How we’re tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals with our Directory of Activities
14 Oct 2025
The Office for Social Responsibility has recently relaunched our Directory of Activities microsite, a searchable online resource showcasing the wide range of work taking place across the University that contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals represent a global call to action to address the most urgent challenges facing humanity and the planet. From poverty and inequality to climate change and education, these goals guide efforts worldwide, and here at Manchester, we’re proud to be leading the way.
Our Directory of Activities brings together initiatives from across the University, whether in research, teaching, public engagement, or operations, that support these goals. It’s designed to help staff, students, and external users explore how we’re making a difference and contributing to the SDGs.
We’re proud to be ranked first in the UK and Europe, and second in the world for social and environmental impact in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (June 2025), recognising our commitment to the SDGs.
How to use our directory of activities
You can search the directory using: keywords; SDG goal; social responsibility priorities; location; University functions.
The tool is especially useful for anyone looking to collaborate, showcase impact, or simply learn more about how the University is contributing to global sustainability.
We have a report available which highlights how we are tackling the SDGs in four inter-related ways: through our research, learning and students, public engagement and operations.
The report shows that The University of Manchester published over 22,000 pieces of research on the SDGs in the past five years, which is 4% of the UK’s entire share of publications. It is aimed at a wide range of local, national and international audiences across the public, private, NGO, policy and education sectors.
To find out more:
- Search our Directory of activities.
- See this short demonstration for how to access and navigate the Directory of Activities.
- Download the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023-25.
- Keep in touch with all our social responsibility and civic engagement work from right across the University by signing up to receive our monthly newsletter.