Social Responsibility
Social responsibility (SR) describes the way we are making a difference to the social and environmental well-being of our communities through our teaching, research and public events and activities.
SR is one of our three core strategic goals in our Manchester 2020 strategy, sitting equally alongside our commitments to world-class research and outstanding learning and student experience. The ambition of the UoM is to be a university where every person is able to make a difference; be recognised globally for our distinctive work and reputation across our full range of activities; address social and environmental challenges through our research, teaching and learning, public engagement, and campus operations.
The UoM priorities for the SR agenda are:
- Engagement, involvement and inspiration
We will focus our pioneering social responsibility work on campus, in communities and around the world on four new priority themes: social inclusion, better health, environmental sustainability and cultural engagement.
- Sustainable Development Goals
We will align our work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to remain a global leader in the sector. Each of our research beacons and institutes will have at least one major theme which addresses a global challenge outlined by the SDGs.
- Environmental sustainability
Our research and teaching will prioritise contribution to effective use of natural resources, reduction of pollution, maintaining biodiversity and addressing the climate emergency. We will lead by example in targeting wherever feasible the removal of avoidable single-use plastics from all services and activities on campus, and we will align with the city's zero-carbon target by 2038.
- Embedding social responsibility
We will further integrate our commitment to social responsibility across key learning, research, professional services and cultural institution activities.
Governance of SR is through the SR Committee and your Divisional Associate Head of SR would be keen to meet with you to understand your research and teaching which support the SR agenda.
At a School level, the Committee have developed a SR page on the intranet where you can find how the School has contributed to the THE Ranking for UN SDGs; and guidance and support on how to embed SR into your course module outlines.
In 2019, Alliance Manchester Business School became an advanced signatory of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Read our second PRME SIP (Sharing Information on Progress) Report. Submitted in 2023.
Equality and Diversity
Athena Swan
The School is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity and subscribes to the 10 principles of the Athena SWAN charter for gender equality in higher education:
1. We acknowledge that academia cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of all.
2. We commit to advancing gender equality in academia, in particular addressing the loss of women across the career pipeline and the absence of women from senior academic, professional and support roles.
3. We commit to addressing unequal gender representation across academic disciplines and professional and support functions.
4. We commit to tackling the gender pay gap.
5. We commit to removing the obstacles faced by women, in particular, at major points of career development and progression including the transition from PhD into a sustainable academic career.
6. We commit to addressing the negative consequences of using short-term contracts for the retention and progression of staff in academia, particularly women.
7. We commit to tackling the discriminatory treatment often experienced by trans people.
8. We acknowledge that advancing gender equality demands commitment and action from all levels of the organisation and in particular active leadership from those in senior roles.
9. We commit to making and mainstreaming sustainable structural and cultural changes to advance gender equality, recognising that initiatives and actions that support individuals alone will not sufficiently advance equality.
10. All individuals have identities shaped by several different factors. We commit to considering the intersection of gender and other factors wherever possible.
Alliance MBS was awarded the Athena Swan Bronze Award in May 2019
Race Equality Charter Mark
The Race Equality Charter Mark aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.
It is owned by Advance HE (formally the Equality Challenge Unit, ECU), which works to further and support equality and diversity for staff and students in Universities and Colleges.
The framework for the race equality charter mark builds on the experience and methodology of AdvanceHE's Athena SWAN Charter and award status corresponds accordingly: 'Bronze' level is awarded on the identification of issues and planning of SMART actions, and 'Silver' recognises actions have demonstrated impact.
The University of Manchester was proud to be one of the 31 higher education institutions involved in the trial of the Race Equality Charter Mark. Work started in September 2014 and concluded in April 2015. Of the 21 institutions that submitted applications, only eight received the Bronze Award including the University of Manchester.
The University of Manchester successfully renewed its Bronze Award status in 2019 and was awarded a Silver Award in 2023.