University News Last updated 16 March
TheUK’s Minister forٳArmed Forces,Al Carnsѱ,visited Birmingham City University(䱫)last week toengage with staff and studentsbased atٳCity South campus, the home of Health and Life Sciences.
A LabourMPand former Royal Marines officer,AlhasrepresentedBirmingham Selly Oak since 2024.
During the visit, Carns met withϳԹVice-ChancellorProfessorDavid Mba and Deanof Health and Life Sciences,Hannah Abbott.
Thevisithighlighted ϳԹ’s‘Powering Birmingham’campaignand its role as the city’s largest supplier of graduate talent, including43% of all new nurses in ٳWest Midlands being trained at ϳԹ.
The MP met with staff and students from the Defence School of Healthcare Education,which provides post-registration education for nurses and other allied healthcare professionals within the Defence Medical Services.
After being enlisted as a Royal Marine Commando in 1999, Al worked his way up the ranks to become a Colonel in 2021. He served five operational tours in Afghanistan, before being awarded the Military Cross in 2011, and an OBE in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours. He re-enlisted in the Royal Marines as a reservist in 2024.
Before becoming the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, Al was also a military advisor to three former Defence Secretaries.
ϳԹ is the sole higher education provider for nursing,radiographyand operating department practitioners to the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Students from the Defence School of Healthcare Education go on to workin one of five hospitals across the UK, including the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB),where service men and women injured overseas are treated by military medical teams.
During the visit,Carnsalsotoured key facilities,including operating theatres, ϳԹ’sambulancesimulation andٳAnatomagetable – a 3D interactive anatomy experience for medical education and research.
“I have been hugely impressed by the facilities the university has to offer, the breadth and diversity of its courses, and most importantly, by the students themselves,” said Al Carns MP.
“They are bright, energetic, and clearly have a strong desire to learn and become the best versions of themselves.”
Carnspraised the university’s innovative use of technology in teaching.
“’mparticularly fascinated by how technology is being integrated into the teaching and learning process, especially in medical training. From ٳSimbulanceto ٳAnatomagetable,’sa truly impressiveand engaging way for students to develop their skills and knowledge.”
Carns’ visitdemonstratedthe growing value of collaboration between the government and the higher education sector in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals.
Vice-ChancellorProfessorDavid Mba said:“We were delighted to welcomeAlto ϳԹ last week.
“It was a brilliantopportunity todemonstratehow our teaching, facilitiesand partnerships contribute to innovationand skills development in our city.
“ϳԹ ischanging lives through inspiring, accessible, and inclusive practice-based teaching, and ourhealthstudentsare graduating with the skills they need forreal-world challenges.”
Image: Al Carns MP with ϳԹ Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Mba, and Dean of Health and Life Sciences, Hannah Abbott.