Our enduring purpose

This philosophy has defined and shaped us as an institution ever since, founded on social responsibility and equality of opportunity for all.

We believe that universities such as Birmingham are central to a functioning democracy, vital to creating a prosperous and just society, and essential for a thriving city, region and nation. Our society depends on universities because they are powerful and independent engines of research, development and innovation, places where cultures are enriched, ideas generated, and social capital created. They are where the minds, capacities, and capabilities of current and future generations develop and are sharpened. Universities open up learning to all, help to shape a more inclusive society, and make prosperity possible.

The University of Birmingham is an academic community of staff and students, alumni and partners; a place for open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing, and dissemination of knowledge. For those who study here, the experience of exploring that knowledge with fellow students and academics is transformative. We are a university that has always sought to teach, test, extend, and apply knowledge in the broadest range of subjects, and to the highest standards of excellence. This breadth allows us to bring together diverse academic disciplines to stimulate fresh perspectives and ideas, and to translate those into solutions and interventions that make a lasting difference to the world.

In this environment, freedom of speech is fundamental – the ability of all our members freely to challenge prevailing orthodoxies, query the positions and views of others, and to put forward ideas that may sometimes be radical or dissenting in their formulation, all within an atmosphere of mutual respect.

This enduring purpose will continue to shape the University as we move ahead into our next chapter. We will celebrate what we know, remain curious about what we do not yet know, and will share our knowledge generously and rigorously with our students, collaborators, and wider society. As we continue to find new expressions of our civic purpose, we are proud that the University is a great global institution, working with a diverse and vibrant city. Our doors are firmly open, welcoming the best to Birmingham, and taking the best of Birmingham to the world.