In only two days of the Plus3 experience, I feel like I’ve learned so much about the city architecture, Birmingham City University, and the beautiful and complex history of Birmingham. 

On the first official day of the program we received a quick tour of the facility from David Waters. One of my observations about the campus was its modern design. There were a large amount of windows, natural light, and green space in the campus. The design really seemed like a space that made it comfortable for students to study, and also very beneficial for their mental health.

We also had a chance to meet all of the faculty who will be lecturing during the next two weeks, which was super exciting! Vina is one of the lecturers here at BCU who is currently pursuing her PhD. Although she is a social worker by trade, she started her career organizing nurseries for families affiliated with companies such as Rolls Royce. After working in that area for 10 years, she switched from the private sector to public, changing her focus to working with underprivileged and safeguarded children and families. After that, she came to BCU as an educator. Our group project is focused on the treatment of immigrants in UK systems, so I was very interested in her perspective of how immigrant children were treated in the education system. Not all schools have the resources, but some do have session three programs. Since students are tested very often to see where their academic performance lies, immigrant children are also required to test when they move here. Those that fall below the performance expectation for their age group are put into groups based on ability, and sometimes after school classes with resources to help support them. Without resources, the effects of educational deprivation can follow individuals, which is why it is so important that these resources are more widely available.

We also met David, who is also a social worker by trade, and is head of the department. He spoke a lot about his non-traditional approach to his education. In the United States, we are used to a very binary system where you either receive your GED or you do not, and that determines if you can enter college or postsecondary school. In the UK, education is listed by levels, and there are many ways to obtain the same goal. The traditional route is to take GCSEs, A-levels, and then enter university, but it is not the only option. Some students choose to leave school for the workforce, then later return to receive a B-tech degree, which is also classified as level 3 education (the same as A-levels). This variety of options makes education much more accessible and flexible for those who cannot follow a traditional route.

My final observation about BCU was the course outline for students. In nursing, students receive a degree in a specialized field of nursing, as opposed to a general nursing degree. Throughout the entire college, educators are required to spend 50% of time teaching theory and 50% of time with hands-on practice in students’ field of study. I think this practical implementation is so important to the learning process. In addition, I notice that most professors have many years of practical experience before receiving their teaching qualification to educate. There is much more of a focus on practical experience than on intensive training in education.

After our walking tour of Birmingham, I learned so many cool facts about its history. The city was built on 7 hills, and Joseph Chamberlain was one of the first and very notable mayors. He became a politician to try and fund things such as healthcare and manufacturing to benefit the city, and created a water system from Wales that is still used today. He also bought the two major gas stations that were in town and invested the money to create the art museum. Near the library is the Hall of Remembrance to commemorate lives lost to WWI, and one of the few places where women are also included. The city’s first canal was built in 1769, and is longer than Venice’s! If you were to follow it, it will take you into any port in the country.

I look forward to learning so much more, but these are my updates for now. Goodnight!