Through shared research and a knowledge exchange agenda, Creative Manchester’s Beyond the Creative City network brings together international academics from across disciplines including economics, urban planning, geography, sociology, cultural policy and creative practice. Together, the network is identifying challenges, producing peer-reviewed research, policy engagement and creative digital outputs for places and communities that have been previously left behind by national policy and investment.

At the University’s Productivity Institute, world-leading experts work directly with policymakers and businesses to better understand, measure and enable improvements in productivity across the UK, including living standards and wellbeing.

With more than 300 million people worldwide suffering from serious fungal infections and 2 million of these individuals dying each year as a result, our researchers set about changing the understanding and treatment of Aspergillus disease to improve patient quality of life and survival.

Through international collaboration and research, Aspergillus antigen and antibody tests are now listed as essential diagnostics by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The world’s first frontline therapy for the disease has also been licensed, along with the creation of the world’s first national clinical centre for fungal disease.

The University of Manchester, in partnership with Wigan & Leigh College and the wider Greater Manchester Colleges network, deliver a programme that places PhD researchers directly into Further Education (FE) classrooms across the region. Developed through the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement, the initiative enables postgraduate researchers to teach up to 20 hours per week in FE settings, providing specialist expertise in priority subjects such as engineering, STEM and digital skills. In turn, the programme offers researchers valuable, paid teaching experience while helping colleges tackle critical local and regional skills gaps.

The University of Manchester and Manchester School of Architecture are partnered with acrylic manufacturer Floreeda to repurpose plastic waste through REFLO, a circular recycling process that transforms student modelmaking offcuts into new acrylic sheets. Floreeda’s REFLO process converts end-of-life acrylic into granules, which are levelled, heated, and pressed into new sheets, enabling multiple reuses and supporting a closed-loop, circular economy. 

• Find out more on the University partnership 
• Find out more on REFLO

The University of Manchester is partnered with Co-op Academy Medlock in Ardwick, strengthening connections between the University and the local community. University of Manchester students deliver a range of engaging presentations, on topics including their passions, cultures and educational journeys, to pupils at the school. For the pupils, this provides valuable opportunities to learn about new topics and perspectives. For the university students, it offers meaningful experience in planning and delivering presentations, developing public speaking skills, and building confidence while engaging with the local community.

Our Manchester Museum welcomed a delegation from the Aboriginal Anindilyakwa community of Groote Eylandt for the formal return of 174 items of cultural heritage. Over a three-year period, the Museum worked with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the Anindilyakwa Land Council to return items to their rightful home and inspire future generations.

The University of Manchester holds a Fairtrade University two-star status which recognises that we are: embedding Fairtrade into our strategy and operations; actively engaging students and staff in campaigns and education; supporting ethical procurement and supply chains; and collaborating with local and global partners to promote social justice.