UoBe Festival 2023 is now over. Below are highlights of only a selection of events we ran. Did you take part in any activities?
Don't forget to share your experience!
We would love to hear about your experience at UoBe Festival, you can share on social media using #UoBeFestival and tag @unibirmingham or you can share with the UoBe Festival Project Team by emailing us at uobefestival@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Siemens Challenge [SOLD OUT]
Monday 23 - Thursday 26 January, 9:00-16:00
Join Siemens for a four-day bootcamp and product design challenge, and get the chance to win £400! This challenge is open to all University of Birmingham students from all disciplines, you do not have to have any technical knowledge to be involved in the bootcamp. Sign up now.
Model NATO [SOLD OUT]
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 January
In Model NATO, students act as delegates for a randomly assigned NATO member state, and must work together with fellow delegates to respond to a mock climate crisis or emergency. Sign up now.
Barber Student Workshop: 'A Kind of Map Work' with the Barber's Print Club
Wednesday 25 January, 10:30-12:30 and 14:00-16:00, Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Roll, smudge, scratch, press and stain with artist printmaker Laura Onions as part of the UoBe Festival’s Print Club 2023.
In this fun and messy workshop, you will create etched topographical (landscape) prints using an array of mark-making and collage techniques. You get a hands-on experience of the skills required to craft the beautiful works on display in our 'The Architecture of Topography: a 'kind of map-work?' prints and drawings exhibition. £3 per student. Book now.
UGS Talks: Inspiration from our Postgrad Alumni
Thursday 26 January, 15:30-18:00
Join the University Graduate School for inspiring talks and reflections from postgraduate UoB alumni, followed by postgraduate networking. University of Birmingham postgraduate alumni will be sharing the journeys of their careers: the highs and lows, the vital skills they learnt as postgraduates, and their advice to those graduating in the coming years. Book now.
The Campus Run 5k is back!
Sunday 29 January, starts at 9:00
The 5km course will take you around our beautiful Edgbaston Campus, to the Vale and back again. The pre-event briefing will start at 9:00 next to Old Joe, followed by a group warm up before you are directed to the start line on Pritchatts Road for a 9:30 start. You will need to sign up by Wednesday 18 January 2023 to secure your place - get involved!
Throughout the week
Join us at the UoBe Festival Marquee and carnival rides
Chancellor's Court
A big wheel, super slide, and live performances take over the heart of campus! The UoBe Festival Marquee has a busy programme throughout the week. Head on down to see what's happening.
Take some time with Pets as Therapy
UoBe Festival Marquee
Interacting with animals can help improve your wellbeing, come and meet our furry friends here to help you reset after the busy assessment period.
Get crafty at Pause@UoBe Drop-ins
The Lodge, next to North Gate
Pause will be getting crafty throughout the week - make bug hotels, have a hand massage and design some nail art, take part in a tea ceremony and try dyeing fabric naturally, and much more!
Monday
Ola Majekodunmi, founder of 'All Things Money', talks us through student loans and the cost of living
Monday 23 January at 11:00 and 15:00
Birmingham alumna Ola, who graduated from Business Management in 2020, will be joining us on campus to talk All Things Money. Across two talks, find out everything you need to know about your student loan and how it works, and Ola's tips and guidance for navigating the cost of living crisis.
Yoga with a view of Old Joe [SOLD OUT]
Monday 23 January, 08:15-09:15
Start the week as you mean to go on! Take some time to unwind and stretch with views across campus from the Main Library. Led by Sport & Fitness, this session is suitable for all abilities.
Community Canal Grapple
Monday 23 January, 11:00-14:00
Ever wondered what's lurking at the bottom of the canal? Join your Community Wardens and the Canal & River Trust for a canal clean up, using grapple hooks to drag litter and rubbish from the bed of the waterway back onto dry land.
Tuesday
How to draw Manga
Tuesday 24 January, 10:00-11:30
Professional illustrator and comic artist Alex McCarthy is hosting an introduction to drawing manga for beginners. Alex will demonstrate how to draw the elements of the face in manga style, showing you the basic skills to create engaging portraits and cute characters. No previous art experience required, come and learn a fun new art skill, or just relax and draw along.
Barber Student Workshop: Blackout Drawings with the Barber's Drop-in and Draw
Tuesday 24 January, 11:00-15:00, Barber Institute of Fine Arts
As we start to emerge out of the darkest time of year, draw with us this UoBe Festival and celebrate the dark and rejoice in the light. This calming workshop will offer a space for mindfulness, reflection and relaxation.
Using 'blackout' and 'whiteout' drawing techniques, we will create abstract sketches that explore negative space, storytelling and narrative, inspired by Elisabeth Frink's Canterbury Tales print within the Barbers collection.
This is a free, drop-in workshop - no booking necessary!
Cultivating Confidence with Mary Adeyemi, Executive Director at Goldman Sachs
Tuesday 24 January, 11:00-12:00
Confidence is the assurance you have that you can achieve whatever you want through your actions. It is a critical ingredient for every stage of your academic studies, and eventually your career. In this session, Mary will help you understand the forms of confidence and self doubt, and equip you with the tools to respond to those negative thoughts and voices so you can show up as your most confident self everyday.
Join the One World Celebration
Tuesday 24 January, 11:00-17:00
Drop into the UoBe Festival Marquee to try foods from around the world, have a go at some crafts, and learn about different cultures with our student groups!
Wednesday
Try out our Escape Room! [SOLD OUT]
Wednesday 25 January, throughout the day
Do you fancy working in groups in a pressure cooker environment? Can you solve an escape room with a unique twist? Can you beat the clock? Book an escape room and challenge your friends to see how quickly you can crack the codes and get out! Challenging. Pressurised. Strategic. But a lot of fun!
Barber Student Workshop: 'A Kind of Map Work' with the Barber's Print Club
Wednesday 25 January, 10:30-12:30 and 14:00-16:00, Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Roll, smudge, scratch, press and stain with artist printmaker Laura Onions as part of the UoBe Festival’s Print Club 2023.
In this fun and messy workshop, you will create etched topographical (landscape) prints using an array of mark-making and collage techniques. You get a hands-on experience of the skills required to craft the beautiful works on display in our 'The Architecture of Topography: a 'kind of map-work?' prints and drawings exhibition.
This relaxed event is a great chance to get creative whilst meeting other artistically minded students at the University of Birmingham. All materials will be provided, and no experience is necessary. £3 per student. Book now.
Be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid [SOLD OUT]
Wednesday 25 January, 13:00-16:00 (and again on Friday 27 January, 9:00-12:00)
In this introductory session, devised by Mental Health England, you will explore the most common mental health conditions experienced by young people and discover what you can do to prevent and/or intervene when needed. You will receive a mental health first aid manual and an attendance certificate to say that you are Youth Mental Health Aware. Youth MHFA is an internationally recognised training programme and is delivered by qualified Youth MHFA instructors.
It's Roller Disco time!
Wednesday 25 January, 12:00-16:00 and 17:00-21:00
Need we say more? Slip on your skates and join the FREE party at the Guild of Students! We provide the skates, you bring the moves.
Hear about Research that Matters
Wednesday 25 January, 12:30-14:00
Join us for an exciting opportunity to hear from a selection of our key researchers at the University. The Research that Matters event will give you an overview of different research areas such as How to Fix Environmentalism, Covid Realities, Fossil Vertebrate Evolution and The Wonderful Brain and What Happens When Things Go Wrong.
Thursday
Introduction to cross-stitch
Thursday 26 January, 10:00-14:00
Learn how to make decorative pieces with simple stitches, which can be applied to decorate clothes, create gifts or make stitched art pieces. Come and try a pre-made kit with a planned design, or have a go on one of our shared hoops and create your own patterns. All materials are provided and all ability levels are welcome - no experience necessary!
Barber Student Gallery Tour: Materials, Techniques, and Processes
Thursday 11:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:00, Barber Institute
Step into the artist's shoes for this free Barber Institute tour.
Focusing on key artworks, we will visually explore the wonderful and sometimes weird materials and processes used to make some of our collection's world-class paintings and sculptures. We will take a closer look at colour, form and composition and how they have developed throughout art history. Book now.
UGS Talks: Inspiration from our Postgrad Alumni
Thursday 26 January, 15:30-18:00, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building
Join the University Graduate School for inspiring talks and reflections from postgraduate UoB alumni, followed by postgraduate networking. University of Birmingham postgraduate alumni will be sharing the journeys of their careers: the highs and lows, the vital skills they learnt as postgraduates, and their advice to those graduating in the coming years. Book now.
Friday
ValeFest presents Battle of the Bands!
Friday 12:00-17:00, UoBe Festival Marquee
Head down the UoBe Festival Marquee as student bands battle it out to win a spot on the ValeFest stage.
Be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid
Friday 27 January, 9:00-12:00
In this introductory session, devised by Mental Health England, you will explore the most common mental health conditions experienced by young people and discover what you can do to prevent and/or intervene when needed. You will receive a mental health first aid manual and an attendance certificate to say that you are Youth Mental Health Aware. Youth MHFA is an internationally recognised training programme and is delivered by qualified Youth MHFA instructors.