Research
Research is a large part of life at Birmingham City University. It enables us to contribute new knowledge, it underpins our innovation and enterprise work, and it allows us to deliver leading-edge learning and teaching. Our research is both curiosity-driven and mission-focused, and especially well respected for its pragmatism and impact. University staff have opened up new fields and made significant discoveries in many areas, and we have partnered local and national companies to commercialise our research.
All academic staff at the University engage in research and/or professional practice, and we have a substantial and thriving community of postgraduate research students. All academic departments and schools have strong research track records and are pursuing major research agendas. We are best known for our work in business, cultural and creative industries, health, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), and the social sciences.
Recently, following success in the government’s audit of university research, Research Assessment Exercise (RAE-2008), we have developed a five-year research strategy that commits us to considerable increases in both the quality and quantity of our research. Research, innovation and enterprise at the University is focused on a network of Centres of Excellence. Responsibility for co-ordination of research lies with the Research Office.
Our strategy will drive improvements in the quality, quantity and subject coverage of our research activity, preparing us for success at the next census point. Autumn 2013 will see the introduction of the Research Excellence Framework (REF-2014) which will inform Higher Education research funding from 2015 onwards.