Two-day visit marks significant moment in strengthening the transatlantic partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Professor Robin Mason welcomes Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. to the University of Birmingham.
The University of Birmingham welcomed newly appointed Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Charles L. Isbell, Jr., for his first visit.
The two-day visit marked a significant moment in strengthening the transatlantic partnership between the two institutions.
Chancellor Isbell, a globally recognised computer scientist, met senior leaders, researchers, and global engagement teams to learn more about the two universities’ partnership of more than 10 years, review the latest research collaborations, discuss shared goals and priorities, and explore opportunities for the future of the partnership.
He was joined on the visit by Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones, Illinois’ Director for Global Relations.
It is clear that the partnership between our two institutions has created an engine for discovery and innovation that transcends borders, and I look forward to contributing to that global mission in my capacity as Illinois’ 11th chancellor.
Chancellor Isbell commented: “It was a pleasure to visit the University of Birmingham and have the opportunity to learn more about the depth and breadth of the BRIDGE partnership. It is clear that the partnership between our two institutions has created an engine for discovery and innovation that transcends borders, and I look forward to contributing to that global mission in my capacity as Illinois’ 11th chancellor."
Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Birmingham commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chancellor Isbell to the University of Birmingham so early on in his Chancellorship, which shows his commitment to international collaboration and our long-standing Bridge partnership. Our partnership with Illinois represents all that is best in two great universities working together - built as it is on 141 research collaborations between faculty colleagues with over $7m in joint grant capture to date.
“Building on such strong foundations, we look forward to working closely with Chancellor Isbell and his colleagues at Illinois, continuing to develop close partnerships with research institutions across the Global South that will enhance people’s lives by delivering innovative research in sustainability, education equity and global health.”
We are delighted to welcome Chancellor Isbell to the University of Birmingham so early on in his Chancellorship, which shows his commitment to international collaboration and our long-standing Bridge partnership.
The relationship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues through the shared funding of Global South Visiting Fellows. This funding supports researchers from the Global South to bring conduct their research at the University of Birmingham to promote exchange of expertise and the building of relationships across the globe.
This year, the scheme will be welcoming researchers studying areas such as:
For more information, please contact the University of Birmingham press office or call +44 (0) 121 414 2772.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
Appointed in July 2025, Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. brings over two decades of leadership in computing education, including his tenure as Dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing and Provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of AI and the Association for Computing Machinery, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks consistently among the top 50 higher education institutions worldwide. Many of the technologies that enabled the modern electronic era were developed at Illinois, and the university has led the nation in NSF R&D awards for the last five years running. Illinois at is currently home to more than 11,000 international students and more than 2,000 international faculty and visiting scholars.
First formed in March 2014, the BRIDGE Alliance was created as a framework for continued collaboration and investment between the two universities. The BRIDGE Alliance has developed into each institution’s most significant transatlantic partnership with [115 faculty-to-faculty links, $1.1 million invested research funding, and an additional $5.4 million in external funding secured as of Fall 2024].
Faculty involved in the partnership have jointly published more than [110 articles]. the BRIDGE alliance has developed into each institution’s most significant transatlantic partnership. The signature strategic partnership is unique in its breadth and depth and involves collaboration across research, education and professional services and has involved over 100 faculty across all Colleges. The partnership also enhances the city of Birmingham’s sister city relationship with Chicago, Illinois, of more than 20 years.
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Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International)
Profile of Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International)
