Caroline Archer leads the University’s research in typography
Our teaching is underpinned by our innovative research, with staff working alongside businesses and organisations at a local, national and international level to find solutions to real-life problems. From helping to restore priceless jewellery artefacts to joining a cross-university partnership to revolutionise arts and humanities research, we are at the cutting edge of future developments.
Research project dazzles visitors Museum visitors will now be able to have more access than ever before to precious artefacts and collections, thanks to experts from the University. Our researchers helped to analyse and bring to life a 400-year-old hoard of jewellery, resulting in the Museum of London’s most successful charging exhibition on record. The Cheapside Hoard: London’s Lost Jewels attracted over 140,000 visitors during the seven-month exhibition, from October 2013 to April 2014. The Cheapside Hoard of around 500 items was discovered by builders under a cellar floor in Cheapside, London, in 1912 but mystery surrounds whom the jewels belonged to, why they were hidden and why they were never reclaimed. University experts, led by former student and current research fellow at the JIIC Dr Ann-Marie Carey, and senior computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) technologist Keith Adcock, spent around
Keith Adcock laser scanning a ferlite watch dial
six days at the museum, using the latest technology to photograph and scan the artefacts for analysis back in Birmingham. The research approach for the exhibition blended traditional craftsmanship with stateof-the-art technology, using the latest laser scanning, computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing techniques to minimise handling of the artefacts themselves. Dr Carey said: “There had been research into the collection before, but it was of a more scientific nature – analysing the gold composition, the origins of the gemstones and the content of the enamel. Our research has focused on the craftsmanship behind these pieces and, as makers ourselves, we were investigating how they made these artefacts, and what tools and technologies were available to them.”
The original pearl dropper
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Donal MacIntyre was one of the team of experts that worked on the study
Study reveals shadowy world of Britain’s discount hitmen
Professor David Wilson
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A team of leading criminologists from the University published the first-ever study of British hitmen, which revealed that in some cases, victims were murdered for as little as £200. Professor David Wilson, Dr Elizabeth Yardley, Donal MacIntyre and Liam Brolan, identified four main types of contract killer – the ‘novice’, the ‘dilettante’, the ‘journeyman’ and the ‘master’.
While the age of hitmen ranged from 15 to 63, the average age of a British contract killer was 38 and the average age of their victim was 36. Guns were the most common murder weapon, used on 25 of the 35 victims.
The team analysed newspaper articles from an electronic archive of national and local papers from across Britain, using the reports to piece together a list of cases which could be defined as contract killings. The final list featured 27 contract killings, committed by 36 hitmen who were active on the British mainland from 1974 to 2013.
Professor Wilson said: “Hitmen are familiar figures in films and video games, carrying out ‘hits’ in underworld bars or from roof tops with expensive sniper rifles. The reality could not be more different – British hitmen are more likely to murder their victim while they walk the dog in suburban neighbourhoods.”
Research with impact
University looks to revolutionise arts and humanities research Birmingham City University has been chosen to form part of a pioneering centre of excellence for arts and humanities research education in the Midlands. The Midlands3Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) has been awarded £14.6 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – which, after match-funding from partner universities, will offer 410 doctoral studentship opportunities over the next five years. The DTP, a collaboration between the universities of Birmingham City, Birmingham, De Montfort, Leicester, Nottingham and Nottingham Trent, provides research candidates with cross-institutional mentoring, expert supervision including cross-institutional supervision where appropriate, subject specific and generic training, and professional support in preparing for a career.
Art and design is one area of research which will be further strengthened by this collaboration
In support of its own ambitious research strategy, the University will be recruiting students to its strongest research areas, including art and design, English and linguistics, law, media and cultural studies, and music and performing arts. In the first year of the partnership, 12 students based at Birmingham City University received awards. Professor Tim Wall, who represents the University on the consortium’s steering group, said: “This partnership will revolutionise the way we teach our postgraduate students. All six universities are equal partners; all sharing their resources, expertise and, crucially, their partnership links to help create a new generation of highly skilled arts and humanities researchers.”
In brief 1 University completes REF 2014 submission The University finalised its submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which is used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to assess the quality of research at UK universities. It replaces the previous Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which was carried out in 2008. The submission featured 122 full-time equivalent members of staff and 11 units of assessment.
2 Groundbreaking new research will allow instant cancer diagnosis A research project led by the University’s School of Digital Media Technology showed how data sonification – converting data to audio signals rather than visuals, using a laser device – can improve techniques in stem cell analysis, opening up new possibilities for GPs to make instant cancer diagnoses. The research team is developing the idea further by working on new types of tissue data.
3 University research helping people to invest in nature Researchers from Birmingham School of the Built Environment have been examining Visitor Giving schemes, which use donations from people visiting the countryside to fund environmental and community projects. They developed a set of smartphone apps, which provide location-based information about the benefits provided to society from the landscapes users are travelling through.
4 Examining the positive side of computer games Researchers from the University and Birmingham Children’s Hospital are exploring how computer games and game based learning can be applied in the healthcare sector to improve young people’s understanding of medical conditions they may be living with and how to care for themselves as they grow older.
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Transforming practice
Engagement with industry 24
Innovation is at the centre of our work with business, industry and other outside organisations. By sharing our ideas and expertise, and allowing best practice to be shared across the West Midlands region and further afield, we help our outside partners to achieve success. In turn, our students benefit from the chance to work at close quarters with these partners and by studying on courses which have been designed with employers’ needs in mind. Our students get access to the latest digital media facilities
Rethinking the world of digital media The University played host to some of the country’s leading media professionals in March 2014 at the second annual Rethink Media conference. Hosted by TV presenter Jason Bradbury of The Gadget Show, the conference set out to discuss the latest trends in digital media, look at ways of driving creative business models and learning how organisations can generate engaging content to meet the constantly evolving expectations of modern audiences.
There were also panel debates led by Inderpreet Sahota, editor at BBC Asian Network and Stacey Barnfield, editor of the Birmingham Post, which posed questions on the challenges facing organisations now that audiences and consumers were creating content themselves and even running their own digital channels.
Organised by the University and held in the new Parkside Building in Eastside, the event included a line-up of industry speakers including BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Controller Ben Cooper, and the Vice-President of popular social news and entertainment website Buzzfeed, Jonathan Perelman. The main topics of discussion at Rethink Media focused on how best to create shareable content and increase online engagement.
Also taking place during the event was the launch of Media Power 20, a list that aims to recognise the people who are having the greatest impact on the shifting media landscape. Joanna Birch, Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise at the University, said: “The event was a great success, with two significant announcements from the BBC, speeches from Jonathan Perelman and Ben Cooper, and the hashtag #RethinkMedia trended on Twitter reaching 1,170,000 people.”
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Horology students at work (left and below left)
Horology partnership to stand the test of time Luxury goods brand Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) Watch & Jewellery UK has joined forces with Birmingham City University in a unique partnership set to inspire the next generation of UK watchmakers. LVMH – which has a portfolio of over 60 prestigious brands, including the likes of TAG Heuer, Zenith and Bulgari – has joined forces with the School of Jewellery, to support and advise students studying on the BA (Hons) Horology degree programme. Through work placements and a one-toone mentoring scheme, the partnership will provide horology students with practical experience of working with a number of prestigious brands and the opportunity to
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develop technical skills in a commercial environment. Rob Diver, Managing Director at LVMH Watch & Jewellery UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome the students from Birmingham City University. It is getting harder to find skilled workers and there are very few professional training institutes in the UK. With this programme, we hope to nurture watchmaking skills, cultivate a passion for craftsmanship and develop business experiences to support the students’ careers.”
Engagement with industry
University launches hydrogen-powered car
In brief 1
The University teamed up with Walsall-based motorsport parts manufacturer Spencer Ashley Ltd and the DYP-DC centre for automotive research in Pune, India, to design what could prove to be the world’s first affordable hydrogen fuel-cell powered mass transport vehicle. The steer for the collaborative project stemmed from the Indian government’s Hydrogen Highway initiative which aims to ensure that at least one million hydrogen-fuelled vehicles hit the roads by 2020. The model, along with plans of a fuel cell electric vehicle (otherwise known as the ‘Millennium Tuk-Tuk’), will be showcased at the event and could provide a primary mode of public transport in India in the future. The powertrain for the new and innovative car, which produces zero exhaust emissions, consists of a hydrogen fuel cell, an electric motor and a complex control system. Hydrogen
for the vehicle is stored in a cluster of low pressure metal hydride cylinders, providing a safe means of fuelling the system. Parmjit Chima, Head of the School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems, said: “With the current climate agenda of a low-carbon economy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, the way vehicles are reliant on fossil fuels needs to change. This research into extracting and storing hydrogen is a real game-changer.”
Games students to get latest Sony kit The University has been named as one of the first institutions in Europe to receive development kits for the new Sony PlayStation 4. Our School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks is incorporating the new development kit into its game design courses. The partnership is part of Sony’s plans to foster the next generation of PlayStation developers.
2 Motorsport experts discuss the future Motorsport experts and engineers from across the globe gathered at the University in January, as we hosted the Race Tech World Motorsport Symposium for the second year running. Chaired by Audi Sport’s Ulrich Baretzky and the Caterham F1 team’s John Iley, the two-day event featured a series of interactive sessions, presentations and debates on what the future holds for the industry.
3 Most admired companies revealed For the 23rd year running, Professor Mike Brown of Birmingham City Business School has produced a list of the most well-regarded companies in the UK. The Britain’s Most Admired Companies survey is the only academic study in the UK which measures a company’s reputation by the perceptions of competing companies. The latest list was published by Management Today magazine in December, with drinks giant Diageo topping the table. The ‘Millennium Tuk-Tuk’ on show in India (left) and Parmjit Chima (right)
“With the current climate agenda of a low-carbon economy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, the way vehicles are reliant on fossil fuels needs to change.” Parmjit Chima
4 What to expect from the future of broadcasting Developments in broadcast technology and what the programming of the future will look like were up for discussion in November. Creative Networks, our monthly networking event for creative professionals in the West Midlands, hosted the discussion, led by Graham Thomas, who leads the Immersive and Interactive Content team within the BBC’s Research and Development department.
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Annual Review
Transforming the city and region
Investing in our estates
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Our campus plans are central to the University’s strategic vision and our commitment to enhancing the student experience through the provision of world-class facilities. We are currently mid-way through a £260 million investment programme in our estates and facilities, concentrating our teaching on two main sites close to the centre of the city.
Students at Birmingham Conservatoire will be moving into a new building soon
New home announced for Birmingham Conservatoire Our ongoing investment in our facilities received a further boost recently when plans for a new £45 million home for Birmingham Conservatoire were announced. The purpose-built Conservatoire will be adjacent to Millennium Point as part of our expanding City Centre Campus, just a short distance from New Street and Moor Street train stations, in the heart of the city’s developing ‘learning quarter’. The new facility is due to open by summer 2017, and will provide worldclass music education facilities for current and future students. The facility will be developed around the main 500 seat public performance venue along with a range of other public performance spaces, including a fine new concert hall for orchestral training and performance, in addition to an experimental music space. Around the main performance venues will be private rehearsal rooms and practice rooms, recording and technology, all supported by teaching spaces for musicians from a variety of disciplines.
and study facilities which will be the envy of conservatoires across Europe. We are working closely with Millennium Point on the design and construction, to ensure that a facility is delivered which complements the existing offer, in both architecture and service. Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will enable Birmingham Conservatoire to relocate to this new, stateof-the-art building by summer 2017. “During its long history Birmingham Conservatoire has earned an international reputation for the excellence of its music teaching, research and performances. We are confident that the future changes will provide us with a glorious opportunity to build on our proud history and develop world-class facilities for future generations.”
The University has now initiated the process of designing new concert, practice, teaching
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Annual Review
Work under way at The Curzon Building Our expanding City Centre Campus site continued to be a hive of activity during the 2013/14 academic year as work continued on our new Curzon Building. Set alongside our existing facilities at Millennium Point and The Parkside Building, The Curzon Building will house our business, law, social science and English courses from autumn 2015, as well as the new Curzon Library, all located around a new Student Hub providing a range of support services and facilities.
The Curzon Building under construction, to the right of the existing Parkside Building
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This landmark building will feature two wings of teaching accommodation, linked by a central atrium. It will sit at the eastern end of Eastside City Park, and incorporates into its design the Grade II listed Eagle and Ball public house. Our flexible teaching space will include traditional lecture theatres and seminar rooms, as well as more informal ‘break out’ areas.
The name was proposed by a member of staff and reflects the location of the building in a historical area of the city, situated next to the old Curzon Street Station and Curzon Street. Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “Positioning the University at the heart of the city will attract students to Birmingham and enable our students to interact better with the city. It will allow us to capitalise on existing connections to engage with local and national business to support our focus on professional and practice-based courses and development, to attract and retain highly skilled graduates in the region.”
Investing in our estates
Next phase of development is announced
In brief 1 New Parkside Building officially opened
With The Parkside Building complete and work on The Curzon Building well under way, in January 2014 the University announced plans for a third phase of its campus development.
Birmingham City University’s new multi-million pound Parkside Building was officially opened in March by Lord Heseltine. The state-of-the-art home for art, design and media courses, The Parkside Building marks the first step in creating a centre of excellence in the City’s Eastside region.
A further £58 million of improvements will consolidate most of our teaching onto two state-of-the-art campuses from 2017.
2 Campus highlighted as example of construction excellence
The City South Campus in Edgbaston and the City Centre Campus at Eastside, will both benefit from new purpose-built facilities for teaching and learning, research and business engagement, student support and professional services.
The University’s cutting-edge work on the City Centre Campus has been praised at a national conference. Senior representatives from over 30 universities were at The Parkside Building to hear how BIM (Building Information Modelling) technology had been involved in its development. The Building Information Modelling and Higher Education conference was given for members of the Association of University Directors of Estates.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said that the exciting long-term estates strategy would ensure that Birmingham City University was best-placed to become a university of choice for Birmingham, the West Midlands, the UK and internationally, by providing a world-class learning environment.
3 New campus voted West Midlands most sustainable
“The significant amount of new build on both sites will enable us to create best practice facilities and an environment which embraces new technology and the innovative methods of teaching and learning required by today’s students and business partners,” he added. Building work to enhance our campuses is continuing
The Parkside Building was honoured with the ‘Sustainability Award’ at the Insider West Midlands Property Awards in December 2013, beating competition from the Library of Birmingham and Two Snowhill. The building was praised by judges for the ‘attention to detail’ put into the project, considering low carbon and low impact design and technologies, while also achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating.
Timeline of development
4 Phase
Phase
Phase
1
2
3
Phase 1 of the University’s City Centre Campus expansion (The Parkside Building) has been fully operational since September 2013, bringing together art, design and media provision in a new, state-ofthe-art location.
Phase 2 of the City Centre Campus development (The Curzon Building) will open in September 2015, housing business, law, social science and English courses together with student hub facilities and the main Curzon Library.
Phase 3 of the University’s estates development will involve two further construction projects at the City Centre Campus, as well as a long term plan to create a new home for the School of Education. Design and planning will commence in 2014/15.
Awards recognise design excellence The Parkside Building was recognised with two prestigious design awards in 2014. The Royal Institute of British Architects gave it a prestigious RIBA West Midlands Regional Award, while it was also Highly Commended by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in their RICS West Midlands Awards in the category of Design through Innovation.
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Annual Review
Transforming the city and region
Working with Birmingham 32
We are proud of our record of supporting the education of the citizens of Birmingham since 1843. We continue to invest in the city and the wider West Midlands region today, both financially and through our support of local businesses, institutions and people. Over the past year, we have continued to explore new ways of sharing knowledge with people from the city and surrounding area.
Lectures provide expert insight for all The 2013/14 academic year saw the launch of City Talks – a new public lecture series with a programme of highprofile speakers who have shared their views and insights on a wide range of topics. As well as our own students and staff, the free lectures are open to people from the city and wider region. The first event saw best-selling crime writer R J Ellory sharing his views on the city’s rich and fascinating history, which he said many of its own inhabitants were unaware of. University visiting lecturer Mark WilliamsThomas (pictured left) spoke about his exposé of disgraced TV presenter Sir Jimmy Savile, while BAFTA award-winning director and University alumnus Ian Emes discussed his work with artists including Pink Floyd, Paul and Linda McCartney, Mike Oldfield and Duran Duran. Two talks took place in conjunction with BBC Radio 4 – a debate on immigration, featuring
Julian Lloyd Webber (left) shares his thoughts
input from migration experts, academics and members of the public ahead of the lifting of working restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians, and an episode of topical debate series Any Questions?. Further talks saw Birmingham-born actor and presenter Adil Ray and award-winning programme maker Tommy Nagra share their views and insights, while a debate on reality TV featured previous participants such as Matthew Wright, Steve Brookstein and Sinitta, as well as University experts David Wilson and Craig Jackson. The final talk of the academic year saw prominent British cellist and conductor Julian Lloyd Webber discussing his career and what it took to succeed in the music industry.
Steve Brookstein (left) at our reality TV debate
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Annual Review
The Library of Birmingham
Sounds echo across Birmingham at new library launch Staff and students from Birmingham Conservatoire, part of the University, were among a large group of brass players from across the Midlands who came together to help mark the opening of the new Library of Birmingham. Together We Breathe, an innovative take on the traditional fanfare created by Australian sound artists Super Critical Mass, brought together local brass players of all ages and backgrounds to play at various locations around the building during the official opening in September 2013. The air was filled with sound as visitors walked around the building on a journey through its state-of-the-art facilities, revealing the library’s collections and resources. Other performers at the opening event included
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young musicians from local schools and colleges as well as City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ensembles. Zoe Poyser, Orchestral Manager at Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “Following an inspirational workshop with the sound artists from Super Critical Mass, we soon extended the call for participants to the whole of Birmingham City University, inviting any of our staff and student brass players to get involved and perform alongside a wide range of local musicians.”
Working with Birmingham
City Road Primary Academy celebrates first year
In brief 1
Birmingham City University has sponsored its first school as part of a new Academy Trust. City Road Primary School became a sponsored academy from the 2013/14 school year, and was renamed City Road Primary Academy. Including its nursery, the school currently caters for around 400 pupils aged three to 11. As a member of the Trust, the University plays a pivotal role in developing and improving the learning experience of all the pupils by bringing a wide range of expertise and strategic leadership to the academy. The University has provided training for staff on using technology in the classroom, literacy strategies, effective mathematics teaching, health and safety and – for the Principal and Deputy Principal – media training. We have also trained all members of the Trust and the school’s Local Advisory Board in safeguarding and the responsibilities of their role. There have also been opportunities for our students to get involved, working with pupils
for whom English is not their primary language and providing one-to-one mathematics support. The University has also helped to improve the fabric of the school by carrying out various repairs to its buildings and providing new furniture. All teachers at City Road have been given iPads to enhance the quality of learning, the internet system has been upgraded and a new academy website has been launched. Acclaimed children’s writer Anne Fine made a special visit to the school in July to mark its first anniversary as an academy. Anne joined staff and pupils for a celebration picnic, where she spoke to them about her career and answered their questions. Musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire were also on hand to provide entertainment.
Chris Leah Photography
Graduate employability on the agenda at technology expo The University teamed up with the Business Information Portal website and Millennium Point during November to stage the West Midlands Cloud, Data and Smart Mobility Expo 2013. The twoday conference provided opportunities for students and young entrepreneurs to gain grant funding for business startups as well as first-hand knowledge of implementing the latest cloud technology.
2 University brings children’s literature festival to city Fans of children’s literature gathered at Birmingham Conservatoire in November for the Festival of Children’s Literature. The day saw a series of exciting workshops and performances as well as free storytelling and opportunities to meet award-winning children’s authors and illustrators, including Michael Morpurgo and James Mayhew.
3 New deal agreed with cricket club The University has signed a partnership deal to become Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s first Official University Partner, for at least three years. As well as raising our profile around the city and further afield, the two parties will work together to fully utilise the sports and media assets of the stadium, creating unique academic programmes for students.
4 Conference addresses issue of youth gangs
Children’s author Anne Fine helped celebrate the school’s anniversary
A group of experts from across the city came to the University for a public lecture to address the controversial issue of youth gangs. The ‘Understanding Birmingham Youth Gangs’ event took place in November and brought together a range of experts with knowledge, experience and insight into gangs and gang members.
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Annual Review
Key facts and figures 83% UG
Students by level of course
Course
Full-time
Part-time
Total
UG
15,648
3,121
18,769
PG Taught
1,744
1,746
3,490
PG Research 112
168
280
FE
198
0
198
Total
17,702
5,035
22,737
1% FE
1% PGR
Choice of study by subject (HE+FE)
Subjects allied to Medicine
6,456
Business & Admin
3,276
Art & Design
2,866
Music & Drama
1,016
4% Law
Engineering & Technologies 1,877
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Architecture, Building & Planning
938
Education
874
Teacher Training
1,141
Social Studies
1,353
Law
956
Computer Sciences
714
Media
819
English
381
Others
70
Total
22,737
6% Social Studies 5% Teacher Training 4% Education 4% Architecture, Building & Planning
15% PGT
4% Media
2% English
28% Subjects allied to Medicine
3% Computer Science 8% Engineering & Technologies
5% Music & Drama
13% Art & Design
14% Business & Admin
Key facts and figures
78% Full-time
Attendance mode (HE+FE)
Full-time
17,702
Part-time
5,035
Total
22,737
22% Part-time
56% White
26% Asian
Student ethnicity (HE only)
White
12,699
Asian
5,772
Black
2,804
Other
1,083
Not known
181
Total
22,539
1% Not known
56% West Midlands
Domicile (FT HE)
West Midlands
9,785
Other UK
5,478
EU
566
Non-EU
1,675
Total
17,504
5% Other
12% Black
31% Other UK
3% EU
10% NonEU
All staff by category
2013/14 Headcount
2013/14 Full-time equivalent
Academic
1,505
906
Managers, professional services and support staff
1,364
1,013
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Annual Review
Consolidated accounts for 2013/14 2013 2014
162m 175m
Total income
143m 154m
Total expenditure Surplus for the year before exceptional items
19m 22m
Surplus for the year after exceptional items
17m 24m 20m
Cashflow generated from operations
38m 40m 33m
Capital investment
23m 22m
Gross debt
47m
Cash, deposits and short term investments 25m
Net cash
61m
39m 191m
Net assets
Income 2013 2014
%
0%
10%
Funding Council grants
27m
20%
30%
40%
50%
107m
15m 16m
Other operating income
1.0m 0.8m
Endowment income and interest receivable
%
0%
20%
30%
Interest payable
40%
50% 87m 94m
46m 49m
Other operating expenses
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10%
Staff costs
Depreciaton of assets
129m
2.5m 2.8m
Research grants and contracts
2013 2014
70%
36m
Academic fees and education contracts
Expenditure
60%
220m
7m 9m 2.2m 2.2m
60%
70%
Key officeholders
Key officeholders Key officeholders who held office during the 2013/14 academic year Chancellor (role taken up annually by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham) Councillor Mike Leddy (to May 2014) Councillor Shafique Shah (from June 2014)
External Members of Board Committees Audit Committee Ms Sally Bevan (from 10 April 2014) Mr Nick Longley
Board of Governors Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Mr Alex Stephenson, CBE
Trustee Committee Mr John Crabtree, OBE (to 24 March 2014) Senior Staff of the University
Other Members Professor Cliff Allan, FRSA Dr Waqar Azmi, OBE Mr Jim Beeston, OBE Mr Joe Boyd (to 30 June 2014) Professor Stuart Brand Honorary Alderman John Charlton, CBE Mr Vic Cocker (Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chairman to 9 April 2014) Rt Hon Lord Grocott of Telford Professor Graham Henderson, CBE, DL Mr Mark Hopton, FCA (Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chairman from 10 April 2014) Ms Ann Jones Mr Andrew Jowett (from 1 April 2014) Mr Joe Kelly Ms Jenny Ladbrooke Ms Nicky Lloyd Ms Jenny Loynton Mr Niall Magennis (from 1 July 2014) Mr Andrew Messenger (to 31 March 2014) Professor David Roberts Mr Raaj Shamji Mr Shaun Smith
Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan, FRSA Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Carswell, MBA, BSc, Chartered MCIPD Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Ivey, BSc, DPhil (from 1 November 2013) Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Bashir Makhoul, BA, MA, PhD (from 1 October 2013) Chief Operating Officer Ms Maxine Penlington, BA (to 21 September 2013) Director of Finance and Resource Allocation Mr Richard Spilsbury, BSc, MSc, FCA University Secretary and Director of Operations Ms Christine Abbott, BA (Hons), MA, DMS
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