Impact

We are committed to measuring the difference we are making to society through rigorous planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Social Responsibility in Numbers

  • We’re the worlds top ranking University for impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • We’ve committed to becoming a Zero Carbon University by 2038.
  • We’re divesting from fossil fuels and other carbon intensive investments.
  • We’ve become an accredited living wage employer for all our staff.
  • We’ve received a Gold Watermark for our work on public engagement.
  • We’ve launched a pioneering Stellify Award to enable every student to make a difference.
  • We’ve recognised more than 150 social responsibility initiatives as part of our annual Making a Difference Awards.
  • Our staff have contributed more than a million pounds to charities through our payroll giving schem
  • We’ve signed the global SDG Accord to embed sustainable development in all that we do.

On social inclusion:

  • Our Manchester Access Programme has supported over 2,000 local students from families with no experience of higher education into our University.
  • We’ve invested more than £15 million each year in financial support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • We’ve achieved 15 Charter Marks for Gender Equality.
  • More than a thousand staff and alumni have contributed to leadership in state education through our School Governor Initiative.
  • We’ve supported more than 4000 local people into work through our unique partnerships The Works.
  • We are one of the few universities in the UK to hold a Charter Mark for Race Equality.
  • Through our Equity and Merit Programme, our University and our donors have supported more than 300 international masters students to lead on sustainable development in their home countries.
  • We’re rated by Stonewall as a top employer for LGBT inclusion in the workplace.
  • We’ve become a university of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers.
  • We’re the first university to partner with the Slave Free Alliance.
  • We opened our first Into University Centre to support learners in a less advantaged part of North Manchester.
  • We’ve engaged tens of thousands of shoppers each year through our annual ScienceX events.
  • We’re the first university in the UK to use The Social Value Portal for measuring impact through our supply chain.

On better health:

  • More than 3000 of our students graduate in healthcare programs each year.
  • We formed Health Innovation Manchester to help transform the health and wellbeing of Greater Manchester’s 2.8 million citizens.
  • Over 3000 leaders have benefited from our NHS Leadership Academy.
  • We actively involve more than 800 patients and the public each year in our research and education
  • We’ve developed 50 healthcare partnerships in the Global South in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
  • We partner with the World Health Organisation, Medicines Sans Frontier and the Red Cross in our humanitarian and conflict response work.
  • We hold the government register of volunteer health professionals who can be deployed overseas in emergencies.
  • Hundreds of our healthcare students in medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy address major public health challenges in Greater Manchester each year, including the fight against COVID-19.

On environmental sustainability:

  • Our science led directly to the creation of a zero carbon pathway for Greater Manchester.
  • We’ve opened Brunswick Park to enhance biodiversity, support health and wellbeing and improve resilience to climate change.
  • We lead the biggest research project in the sustainable development of the world’s dams.
  • We’ve already eliminated more than 250,000 pieces of avoidable single-use plastics – with more to come.
  • 15,000 undergraduate students have engaged in our annual Sustainability Challenge.
  • We developed a pioneering online module, open to all students, on the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • We’ve developed and launched an interactive tree trail on campus.
  • We’ve planted more than 300 semi-mature trees on campus.
  • More than 2800 staff commute by active travel.

On cultural engagement:

  • We receive more than a million public visitors to our four Cultural Institutions (Manchester Museum, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, The Whitworth, John Rylands Library) each year.
  • We’ve launched a multi-million pound CreativeManchester project to champion culture and creativity in Greater Manchester.
  • We’ve led Manchester designation as a UNESCO city of literature.
  • We play a key role in Manchester’s History Festival, Literature Festival and International Festival.
  • We are the world’s first carbon literate museum.
  • We’re the first university museum in the UK to proactively repatriate some of our objects.
  • Around 4000 local school and college students use our library facilities each year.
  • Our annual BlueDot festival of music, science and culture is the only one to be held on a university UK campus.
  • We’ve established the world’s first sector support agency for age and culture.
  • We’ve established a Natural and Cultural Health Service out of Whitworth Park.
  • Our Jodrell Bank Observatory has been awarded UNESCO world heritage status.
  • Our Capital Programme will allow us to become the most inclusive, caring and imaginative museum you might encounter.
  • We’ve established a pioneering office for useful art at The Whitworth.