UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 08 JUNE 2023
Birmingham City University showcased its expertise in the creative arts, digital transformation and health sciences when a delegation of five Vice-Chancellors from the Indian province of Karnataka made a two-day visit to campus earlier this week.
The Vice-Chancellors’ itinerary included visits to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, STEAMhouse and Birmingham City University’s (BCU’s) City South Campus.
The trip, which was sponsored by the British Council, was part of a wider leadership development study of UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
The delegation enjoyed a tour of the facilities Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, alongside a recital and welcome talk from Dr Radhika Balakrishnan, a Carnatic classical vocalist and RBC’s first-ever Indian Council for Cultural Relations Chair in Indian Studies.
Net-zero, supply chain transformation and ‘Industry 5.0’ were the themes of in-depth conversations at STEAMhouse, home to an interdisciplinary community of entrepreneurs, businesses, Computing and Digital Technology students and researchers and a force in driving the STEAM agenda, which fuses the Arts with traditional STEM subjects.
The delegation then toured Seacole Building and its new, state-of-the-art simulation facilities. They also heard from leading health science academics.
RBC Principal Stephen Maddock said: “I was delighted to welcome our visitors from Karnataka to RBC last weekend. We had a wide-ranging conversation about the many possible connections between our city and universities and theirs. Music can play an important role here, especially as we have strengthened our Indian musical ties and expertise this year with the presence here of Dr Radhika Balakrishnan. Our guests also enjoyed a performance in our Recital Hall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Weingarten scholarships, which have facilitated cultural exchange between Birmingham and Budapest and demonstrate the strong international outlook and partnerships developed here at RBC.”
The visit ended with a visit to the Consulate General of India, based in Edgbaston, where delegates discussed future opportunities for collaboration on a wide range of initiatives.
The delegation’s representatives included Professor Niranjana Vanalli, (Bangalore North University); Professor Lingaraja Gandhi (Bangalore City University); Dr Dayanad Agsar (Gulbarga University); Dr Harish Ramaswamy (Raichur University) and Dr M Venkateswaralu (Tumkur University).
It is hoped that the visit will build on joint research and development activities between the University and Indian HEIs and lead to further partnerships and collaboration.
Pictured: RBC Principal Stephen Maddock and the Indian Vice-Chancellors.