At BU, we collaborate with global institutions and organisations through our education, research and practice. We offer our students and staff a range of opportunities, both on-campus and internationally, to ensure a global outlook in all that we do.
Our vision is that by 2025 BU will be recognised worldwide as a leading university for inspiring learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society through the fusion of education, research and practice.
Our international activities are coordinated by the Global Engagement Hub, which brings together representatives from Faculties, and Professional Services teams covering international student recruitment, international partnerships, student and staff mobility, and alumni. We have worked on a number of global projects and activities and continue to engage with a broad range of partners around the world.
Ocean Hackathon 2023
Bournemouth University hosted Ocean Hackathon in November 2023. The event brought together students, academics and businesses to solve challenges related to the sea, to help protect and preserve the marine environment. This 48-hour non-stop event took place in 14 cities world wide, led by Campus Mondial de la Mer, based in Brest in Brittany, France.
From left to right, Challenge Owner Chris Courage, team members Tobi Akinrinade, Aaron Chard, Mark Irozuru, Nikki Curwen and Jim Andrews, BU's Chief Operating Officer from 2010 to August 2024We welcomed five challenge teams to our Bournemouth Gateway Building, where they built prototype solutions to challenges covering marine topics including wind energy and seaweed farming, cliff stability, pharmaceutical discharge into sea water and plastic identification. Teams drew together diverse skills including marine biology, pharmaceuticals, innovation, data science, computing and creative technology. The weekend culminated with the teams pitching their prototypes to a panel of judges.
Congratulations to the winning team, led by Chris Courage. They developed an underwater camera, programme and app to identify marine species in real time. They travelled to Brest in December 2023 to compete in the Ocean Hackathon Grand Finale against 14 other winning teams from cities around the world including Portugal, Canada, Chile, South Africa and Malaysia and finished fifth. Well done!
Global events
Professor John Vinney, BU's Vice-Chancellor from 2010 to August 2024, and guests at the 2016 International Commencement CeremonySince 2014 we have hosted more than 30 Global BU events, including Global Challenge Summits, Global Buzz events, BU Be Global Festivals, International Commencement Ceremonies, and our Global Festival of Learning.
These events have taken place at BU and in seven countries, aimed at engaging staff, students and external guests. Attended by more than 5,000 people, event content has been seen and shared by more than 1 million people in over 135 countries, across a variety of social media platforms.
Global Festival of Learning
Vietnamese students taking part in an activity during the 2019 Global Festival of LearningOur Global Festival of Learning was a platform for international public engagement that celebrated learning, disseminated research and delivered impact across borders. Between 2016 and 2019, we bought together thought leaders across 16 cities in six different countries, reaching over 5,000 people in the process.
Tailored to the host region, each Festival incorporated free events and activities. These included networking sessions, interactive workshops, panel sessions, meet the expert sessions, and public lectures, alongside an engaging programme of cultural and social activities.
