Making a Difference: A year of social responsibility at The University of Manchester

24 Sep 2025

Watch how we’ve made remarkable progress in creating positive change; locally, nationally and globally.

Over the past year, through our commitment to social responsibility, we’ve made remarkable progress in creating positive change; locally, nationally and globally.

We were named the top university in the UK and Europe, and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Rankings for our work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our 175-acre solar farm is now powering two-thirds of our electricity, saving 12,000 tonnes of carbon every year.

Our work with local communities continues to grow, from listening to the views of local people through our citizens’ panels, to our fun-filled Universally Manchester Festival, which welcomes over 3,000 visitors on to campus each year. Globally, the Great Science Share for Schools has inspired nearly a million young people to get involved in science, while closer to home, our students have contributed tens of thousands of volunteering hours to local and global communities.

Each year through our Making a Difference Awards, we celebrate the work of our students, staff, alumni and external partners who are addressing issues from food insecurity to climate justice, each making a difference in their own unique way.

We are also proud of the recognition given to Manchester Museum, awarded Best Museum in Europe for its inclusive, community-focused approach.

Together, these achievements highlight how our University community is making a real difference and why the University truly belongs to all.

• Watch our short film to see these stories come alive.