Research and Impact @ Manchester (May 2026)

20 May 2026

A message from Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research

Dear colleagues,  

Welcome to our Research Impact special edition. 

As we all know, our University strategy From Manchester for the world includes the two leaps, Research excellence to impact and A university to partner with. 

By 2035, we’ll be known for outstanding discovery and challenge-led research – tackling society’s hardest problems and delivering impact faster, at greater scale. We’ll also be the partner of choice for those who share our commitment to excellence and turning knowledge into impact for the public good. 

And I’m pleased to say that our community is already delivering – as shown by the Research impact, shaped together campaign, which celebrates how collaboration, trust and shared ownership turn research into action. 

Through this campaign, you can discover inspiring stories that show how partnership and co-creation drive research that makes a difference, shaping positive local and global change. Its five intersecting themes demonstrate how the most meaningful impact is built together, turning knowledge into action, connecting communities, companies and countries to tackle complex challenges and advance change.  

But it’s not just about learning from our colleagues, it really is a wonderful celebration. 

There are ten lovely – and very short – films that tell our story, perfectly illustrating why we do our research and what a difference we make to people’s lives through our work. 

I found them uplifting, inspiring and often moving. Please take a look at the examples in this edition and more on the campaign website to celebrate our colleagues, our work and our amazing impact. 

Rankings – an outcome of the good work we do

Our global rankings are a key outcome measurement of our University’s strategy, which is why we are holding regular open meetings to guide and inform colleagues. 

At our recent open meeting, we discussed why they were key and what this meant for our community. 

Good rankings are a magnet to retain and recruit talent. There are clear financial reasons, with partners and donors attracted to universities that are performing well in the surveys. And we want our good work to be read and used. 

We must make sure the good research we do becomes even better and it is read and used. We must work to build our reputation further. Then the good things we do will be reflected and captured in the surveys. We are not contorting ourselves to fit the rankings – they are an outcome of what we do. 

If you did not attend the meeting, please watch the recording of our last meeting to find out how you can play your part. You can also read the slides or visit our Rankings webpage. 

Your Voice Matters 

Analysis of Research Staff responses in the University’s Colleague Engagement Survey is currently underway. We’ll share the findings at an open meeting for Research Staff on Wednesday, 27 May (2–4pm) and discuss how they will inform our action plan to support our application to renew the HR Excellence in Research (HREiR) Award and our commitment to the Researcher Development Concordat. 

The meeting is open to Research Staff, including Research Fellows. Please note the meeting is open to research colleagues, not all academic staff. To register, please visit: Have Your Say on the Future of Researcher Career Development: Survey Insights and What Comes Next 

Partnership is key 

I was delighted to attend the announcement by the International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM) – a well-established academic–industry collaboration that we are a part of – that it will broaden the scope of its research. ICAM is to include a wider range of topics and strengthen its focus on technologies to deliver innovative global energy for the future. 

We also welcomed Faye Holland as the new Director for the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership. Faye brings extensive experience to the role, heading a collaboration driven by our University, the University of Cambridge, Unit M and Innovate Cambridge to boost UK economic growth, advance inclusive innovation and deliver industrial strategy and local growth plans. 

And I was delighted to see Professor Sarah Sharples appointed to the Council for Science and Technology (CST) which advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on strategic science and technology issues. Sarah, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, brings extensive experience at the intersection of research and public policy to a vital role. 

Congratulations also go to our new Healthier Futures co-director, Professor Sarah Marie Hall, who joins Nicky Cullum in leading our research platform dedicated to improving people’s health. 

And congratulations to colleagues who won or were commended in the Making a Difference Awards – I thoroughly recommend discovering their inspiring stories and the films to illustrate their research, public engagement and impact. 

Colette