Birmingham in the Greater Bay Area

A panoramic image of a bridge at sunsetSince opening the University of Birmingham office in Guangzhou in 2011, we are proud to have established 40 major research projects and teaching partnerships across the wider Greater Bay Area, including the following highlights:

Improving healthcare

To help develop future healthcare leaders we have been delivering training to more than 5,000 senior managers, doctors and GPs. We have also worked with local hospitals and the health bureau to establish six model primary care centres in Guangzhou. We are presently expanding our collaboration with the SYSU First Affiliated Hospital to create community-based cohorts and clinical trials research to enable a focus on geriatric medicine and care.

Helping keep Guangzhou moving

Rail experts from the world-leading Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education have helped to keep journeys safe and comfortable for the 8.2 million people who use the Metro every day.

The partnership with Guangzhou Metro Corporation saved energy, reduced costs and meant the Metro could transport ever-growing numbers of customers more efficiently. Four projects, worth more than £1 million, delivered an economic benefit of £7.9 million.

Supporting children's health

Changing lifestyles have led to an increase of childhood obesity, placing children at greater risk of an early death. Working with the Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control, our academics delivered a groundbreaking partnership with schools and families known as CHIRPY DRAGON. The four-year obesity reduction programme involved more than 61,000 children at 43 primary schools. It helped improve families’ understanding of the causes of childhood obesity, improving the nutritional quality of school lunches, and increasing physical activity at and outside school.

Dual degrees in mathematics

The University of Birmingham and Jinan University have established an innovative Joint Institute that offers Bachelor degrees. The Mathematics-based programmes allow students to experience both international and local teaching methods, providing graduates with degrees from both institutions.

See the difference your donation can make.