University of Birmingham recognised for shaping the future of global education

The University of Birmingham has been internationally recognised for its leadership in global education, receiving a 2025 IIE Heiskell Award in partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Each year, the Institute of International Education (IIE) Heiskell Awards spotlight universities that are breaking new ground in how they connect across borders. This year, Birmingham and Illinois are proudly among them.

The winning initiative, BRIDGE (Birmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, Engagement and Education), is a long-standing agreement between our two universities.

At the core of BRIDGE is a shared vision for inclusive, interdisciplinary education that transcends borders. The initiative also supports the BRIDGE Fellowship programme, which empowers early-career researchers from both institutions to work together on innovative, cross-cutting projects.

From joint degrees and student exchanges to research tackling global challenges, BRIDGE is helping shape the future of international education.

“This award is a powerful recognition of how our University is growing its global reputation and building meaningful, long-term partnerships that make a societal difference,” said Andréa-Claire Edwards, Director of Global Relations and Research.

BRIDGE was named a winner in the Sustainability category, recognising its long-term impact and commitment to addressing critical global issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including climate change, health disparities, and sustainability.

The IIE praised BRIDGE for its ‘transformative educational exchange programmes’ and its role in shaping the future of international education.

With this recognition, the University of Birmingham continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in higher education, committed to innovation, inclusivity, and international impact.

“We are thrilled that the BRIDGE Partnership has been selected to receive the IIE Heiskell Award for Sustainability,” said Sammer Jones, director for Global Relations at Illinois International.

“The partnership is rooted in sustainability, with some of the earliest research projects focusing on preservation of the environment and cultural heritage. We continue to emphasize the importance of sustainability in our joint research collaborations and through the BRIDGE Signature Initiative Project called Accelerating Climate Action.”