The University of Birmingham celebrated the opening of the new Teaching and Learning Building last Wednesday (29th) with a series of talks from its senior management and researchers. The eclectic range of 43 talks, each around fifteen minutes in length, ranged from predicting the university of the future to questioning if life exists elsewhere. 

The day began with the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood, discussing the origins of the French Revolution and why it still matters today. He described the revolution as ‘the most important event in modern history’ that had three main causes: science, sex and money. 

This was followed by a talk by the President of the Guild of Students, Joshua Williams, on the black experience in society and integration within higher education. Williams said that the university must be applauded for its efforts to be more inclusive, but must do more – alongside other Russell Group universities – to improve the experience for their black and minority ethnic students. 

The Guild’s Black Voices campaign launched this term to improve the black experience at UoB. The Guild is working on releasing a Black Voices manifesto to pledge improvements to the issues outlined by Williams’ discussion at UoBe enlightened. 

The Teaching and Learning Building opened on Monday 13th January.