Birmingham City University held a special celebration of its past, present, and future with key figures form government, business, and the arts, including the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, this week.

The formal celebration of the University’s ambitious BCU 2025 strategy, which outlines the institution’s academic and research aims, alongside its plans to tackle societal challenges, took place on Tuesday 14 June at the University’s world-renowned Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) and its new STEAMhouse building.

Hosted by Marcus Ryder MBE, of the University’s Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, the event featured a premiere screening of a special film that brings to life the University’s transformative work, a presentation from the Mayor, a celebration of students and music from leading artists. Vice-Chancellor, Philip Plowden, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome so many of the people who helped to shape our 2025 strategy to our celebration of our impact on the city, region and beyond, and to share our plans for the future.

“Our strategy is focused on key themes of meeting demand, the STEAM agenda, and being environmentally sustainable in everything we do – all a challenge in the context of increasing demand from applicants and diminishing resource for universities.

“Our mission is about enabling the transformation of people’s lives including our students and our graduates, as well as the communities all around us. That mission hasn’t changed and it reflects our heritage. We were created for this city, we are of this city, and we continue to be shaped by this city’s needs.”

Following presentations and performances, which included music from Maraca2 – graduates of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and now one of the world’s leading percussion ensembles – and The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble – the UK’s biggest folk band – guests were given an exclusive peak at the University’s STEAMhouse building.

The converted Victorian bicycle factory is set to be a brand-new hub for collaboration, innovation and the development of new ideas, start-ups, and ventures. Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street added:

“I must applaud the work of Birmingham City University, its research, its work to transform lives including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and of course the incredible things that its graduates go on to do.

“The University’s strategy is so important as BCU sets out its ambitions and how it will achieve them. But there should also be something iconic to celebrate within this strategy and the University’s new STEAMhouse building is certainly iconic.

"It is an incredible statement of optimism and confidence for this University and the city.”

The BCU 2025 strategy celebration was part of an extensive and exciting events programme that the University is hosting across this summer and autumn. This includes the recent Family Day event, which saw thousands of youngsters and their families flock to its campus for a behind-the-scenes look at the teaching and learning going on there.

The University is also set to host its next Undergraduate Open Day for prospective students on Saturday 25 June.