W100 Representative
Jo KiteDirector of External Relations
Jo is Deputy Director of External Relations at the University of Birmingham and leads on the University’s reputation and engagement activities.
She is responsible for three directorates within the External Relations Division: Birmingham Global; Public and Cultural Engagement; and Communications and Reputation. She was previously Director of Communications and Reputation at Birmingham and has also held communications and marketing roles in the public and private sector.
As well as being a member of the World 100 Committee, she is active in other senior communications and engagement networks and has previously been Co-Chair of the Russell Group Communications Directors network.
University of Birmingham have been a member of the World 100 Reputation Network since 2016
Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century. Characterised by a tradition of innovation, research at the University has broken new ground, pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge, and made an impact on people’s lives. We continue this tradition today and have ambitions for a future that will embed our work and recognition of the Birmingham name on the international stage.
The University grew out of the radical vision of our first Chancellor, Joseph Chamberlain. Founded in 1900, Birmingham represented a new model for higher education. This was England’s first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis.
Birmingham has continued to be a university unafraid to do things a little differently and in response to the challenges of the day. It was a founder member of the National Union of Students.
The University of Birmingham was established by Queen Victoria by Royal Charter in 1900 and was the UK’s first civic or ‘redbrick’ university.
The Latest from University of Birmingham
We are delighted to announce that the University of Birmingham has become an official partner of the YONEX All England Open 2026.
Read more here:
https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/news/2026/march/02/the-university-of-birmingham-becomes-official-partner-of-the-yonex-all-england-open/
#YAE26 #YonexAllEngland
⚠️ Events in the Gulf & wider region
Our overwhelming priority is the safety and well-being of our staff & students, and everyone in Birmingham with personal, family, or professional ties to the region.
If you're affected see our current advice & support: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/gulf-and-wider-region-support-for-staff-and-students
We are proud to be the first university to become an official partner of the @YonexAllEngland Open Badminton Championships - the world's most prestigious badminton tournament - taking place in Birmingham this week 🏸
🔗 Read more about the partnership: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/university-of-birmingham-is-official-partner-of-worlds-most-prestigious-badminton-tournament
Today we have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Lagos (@UnilagNigeria) strengthening our shared commitment to expanding high‑quality education, research, and innovation in Nigeria.
🔗 Read more about the MoU here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/university-of-birmingham-and-university-of-lagos-strengthen-partnership-in-nigeria
If you missed Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards Radio 5 Live Breakfast show on Wednesday morning 21st, featuring the ELSA study you can listen from 2:41:30 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002q1t8 @parthnarendran @RenukaDias @unibirmingham
@BT1DUK @DiabetesUK
Exciting news for the UK’s green tech future!
Today, we launched a world-leading rare earth magnet recycling facility at Tyseley Energy Park in the West Midlands - the UK’s only capability for recycling and manufacturing rare earth magnets.
Read our 🧵to hear why this matters
@ChrisMcDonaldMP Why does this matter? Rare earth magnets are essential for low-carbon technologies, and demand is soaring. By scaling up HPMS to commercial levels, we’re reducing reliance on imports, cutting environmental impact, and strengthening the UK’s supply chain resilience.
@ChrisMcDonaldMP The facility has been backed by £5 million UKRI funding and reflects years of research at Birmingham.
Find out more about how this will drive job creation, workforce skills development, and long-term economic growth in the UK: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/world-leading-rare-earth-magnet-recycling-facility-launches-in-west-midlands
Elizabeth McGlynn went from graduating from our to Film and Television: Research and Production MA in 2023 to working on the set of the new #TraitorsUK series!
Here's how she did it: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/from-edgbaston-to-inverness-working-on-set-at-the-traitors-castle
Campus is open today, Fri 9 Jan ❄️
If you’re travelling in please take extra care getting to campus and when moving around once here.
A huge thank you to our brilliant colleagues in Estates who’ve been clearing snow, gritting pathways & keeping campus spaces open & operating 👏
On the twelfth day of Christmas…
We wanted to say thank you to @unibirmingham for running the ELSA study and to @DiabetesUK and @BT1DUK for funding the study. Over 37,000 children have taken part in the ELSA study and you can still take part!
Visit: http://www.elsadiabetes.nhs.uk
A global top 100 university
University of Birmingham bring together the people and resources to tackle the major challenges of our time. The university have a global network of partnerships.
Although our partnerships are wide-ranging and span all continents, we have identified China, India, Brazil and North America as key strategic regions in which we wish to develop more focused engagement.
The university have also established networks which promote excellence in global engagement via centres such as the China Institute and Africa Hub.
We draw on and give back to the region through our research, our education and our global reach and reputation.
Mission and vision
- Excellence: We have the highest standards, knowing we can always be better
- Leadership: We shape our own future and support others’ success
- Pioneering spirit: We are the first to do things and we take calculated risks
- Purposefulness: We know our strengths, focus on our goals and persist in adversity
- Pragmatism: We are well-grounded and practical, tackling and solving problems
A research environment in which academic rigour, innovation and delivery are made possible
81%+
of Research is excellent or world leading
60+
Research fellows recruited since 2011
By investing in, and cultivating, intellectual talent and ideas, and delivering world-class research and education, we will unlock value, make important things happen, and continue to thrive.
Research that takes place at Birmingham impacts on the lives of people regionally, nationally and globally. The University is home to leading academics focusing on global sustainability research and the Sustainable Development Goals. The university’s Birmingham Heroes campaign brings together the academics who are part of a large teaching and research community dedicated to enquiry, debate and change in transforming health, environment and society.
Key research being conducted includes:
- Rail decarbonisation
- Liver transplantation
- Hydrogen-powered train
- Birmingham Plastics Network: Shaping the Fate and Sustainable Future of Plastics
- and much much more!
Become a Member
The World 100 Reputation Network is a group of the best universities in the world, delivering research that enhances reputation and offering leaders the chance to develop their own careers on a global stage. Members benefit from events and study tours, training, monthly media monitoring, and unique reputation research to provide institutional advantage.