The University of Manchester has been ranked second globally and first in the UK for its overall contribution to sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, according to the Times Higher Education rankings.
The University of Manchester is the only university to be ranked within the top 10 for positive social and environmental impacts every year since 2019.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, former President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, stated: “Retaining the number one rank in the UK and Europe, as well as coming second in the world once again in this year’s THE Impact Rankings is a great achievement for the whole of The University of Manchester”.
The vice president for social responsibility at the university, Professor Nalin Thakkar, responded to the rankings, saying: “Social responsibility is, of course, a core goal for us so we’re delighted to be ranked top in the UK, top in Europe and second in the world in the 2024 THE Impact Rankings, which are based on our performance against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals”.
The University became the first university in the UK to make social responsibility one of its core goals.
In November 2024, it published a report detailing how it will be doing its part to achieve the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The report mentions that the University has published over 22,000 research papers on the Sustainable Development Goals in the past five years, accounting for 4% of the UK’s total publications on the topic.
Their strategy to meet the goals is based on four inter-connected ‘strands‘- research, learning and students, public engagement and operations.
Through all four strands, the University’s report details their impact towards sustainable development.
On campus, the University is taking steps to ensure that buildings are designed sustainably, ensuring they co-exist alongside green spaces and do not impede on local biodiversity.
The University College for Interdisciplinary Learning also offers a module focused on these goals, titled “Creating a Sustainable World: 21st-Century Challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals”.
