Nearly 50 undergraduate students from across the world will be visiting the University of Birmingham in June and July for a summer school to experience the rich diversity of culture that the University and the City of Birmingham has to offer.
From 30 June to 11 July, the University will host the Universtas 21 (U21)* Summer School. The event, which will be themed: 'Embracing diversity through culture, creativity and innovation' will involve people from across the university and the wider community in various sessions and activities.
From photography, visual art and writing workshops to tours of the university's Shakespeare and Ironbridge Institutes to round table discussions, the event will cover a range of thought-provoking and creative academic programme that attracts and develops the skills of students. Guest speakers include Kamal Ahmed of the Equality Human Rights Commission and the former Birmingham Young Professional of the Year, Clare Edwards, founder of Gigbeth music festival and UK Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year.
Universitas 21 is an international network of 21 leading research-intensive universities in 13 countries. Collectively, its members enrol over 650,000 students, employ over 130,000 staff and have over 2 million alumni. The network's purpose is to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between the member universities and to create opportunities for them on a scale that none of them would be able to achieve operating independently or through traditional bilateral alliances.
All Universitas 21 member institutions are research-led, comprehensive universities providing a strong quality assurance framework to the network's activities.
The University of Birmingham is strongly committed to the objectives of this international network which include encouraging collegial activity through student exchanges, International collaboration in academic and administrative-related projects and entrepreneurial activities, for example through participation in U21 Global.
Michael Clarke, Vice-Prinicipal and U21 Manager at the University of Birmingham said: ‘The U21 Summer School is a key event in the U21 calendar and we are very proud to be hosting the school here at the University of Birmingham. The timetable that has been prepared is not only challenging and enjoyable but also fully utilises the great diversity of culture and talent that is present here at the University, in the City of Birmingham and in the surrounding region.’
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Media information: Ben Hill or Anna Dingley, University of Birmingham Press Officers, on 0121 4145134, or 0121 415 8134.
Notes to Editor:
The event is generously sponsored by ACCA, Birmingham City Council and Tindall Street Press