In July, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), a partnership between global higher education and the United Nations, hosted the HESI Global Forum 2025 as part of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2025).

Titled “Breaking Barriers in Sustainable Development Through Scientific, Inclusive and Equitable Solutions”, the event brought together academia, policymakers, students, the private sector and international organisations to explore how higher education can drive equitable and inclusive SDG solutions.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility, represented The University of Manchester on a global panel of experts. He emphasised the unique role universities can play in co-producing solutions rooted in equity, research, and real-world impact. Highlighting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) as “the glue, the enabler that delivers all the other goals”. Julian outlined how universities’ local and global reach makes them well placed to tackle these challenges.

Julian showcased Manchester’s approach, including our civic panel of local citizens and the University’s General Assembly – forums which ensure voices from across the community help shape our priorities and hold us to account. He also highlighted a University research project tackling air pollution in Manchester, where the University has partnered with a local climate action group, school and transport authorities, students, researchers, and elected representatives to develop safe, green commuting routes, demonstrating how partnerships can deliver practical benefits for local people while contributing to Global Sustainability Goals.

• Read more about the HESI Global Forum.
• See the University’s SDG Report.