Social responsibility
We’re committed to social responsibility and strive to make a positive difference to both society and the environment through our teaching, research, public engagement and day-to-day operations.
Key highlights
- Number one in the UK and Europe, and number two in the world for social and environmental impact (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024). We’re the only university in the world to rank in the top ten in all six years since the rankings launched.
- Number one in the UK and Europe, and number three in the world in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2024.
- We hold the Platinum Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, which recognises universities’ engagement with the public.
- We’ve committed to becoming a zero-carbon university by 2038.
- Our Stellify Award enables every student to engage with society’s big questions and make a difference.
We're unique in British higher education in having social responsibility as one of our three core strategic goals, sitting equally alongside our commitments to research and discovery and teaching and learning in our vision and strategic plan.
Award-winning impact
Our social responsibility activities mirror our unique Manchester spirit, motivating communities to research, teach and share their ideas, and students to study with us. The power of our social and environmental impact has been recognised on a global scale:
We are rated top in the UK and Europe and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact league table. We’re also top in the UK and Europe and third in the world in the independent QS World University Sustainability Rankings.
We aim to establish ourselves as the sector’s leader for social impact and through the delivery of our five-year plan.
We also hold a Platinum Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) for the effective ways in which we work to engage society with our research, teaching and culture. Winning a Platinum Engage Watermark is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon an institution, and recognises ‘exceptional strategic leadership of public engagement; high standards of professional support; and excellence in partnership working’.
Social inclusion
We’re tackling the social inequalities, prejudices and barriers that continue to affect people’s lives.
Better health
We’re committed to promoting good health and wellbeing for our staff, students and communities.
Environmental sustainability
We're leading the way to a more sustainable world with research, teaching, operations and engagement.
Cultural engagement
We give a distinct priority to our cultural and creative activities.
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
We’re playing a leading role in tackling The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Public engagement
Public engagement covers the many ways we connect, share and involve the public with our work.
Civic engagement
We’ve co-developed a Civic University Agreement plan for Greater Manchester.
Our five-year plan
Read our full social responsibility and civic engagement plan for 2021-2025.
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Socially responsible graduates
Learn how Manchester students can do more and be more, in order to develop the distinctive attributes of a Manchester graduate.
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Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly.
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