The Big Debate
Birmingham City University, in partnership with the Birmingham Post and NEC Group, created the Big Debate to encourage discussion on key cultural topics of national significance that have regional resonance with the region’s population, businesses and opinion formers.
As an academic institution with a mission to be a powerful force for learning creativity and enterprise which promote economic social and cultural wellbeing, the debates support the University’s desire to proactively engage industry and stimulate thinking. Led by nationally recognised leaders in the field, the debates have sparked conversation around core policy agendas.
The debates have covered wide and varied topics from “Is There Life in Regional Arts?”, chaired by Richard Morrison from the Times and featuring Germaine Greer and Sir Christopher Frayling, to the role of the digital revolution and its impact, chaired by the BBC’s leading technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, and sustainability leadership featuring designer Leonora Oppenheim and Climate Change Policy Advisor for the Conservative Party Adrian Gahan.
The most recent debate asked "Can the Midlands’ Creative Industries Revolutionise the UK Economy?" Opened by Charles Leadbetter of “We Think” fame, the debate looked at the future of society within the context of interactive digital media. Among the keynotes were two leading industry experts, David Harris, Executive Creative Director, Wunderman and Toby Barnes, Managing Director, Mudlark.
The debates have all worked within the context of conversations and networks from the region and supported thinking at a strategic level. With the support of the Birmingham Post networks, the debates have featured pre- and post-event commentary, supported by live blogging, broadcast and tweets.
The Client
The Big Debate is sponsored by NEC Group and the Birmingham Post. Its aim is to encourage debate on key cultural topics of national significance that have regional resonance with the region’s population, businesses and opinion formers.
The Birmingham Post is the regional newspaper for Birmingham, featuring business, lifestyle and political commentary, in a weekly newspaper and online. Established for over 100 years, the paper has long been respected as the vanguard for news.
The West Midlands region has an incredible amount of talent in terms of expertise, reach and academic knowledge. The Big Debate is an important opportunity to bring practitioners across all areas to establish and construct a dialogue which will unleash new opportunities to issues that are of national significance. The subject knowledge, contacts, organisational management and input from Birmingham City University was instrumental to the success of the debate programme.
Sarah Probert, Head of News, Birmingham Post
Results
The outcome of the Big Debates, reported on regionally and nationally, have supported the development of strategic thinking and encouraged key influencers, new leaders and academics to network and review how to work collectively for the common good.
The events form part of a wider University strategy of networks, events and knowledge transfer which have been set up specifically to facilitate economic vitality within the region and reinforce Birmingham Post’s commitment to reporting on issues of significance to the business community.
Benefits
The
Big Debate has brought national publicity to Birmingham, supported strategic
thinking, encouraged knowledge transfer between academics and industry
practitioners and facilitated thinking within the cultural and creative
industries.
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