Birmingham City University (BCU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), establishing a new international partnership focused on collaboration in research, enterprise and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) education.<\/p>\n
A statement from BCU said the agreement creates opportunities for students and staff at both institutions to engage in global, real-world challenges while strengthening interdisciplinary learning across areas including engineering, computing, the arts, health and business.<\/p>\n
Professor Hanifa Shah OBE, pro vice-chancellor for research, enterprise, engagement and STEAM at BCU, said: “The partnership was launched with a joint STEAM sprint challenge bringing together students from foundation to PhD level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt formalises a shared commitment to collaboration across research, enterprise and STEAM education, creating valuable international opportunities for our students and staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the challenges facing society grow more complex, it is vital that we equip our students with the creativity, interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving skills needed to shape the future. This collaboration will play a key role in achieving that ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr David Gillette, director of the Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies program at Cal Poly, said: \u201cBy working together, our institutions will continue to develop interesting and useful ways to incorporate STEAM throughout our respective curriculums, which in turn helps students better understand and make lasting contributions to their communities close at hand while also constructively engaging with people and places far beyond the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnership was launched alongside a joint STEAM ‘sprint’ challenge which took place over four days. Students from foundation to PhD level worked collaboratively, in global teams, on live industry briefs spanning aerospace to zoology.<\/p>\n
BCU participants came from disciplines including engineering, computing, business, the arts, media, education, jewellery and midwifery.<\/p>\n
The sprint featured six live projects for US clients, including interactive technologies and conservation media to promote wildlife protection, and the design of a droid assistant incorporating mechatronics, atmospherics and animation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Agreement creates opportunities for students and staff at both institutions to engage in global, real-world challenges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":273032,"featured_media":2110736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[120782,120903],"coauthors":[137112],"class_list":["post-2110732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-universities-and-business","tag-featured-story","tag-greater-birmingham"],"yoast_head":"\n