Inclusive practice must first begin in the classroom. By Kalwant Bhopal

There is a plethora of research evidence to suggest that Black and minority ethnic students remain disadvantaged in education; this takes place at all levels. Black pupils are more likely to be excluded in schools and when making the transition to higher education they are less likely to attend elite and Russell Group universities, less … Continue reading “Inclusive practice must first begin in the classroom. By Kalwant Bhopal”

What is ‘inclusive education’ at a selective, research-intensive university? By Nicola Gale and Matthew Francis

While universities play a variety of important social and economic roles, one of the most important is helping young people fulfil their intellectual potential and thereby achieve their ambitions. Yet, although universities have a clear duty to promote the participation of students from all backgrounds, students from some backgrounds remain under-represented across higher education, while … Continue reading “What is ‘inclusive education’ at a selective, research-intensive university? By Nicola Gale and Matthew Francis”

What is Teaching Excellence in Higher Education?

Teaching Excellence in Higher Education Dear Colleagues, I thought you might be interested in this Blog that I wrote for the HEA’s discussion about ‘Teaching Excellence for Student Success’. I have pasted the Bolg below and, as you will see, I have commented on ‘research-intensive teaching/learning’, and I have shared the work we are doing … Continue reading “What is Teaching Excellence in Higher Education?”

Bioscience students value campus based formats, including lectures and lecturers who also research, but they expect interactive and engaging teaching making use of the latest technology

The School of Biosciences Student Staff Committee had a short breakout session to join in with the Big Conversation. There were 14 students from all four undergraduate years in Biosciences. This is what our student reps said: In 10 years time We will still have face-to-face lectures We will still learn from active researchers and … Continue reading “Bioscience students value campus based formats, including lectures and lecturers who also research, but they expect interactive and engaging teaching making use of the latest technology”

Where in the World? Promoting diverse destinations for student mobility (Claire Belkadi)

By 2026 Birmingham students will thrive by discovering new cultures, learning new languages and travelling to more varied academic locations. Our network of global university partners is one that offers a great diversity of destinations, offering opportunities to study in all five continents of the globe, including Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Sweden, Israel, Chile, Ghana … Continue reading “Where in the World? Promoting diverse destinations for student mobility (Claire Belkadi)”

A Personalised Feedback Cycle (By Caroline Hetherington and Louise Fearn)

When we talk about ‘Assessment and feedback’ we are often linking a set of feedback to an individual assessment. By doing this we create a separate feedback cycle for each piece of work, or taught module. This opens up the student journey to inconsistency in advice, experience and therefore progress across the different modules in … Continue reading “A Personalised Feedback Cycle (By Caroline Hetherington and Louise Fearn)”

A systems-thinking approach to developing education at University of Birmingham. By Chris Bouch and Matt Beveridge

This blog describes research involving the University’s Hospitality and Accommodation Services and Birmingham researchers from the EPSRC-funded iBUILD project, into a process aimed at satisfying students desire to live sustainably on campus, while at the same time capturing as wide a range of value for all stakeholders as possible. Looking back through The Big Conversation’s … Continue reading “A systems-thinking approach to developing education at University of Birmingham. By Chris Bouch and Matt Beveridge”

Who will be studying for postgraduate degrees in the arts and humanities in 2026? (Josh Allen)

As Postgraduate Student Experience Officer in the College of Arts and Law (CAL) I enjoy challenging people’s perceptions of the students that I work with. My favourite opening gambit is a single statistic: “Did you know [I pause for a fraction of a second] that around sixty five percent of people beginning a masters degree … Continue reading “Who will be studying for postgraduate degrees in the arts and humanities in 2026? (Josh Allen)”

2026: Doomsday for the Arts? Danielle Blackburn

First of all, I want to say that I am a proud alumni of the University of Birmingham with a first-class degree in Drama and Theatre Arts, and I’m the first person in my family to have attended University. I currently look after the marketing and events activities of the School of Languages, Cultures, Art … Continue reading “2026: Doomsday for the Arts? Danielle Blackburn”

The Future of Higher Education; what do students think?

The Guild of Students hosted the Big Conversation recently, looking to further understand the future of Higher Education. Students were invited to stretch their minds and offer their inspirational views on the future of the University of Birmingham. What did our students have to say? Who knows how to teach better, the university or you? … Continue reading “The Future of Higher Education; what do students think?”