Creating a learning community committed to internationalism was the cornerstone of Birmingham City University's approach to implementing a successful global strategy - and this international innovation has been recognized with one of the most coveted prizes in higher education. Birmingham City University has won the Outstanding International Strategy category in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards or 'Thelmas'.

The success highlights the culture of 'internationalisation' that has been embedded across the University, with academic faculties and departments committed to supporting a pioneering approach to overseas partnership-building to benefit both staff and students at home and overseas.

The International Strategy's goals are to be one of UK's most innovative, most creative and most exciting universities and the International Office plays a vital role to the sustainable development and growth of the University's international collaborations and initiatives that underpin its internationalization strategy.
One of the key drivers of the strategy was for Birmingham City University to adopt a regional focus within the International Strategy to build market expertise and facilitate partnership building that was relevant to local needs. This has resulted in an even greater diversity of overseas engagement, including the delivery of joint academic programmes and exciting exchange schemes to support the student experience.

For example, Birmingham City University has had a number of major successes and international reputation for its academic offering and research: The Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment, formerly known as Technology Innovation Centre, located in Millennium Point, the hub of the science, technology and life-long learning quarter of Birmingham, has carved out a strong reputation in all branches of engineering; the centrepiece of the faculty's strength being automotive, network and sound engineering. The faculty is proud of its engagement and partnerships with commerce and industry in the likes of Morgan Motors, CISCO and SAP. These valuable links and relationships have directly led to enhancing the student experience employability.

Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), globally renowned as a centre of excellence for design innovation, industry engagement and research, is one of the largest and most successful providers of art, fashion, textiles, interior design, visual communication, and architecture and jewellery education in the world. Recognised in the latest UK Research Assessment Exercise for its 'world-leading' research in the Arts, BIAD offers a unique creative environment at Higher Education level.

Accountancy, finance, advertising, public relations, human resource management, international business, marketing and management programmes together with the highly successful 34 Joint Honours Degree programmes. It has excellent industrial links, with all of its postgraduate provision linked directly to accreditation by professional institutes (CIMA, ACCA, IFS, CIPD, CIIA, CIM, CIPR, and IRM). The School is gaining a reputation for leading research into issues facing modern business organisations such as innovation and enterprise, social purpose and well-being.

The Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences offers an innovative learning environment, as well as outstanding facilities and resources. The Faculty specialises in the fields of education and teacher training, law, criminology, sociology, psychology, policy and housing studies, and has a strong record of teaching, research and consultancy. Consistently ranked in the UK top 30 for many of the courses, the faculty remains at the cutting edge of new ideas by challenging both staff and students to excel in research and studies.

The Faculty of Health, a nationally recognised Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), is one of the largest health faculties in Britain. It has a proven record for graduate recruitment and is the region's leading provider of qualified staff for the NHS and social care professions. The Faculty is proud to be at the forefront of virtual technologies with its first-class learning facilities and students learn in cutting-edge, simulated environments that are vital for developing the skills required in the health and social sector.

The impact of these initiatives was recognised in a number of testimonials from international partners in which the University was recognised as 'one of our most preferred partners in the UK' while another commented that 'the association with BCU is a mutually rewarding experience'. The theme was further consolidated by a visiting placement student commenting "I think the partnership between BCU and UITM is an excellent venture…I am confident that my experience and the skills I acquire here will be advantageous to my working life".The accolade was presented by television personality Julian Clary at a packed awards event hosted at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London by the prestigious Times High Education (THE) magazine. Rt Hon David Willets, the Minister of State for Universities and Science delivered the keynote speech.

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Birmingham City University - Sri Lanka Office
82 1/1, Galle Road, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka
T: 0117202222
M: 0755002866
E:makbool.azir
@bcu.ac.uk