A new framework for social responsibility at Manchester
05 Jun 2026
Driving social and environmental impact here and for the world
As the first UK university to establish social responsibility as a core goal, it has long been part of what makes Manchester distinctive and values-led. To build on our existing efforts and ensure we’re addressing the most pressing challenges facing our communities locally and globally, social responsibility is a core foundation of ‘From Manchester, for the world’, our strategy to 2035.
To bring this ambition to life, our new Social Responsibility Framework sets out how social responsibility will underpin everything we do across research, teaching and learning, public engagement and our operations.
Turning ambition into action
Led by Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, the framework is built on four pillars that frame how we will support our Manchester 2035 commitment to be values-led and socially responsible. These are:
- Engaged practice
- Engaged operations
- Engaged research
- Engaged teaching, learning and students
These pillars will then underpin work across five priority areas:
- Social inclusion
- Prosperous communities
- Better health
- Environmental sustainability
- Cultural and digital engagement
Together with clear actions, governance and measures, the framework aims to help us work in a more joined-up way and track the difference we are making.
As a university already ranked in the top 1% globally in the THE Impact Rankings for our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this framework builds on our strengths while setting clear priorities and measures to drive even greater impact.
Further information
- Download the Social Responsibility Framework
- Visit the social responsibility website to explore the latest on what we’re doing to make a difference and find out how you can get involved.
- To find out more about social responsibility in action, sign-up to our newsletter here