Civic and global

Our Birmingham 2030 civic and global goals are to:

Be recognised as a top 50 university with global influence.
Attract the best students, staff, and partners.
Be a key driver for the economic, social and environmental growth of Birmingham and Dubai.

To deliver these goals, our key priorities are:

Extending our global reach and reputation

We will enhance our international standing by amplifying the visibility and impact of our research and education. Through world-leading scholarship, global dissemination, and international benchmarking, we will position Birmingham as a university of choice for global talent, partnerships, and innovation.

Growing our global presence through partnerships

We will expand our global presence through a purposeful global footprint. By leveraging our overseas campuses and deepening our strategic partnerships across academia, industry, and the public and third sectors, we will drive innovation and expand research and education opportunities.

Expanding international student recruitment and mobility

We will attract talented students from around the world by expanding outreach, scholarships, and support. At the same time, we will expand opportunities for our students to engage globally – through study abroad, international internships, and cross-campus mobility.

Championing Birmingham on the global stage

We will cultivate a vibrant, globally connected network of staff, students, alumni and partners. Acting as proud ambassadors for our University and our respective cities and regions, our global community will help shape our future and share in our successes. We will leverage our regional strategic partnerships for positive regional impact, cementing Birmingham, the West Midlands and Dubai as national and global powerhouses.

Contributing to regional growth and skills development

We will enhance regional prosperity by attracting world-class talent. Working with partners, we will draw in investment, contribute to key policy initiatives and support a strong skills strategy, to help build a future-ready economy. Our focus on high-growth sectors — advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, digital technologies, and life sciences — will directly support our region’s industrial strategy and long-term competitiveness.

Supporting people, businesses and infrastructure

We are committed to strengthening the West Midlands and Dubai through education, employment, research, and investment. We will support economic growth and infrastructure development by supporting local businesses through knowledge exchange, innovation, and enterprise. Our investments in cultural, environmental, and civic infrastructure will contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable region — aligned with regional development priorities.

Founded in a city known for its diversity, innovation, and resilience, we reflect its spirit and ambition. Our ambition to be among the world's top 50 universities is more than an institutional goal – it is a shared mission with our home city.

Our Promise to the City of Birmingham reaffirms our role as an anchor institution, delivering cultural, social, environmental and economic benefit. We contribute nearly £1 billion annually to the West Midlands economy, support 1 in every 50 jobs in Birmingham, and lead initiatives that promote health, education, and opportunity. The West Midlands is a hub for innovation and foreign investment. We are proud to help shape inclusive growth, attract investment, and address health and economic disparities—focusing our efforts where we can make the greatest impact.

With campuses in Birmingham and Dubai, a growing network of global partnerships, and a strategic focus on regions including Brazil, China, India, and North America, we are a trusted global convener. Our staff are internationally engaged — shaping research, policy, and practice. We are committed to growing our global leadership — enabling our academics and professional staff to shape international agendas, collaborate across borders, and represent the University and our region on the world stage.

By joining our community, our students experience a truly international education — through global mobility, internationalised curricula, and meaningful local engagement.