Skills Minister visits University of Birmingham to experience Summer Term and UoB Xtra

The Minister for Skills, Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, saw first-hand how University of Birmingham students are using the summer term to develop the skills, confidence, networks and experience they need to progress into graduate employment and life beyond university.

Baroness Smith took part in the day’s timetable of free activities and talks forming part of the 2026 Summer Term and UoB Xtra, a three-week programme of events, opportunities and challenges running from 8 June until 26 June.

Tailored to individual areas of study, the Summer Term programme includes discipline-specific and super-curricular workshops alongside inspiring lectures and alumni engagement opportunities. To date, more than 2,000 students have attended academic sessions this term to support their professional development, consolidate their learning, explore academic interests and prepare for the next stage of study.

Running alongside Summer Term, UoB Xtra offers a range of free social, sports and celebration events – including a 3K Your Way fun run and the Ten Talks event programme - that aim to help students relax, meet new people and enrich their university experience.

During her day on campus, the Minister dropped in on:

• The Birmingham Project, a one-week challenge for first-year undergraduate students to build enterprise and team-working skills by developing innovative solutions to social or environmental issues. The Minister spoke with students and employer partners involved in the challenge as preparations for the showcase presentations got underway. The University recently received the Employer and Community Partnerships Award at the 2026 Academic Employability Awards in recognition of this scheme.
  
  
• Leading in Science & Engineering Workshop with industry leaders, a one-and-a-half-day programme introducing key leadership skills required for effective and successful careers in Engineering and Physical Sciences.
  
  
• Baroness Smith then spent the afternoon touring UoB Xtra’s outdoor events, including the roller rink, outdoor cinema and the Careers Network Garden Party, where students can access advice and guidance in a relaxed setting with free ice cream and marshmallow toasting.

Reflecting on her visit, Baroness Smith said: “With over one million young people not in education, employment or training, helping them build skills, confidence and real-world experience has never been more important.

"The graduate job market is increasingly competitive, and employers want people who arrive ready to contribute with practical experience, professional networks and the resilience to adapt.

"It’s great to see universities like the University of Birmingham taking the whole student experience seriously, equipping graduates with the contacts, confidence and skills to move into good jobs and thrive beyond campus."

Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham, said: “The University of Birmingham’s Summer Term and UoB Xtra programmes play a central role in Birmingham’s distinctive approach to education. We believe in developing the whole student experience by combining academic enrichment with professional development, employer engagement, wellbeing and belonging.

“UoB Xtra is not an add-on to the academic year, but an intentional, integral part of the wider student experience and the University’s ongoing focus on skills, employability and student success.”

Running from Monday 8 – Friday 26 June, students can take part in a free programme of UoB Xtra events, challenges, and opportunities that are designed to boost their experience, skillsets and future employability.

As part of its 2030 Strategy, the University is committed to delivering a high-quality education for all students and to ensuring its graduates have the support they need to thrive in their careers and develop future-focused skills.