The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and potential economic benefits

By Dr Jing Du, Lecturer in FinanceBirmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. The Commonwealth Games will take place next year from 28 July to 8 August in Birmingham and at least 5,054 athletes from 72 Commonwealth nations are expected to participate. The Commonwealth Games has a huge reputation and the large-scale international multi-sport event is … Continue reading “The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and potential economic benefits”

School’s Out! But character still matters.

New resources to support families and children’s moral development over the summer break. By Catherine O’Leary, Andrew Maile and Joe McDowellJubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham The Jubilee Centre’s, A Framework for Character Education in Schools, notes that ‘parents are the primary educators of their children’s character’. During the last 18 months, parents … Continue reading “School’s Out! But character still matters.”

Social capital, active community and educational disadvantage

By Professor Andrew Peterson, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues School of Education, University of Birmingham. The publication last week of ‘The forgotten: how White working-class pupils have been let down, and how to change it’ by the House of Commons Education Committee brought into sharp – and indeed critical – focus once again the … Continue reading “Social capital, active community and educational disadvantage”

A call for Character

By Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Joe McDowell, Engagement Officer, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham. Looking ahead to what is sure to be a unique summer term for pupils, teachers and parents alike, the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues believes that now is an appropriate moment to broadcast … Continue reading “A call for Character”

Could a census campaign help to reverse Brexit? Don’t count on it.

By Dr Laurence Cooley, School of Government, University of Birmingham. With the decennial census of England and Wales scheduled for Sunday 21 March, a growing number of dissatisfied EU referendum ‘remain’ voters are taking to social media to declare their intention to answer the question on national identity by writing in ‘European’. These posts have … Continue reading “Could a census campaign help to reverse Brexit? Don’t count on it.”

President Biden’s first 100 days

By Christopher Featherstone, Doctoral Researcher, POLSIS, School of Government, University of Birmingham. President Biden’s path to his inauguration was very rocky and made history for the wrong reasons. Now he has made it to the White House, he faces more challenges, particularly in his first 100 days. COVID-19 No President wants to enter office during … Continue reading “President Biden’s first 100 days”

Brexit Uncertainty and EU Migrants

  By Dr Kelly Hall, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Professor Jenny Phillimore, Professor of Migration and Superdiversity School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham Brexit has undoubtedly created a huge amount of anxiety and uncertainty for EU migrants, with their rights to reside, run a business or access welfare placed under threat. Brexit … Continue reading “Brexit Uncertainty and EU Migrants”

When is it Virtue Signalling, and when is it just doing the right thing?

By Aidan Thompson, School of Education, University of Birmingham. I am on my fourth edit of this blog, such has been the changing nature of the story of Marcus Rashford challenging the government to improve its provision of free school meals for children from underprivileged and low socio-economic backgrounds. I began writing this just after … Continue reading “When is it Virtue Signalling, and when is it just doing the right thing?”

Sustainable support for families experiencing food insecurity

By Dr Anita Soni and Megan Tucker School of Education, University of Birmingham. When Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization back in March, the focus was on health: how the virus would affect people, how hospitals would cope with an influx of patients needing specialist care, how healthcare workers could … Continue reading “Sustainable support for families experiencing food insecurity”

Are we Heading towards a Cash-less or Cash-more Society?

By Dr Inci Toral & Professor Ronan de Kervenoael,  Department of Marketing, University of Birmingham The use of alternative payment service technologies is an old notion dating back to early 20th century. Western Union bank began issuing charge cards (bills to be paid in full in each statement) from its most loyal customers as a … Continue reading “Are we Heading towards a Cash-less or Cash-more Society?”