Governance of the University
Legal status of the University
The University’s legal name and correspondence address are:
Birmingham City University
City North Campus
Franchise Street
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
University Switchboard: +44 (0)121 331 5000
Birmingham City University is an independent corporation established as a Higher Education Corporation under the terms of the Education Reform Act 1988 and of an Instrument of Government approved by the Privy Council in April 1993. The University is an exempt charity within the meaning of the Charities Act 1993. Its powers are set out in the Act; its framework of governance is set out in the Articles of Government, which was approved by the Board of Governors in November 1995. The current version of the Articles was approved by the Privy Council in September 1995. Since June 2010, and in accordance with the Charities Act 2006, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has been responsible for ensuring that those universities that are exempt charities fulfill their obligations under charity law.
The University’s charitable purpose is the advancement of education. This purpose is expressed in the University’s mission, which is to transform the prospects of individuals, employers and society through excellence in practice-based education, research and knowledge exchange.
The University delivers its charitable purpose for the public benefit through the following activities:
- Through the provision of undergraduate education in the fields of health, science technology and engineering, the creative arts, in business and management. In 2009/10 the University provided such education to over 20,000 students from across the UK.
- Through the provision of postgraduate education, including postgraduate research opportunities, to over 4,000 students across the same academic fields.
- By carrying out research and publishing the findings of research projects, primarily in the fields of the creative arts and social sciences.
See also:
Governance arrangements
The University endeavours to conduct its business in accordance with the Seven Principles identified by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life, which are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. It has adopted the Committee of University Chairs’ CUC Governance Code of Practice and General Principles, November 2004 (updated in 2009) with only minor variations.
The Chancellor of the University is the Lord Mayor of the City of Birmingham, who acts as ceremonial head and ambassador at key occasions throughout the year. Each year a ceremony is held for the installation of the newly elected Lord Mayor as the Chancellor of Birmingham City University.
The Governors are the charitable trustees of the University. The Board of Governors ensures that the University meets its objectives and exercises its functions in accordance with its academic, legal and charitable obligations. The Governors are responsible for directing the affairs of the University to ensure that it is solvent, well-run and delivering its outcomes. The Board oversees activities, determines future action, ensures constitutional and statutory compliance and takes all final decisions on matters of concern to the University.
The Board meets regularly and comprises members from the private, public and voluntary sectors. There are also a number of committees and subsidiary companies that carry out particular functions. See also: