Discover Summer Term and UoB Xtra

Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Longworth, introduces our summer plans

Welcome back after the Easter holiday. I hope that you were able to enjoy a break, even if working hard at assignments or getting a head start on exam prep, and are coming back recharged and ready for the dedicated revision and assessment support sessions we've got lined up before the summer exams kick in. I wish you every success in your forthcoming assessments.

The next few weeks will be a busy time, but I’d like to share with you our new Summer Programme for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students to look forward to during the second half of the summer term, after the assessment period. Working closely with your Guild of Students, and with input from alumni and our new Professional Skills Advisory Board of leading local, national, and global employers (many of them alumni themselves), we have developed a three-week calendar of essential academic, professional development opportunities and extra-curricular activities to help you thrive during your time with us, and as you head off into your future life as a graduate.

The summer term has always been a period in which you can enjoy additional, informal learning opportunities, collaborating with students across your School, College, and the wider University, as well as to take some time to relax with your friends, peers, and tutors after the intensity of the assessment period. When I was Head of Department in English Literature, our residential to Stratford and final year research showcase were two of my favourite events of the year, bringing our whole community of staff and students together, and I am glad that both continue to be highlights of the Department’s summer term calendar. Whatever your area of study, the new Summer Term programme provides activities appropriate to you, supporting your academic development, and helping you to build your personal and professional networks, and your life and career aspirations.

Whether you want to work on your academic writing or maths skills with the Academic Skills Centre, develop your leadership experience, try out a new language, learn how to communicate your disciplinary knowledge to a non-specialist audience, build a quality LinkedIn profile, or work as part of a team to tackle real world problems, there’s something for you to get stuck into.

You’ll be able to sign-up to one of our employer-led innovation challenges, for the Birmingham Project, or for a college-based consultancy project, and gain valuable training in project management and design thinking, as well the opportunity to work with students from disciplines across the university. Attend our ‘Ten Talks’ enrichment day of inspiring lectures by brilliant UoB colleagues and guest speakers and enjoy our Global Showcase. Celebrate the end of the academic year with Valefest and Grad Ball, take part in our campus 3K your way, or just relax with old and new friends in the Green Heart at our outdoor cinema.

How does the summer programme work?

The Summer is part of your overall UoB education that take places during term time. It embeds into your overall programme a broad set of important development opportunities that complement the subject-specific knowledge gained through your modules:

• Academic transition, progress, and success: core curriculum activities in your Colleges and Schools will introduce and help you prepare for your next year of study, provide you with opportunities to take part in college research or consultancy projects, or, depending on your discipline, take part in field-trips, residentials or research showcases.
• Professional and personal skills development: build and evidence key attributes sought by graduate employers through our new My Attributes platform and develop the confidence and communication skills to articulate your knowledge and learning in ways that will help you stand out in the job market. You’ll be able to try your hand at new initiatives and to sign up for employability challenges and opportunities to gain micro-qualifications outside of the formal assessment that makes up your degree classification, but still recognised on your degree transcript via our new Birmingham Award.
• UoB Xtra: Running alongside the Summer Term is UoB Xtra, our series of social, sports and celebration events designed to help you relax and make memories to last a lifetime. Launching with the ever-popular Valefest, organised by the Guild of Students (Saturday 1 June), UoB Xtra includes an outdoor cinema, new events such as a Global Showcase celebrating of diversity and culture, and ‘Campus 3K Your Way’ where you can sprint, jog, or skip your way around our campus course on Wednesday 5 June), and of course the annual Grad Ball. These, and much more, are listed on our UoB Xtra webpages.

Harry Brooks, Activities and Employability Officer, Guild of Students

“I am really looking forward to UoB Xtra! The Guild will be putting on our annual Grad Ball, and we have worked with students to bring back the iconic music festival, Valefest, which showcases student artists. There will also be lots of society-led activities such as balls and performances, some of which have been generously supported by alumni donations.” 

As you can see there’s plenty to look forward to this summer. I hope to see you around campus as you make the most of the events and activities on offer. Activities that will help you enhance your CV, celebrate the end of year, and prepare for the next academic year, so you can head off into the holidays full of excitement for the future.

With very best wishes
Deborah

Professor Deborah Longworth
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education & Professor of English Literature