PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Achieving the global ambitions of our Strategic Framework depends on our people: leading researchers, inspiring teachers, and high-quality Professional Services and technical staff support.
We are fortunate to build on strong foundations of highly talented and engaged colleagues, who are committed to the core purposes of research and education, and who share the institution’s ambitions. Our staff have high levels of engagement and pride in the University.
We will capitalise on this platform by seeking to build a culture which is still more ambitious and high-performing, but also supportive and inclusive. We will seek to attract exceptional groups in our major research and education themes, whilst creating a culture in which all speak with the confidence and knowledge about the institution, reflecting the pride and reputation of being part of a major global university. With a focus on the development of people and teams, this culture will be enabled by effective leaders across the University who encourage career progression, staff who take responsibility for their own professional development and wellbeing, and flexibility and trust in how work is undertaken.
Being part of an academic, campus-based community is central to the attraction of working for the University of Birmingham, enabling shared learning, formal and informal interaction, social opportunities, creativity, and collaboration within and across disciplines and roles. These qualities contribute to a vibrant culture for research and education, stimulating interdisciplinary thinking, and supporting collaboration within the University and beyond.
Our culture is based on our shared values
which we seek to embody throughout the organisation:
Ambitious
We are confident in the University of Birmingham and project this globally. We are focused on our goals, are clear about our strengths, and pursue our own direction. We are bold and take intelligent risks.
Innovative
We enjoy being the first to do things. Inspired by our Birmingham heritage, we are resourceful, creative, grounded, and practical, and seek to make a real and positive difference to the world around us.
Open
We welcome colleagues, collaborators, and students from across the world to work and study with us. We are committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and equality of opportunity for all. We expect everyone to act with sensitivity, respect, and fairness.
Collaborative
The major challenges facing our city, nation, and the world cannot be solved if we act alone. We enhance our research and education by pursuing creative partnerships within and beyond the University.
Responsible
We operate with transparency, trust, and respect. We value our role as an anchor institution for Birmingham. We strive to be an excellent employer, to reduce inequalities in access to education, and to place sustainability at the heart of our work.
Read our Birmingham 2030 goals
See our key priorities
Discover our case studies
Our Birmingham 2030 goals are:
Attract, develop and retain great people
Promote an intellectually stimulating and collaborative environment for research and education
Nurture a culture that provides opportunities for all to flourish and succeed
Underpinning these goals are our key priorities
Our key priorities will be:
Providing clear, flexible career routes for academic staff
As a leading global university, we will seek to attract the best academics from around the world. Through the refreshed Birmingham Academic Career Framework, we will provide clear and attractive career paths for research, education, engagement and impact. We will provide comprehensive support and career development for our early career academics.
Building further on the successful ethos and capabilities of Professional Services
We will run effective and efficient services to support our research and education priorities, holding the contributions of all groups of staff in high esteem. Our Birmingham Professional programme will support the ambitions in this framework, including for our support staff and the technical community.
Delivering the objectives of the University’s recently renewed Equality Scheme
We will promote diversity in all its forms. We will significantly improve the representation of women and ethnic minorities, particularly at senior levels, and will reduce gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
Investing in leadership development
We will ensure all our leaders are equipped to motivate and sustain high performance in research and education, build effective and collaborative teams, support wellbeing, and create a stimulating intellectual environment. We will invest in training and mentoring for those taking on influential roles, and expect our senior leaders to influence nationally and internationally.
Placing wellbeing at the heart of our decision-making
We will emphasise, support, and enhance wellbeing for the greater good of the institution and our colleagues. We will create a culture where staff are actively encouraged to take ownership of their wellbeing and support those around them. We will facilitate flexibility in how people work and support colleagues to achieve a balance of work and personal commitments. This will be underpinned by creative use of space and digital developments as part of the capital programme.