Civic engagement
As a civic university, we believe that our local engagement, impact and partnerships are central to who we are and how we work.
Rooted in Manchester and Greater Manchester, and shaped by our place, we work deeply with communities, organisations and civic leaders across Manchester and Greater Manchester to co-create knowledge, develop solutions and contribute positively to life in our region.
Our Manchester 2035 strategy From Manchester for the world – sets out our long-term commitment to connect students, colleagues and research more closely with our city and region. It positions civic engagement not as an add-on, but as a core way we deliver our mission: ensuring our teaching, research, public engagement and university operations are shaped by real-world challenges and deliver real benefits for the people and places we serve.
We see civic engagement as a two–way partnership. We learn from the knowledge, lived experience and insight of people and organisations across Greater Manchester, and we bring our research, teaching and resources together to support a thriving, inclusive city region where everyone can live a good life and be successful.
Our civic engagement is shaped by our place. It includes research carried out with local communities, partnerships led by our cultural institutions, teaching opportunities designed with partners, and innovation projects with organisations across Greater Manchester. Working together with five other higher education institutions and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we are delivering the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement, supporting shared aims to improve wellbeing, opportunity and quality of life across our city region.
We want to understand the difference our civic and community engagement makes. We do this by asking external organisations to review our work and by listening directly to residents about their experiences. We are proud to be one of only two universities to hold a Platinum Engage Watermark from the NCCPE, recognising excellence in public and community engagement. Our work is also rated at the highest level in England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). Internationally, we are ranked top in the UK and Europe, and second in the world, for social and environmental impact by Times Higher Education, measured against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We also embed local voices in how we make decisions. Local representatives sit within our governance structures, and we run citizens’ panels to hear how we can strengthen our engagement with people across Greater Manchester.
Our civic engagement work provides focus for our five social responsibility themes: social inclusion, prosperous communities, better health, environmental sustainability and cultural and digital engagement.
Social inclusion
We work in partnership to foster social cohesion, improve social mobility and enhance equality, diversity and inclusion through initiatives including the Manchester Access Programme, the School Governor Initiative, work with local policymakers (for example on hate crime), and support for The Works, our works employment and training initiative.
Prosperous communities
Our vision for prosperous communities is to increase economic wellbeing, support inclusive growth and improve productivity across Greater Manchester. This includes initiatives such as our innovation unit, our Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, and our joint venture to create the SISTER innovation district in central Manchester. We are working with Manchester City Council and other partners to build a city of learning so that all residents in Manchester can access learning and skills, as part of in the UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning
Better health
We work in partnership to improve health and wellbeing across Greater Manchester, through our Healthier Futures research platform, the training of health professionals, engagement with patients and communities and through civic partnerships such as Health Innovation Manchester and the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.
Environmental sustainability
Our work on environmental sustainability focuses on supporting Manchester’s transition to a zero carbon future, protecting nature and improving quality of life for local people. This includes our research, teaching, engagement and operations, working with partners and communities to address climate challenges and supporting the development of green skills for a more sustainable economy.
Cultural and digital engagement
Our cultural and digital engagement focuses on connecting people with creativity, heritage and digital technology across Greater Manchester. We do this through our museums, galleries, libraries and cultural partnerships, including Manchester Museum, the Whitworth, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Jodrell Bank, the RACE Centre and our Creative Manchester and Digital Futures platforms.
Public engagement
Our public engagement connects people with our work and involves them in shaping ideas that matter. We work with communities to share knowledge, inspire curiosity and involve the public in research, culture and debate across Greater Manchester.