Universitas 21
Universitas 21 (U21) is a prestigious global network of research-intensive universities dedicated to fostering international collaboration and enhancing the quality of higher education worldwide. By connecting member institutions, U21 facilitates the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and best practices, promoting a diverse and inclusive academic community.
"I can say with confidence that not only are we delighted to be part of its global network of research universities but also proud to be one of the founding members. Since its inception, the University of Birmingham has always taken a leading role and we have continued to increase steadily our involvement for the benefit of our staff and students; encouraging increasing numbers of students to spend some time studying at U21 partner institutions, and enabling staff to develop their international perspective through involvement in U21 strategy meetings and events.”
The University of Birmingham is an active member of Universitas 21, leveraging this membership to enhance its global engagement and academic offerings. Through U21, the University of Birmingham participates in various collaborative projects, research initiatives, and student exchange programmes that benefit both staff and students.
U21 offers numerous schemes to its member universities. Student mobility programmes provide opportunities for students to study abroad at other member institutions, promoting cultural exchange and broadening educational experiences.
Researcher engagement includes collaborative research projects, workshops, and conferences that bring together researchers from different U21 universities to tackle global challenges. The two main workshops are the Early Career and Mid-Career workshops.
Early Career Researcher Workshop | Universitas 21
U21 Mid-Career Researcher Programme: Reset, Re-imagine, Reframe | Universitas 21
There are many different opportunities for students including the Three Minute Thesis® competition. The Three Minute Thesis® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.
U21 Three Minute Thesis Competition | Universitas 21
The RISE (Real Impact on Society and Environment) is U21’s international showcase of student achievement in sustainability and social innovation designed to accelerate the scale and impact of student-led projects by connecting them with a network of experts in academia and industry. Alongside access to a global network of supporters, teams will have the chance of winning one of four prizes valued at over $2000 each.
RISE Showcase and Awards | Universitas 21
There is also the Universitas 21 Global Citizens program which is a three-week, online leadership development course and the U21 Sustainable Micro-internships programme.
“In my opinion, the fantastic range of opportunities for international travel and study is the best thing about being a student at the University of Birmingham. In my time here, I’ve been sent to represent the university at a research conference in Tokyo and a Summer School in Sydney, as part of Birmingham's membership of the amazing Universitas 21 group.”
“In a busy academic career, there are only limited opportunities to take time away from your day-to-day activities to focus on a specific area of interest. The U21 Staff Fellowships give you the time and the space to think, a network of good practice to explore, and the funding to make it happen!”