Drawing on his experience working with industry and higher education, attendees heard the new Vice Chancellor’s observations and reflections from his first few months in the role. He also set out his ambitions for the University over the course of this year, voicing, in particular, his excitement for the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
With the arrival of the new financial year, the conversation touched on both the opportunities and challenges facing Higher Education and business in the region and what needs to change over the coming year.
Close links between academia and industry are ever more crucial as organisations and higher education providers across the West Midlands bear the impacts of global issues such as the war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis.
As the country faces multi-decade high inflation rates and the rising cost of living, the Vice-Chancellor offered his outlook on the UK economy, underlining his desire to see further collaborations between Higher Education and business in order to safeguard the region’s organisations and support its future workforce.
Partnering with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
While the afternoon’s discussions noted the challenges to business and education in the current economic climate, they reiterated the opportunity for further growth and positive change that close partnerships such as the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Patrons with the University of Birmingham can bring about.
The University of Birmingham is proud to be taking an active role in working with corporate partners to tackle regional, national and global challenges. If you’d like to collaborate with us or hear about future opportunities and events, contact us at businessteam@contacts.bham.ac.uk