2024 marks a very special year for The University of Manchester as we celebrate our bicentenary.
We’re spearheading change, addressing our planet’s greatest challenges, and making a difference in Manchester, the UK and beyond.
For two centuries, we have collaborated, encouraged and inspired each other to make an impact on an international stage. And we continue doing it today.
It all begins on Wednesday, 17 January 2024, when we will come together as a global and regional community to mark The University of Manchester’s Bicentenary and start a year of celebrations marking 200 years of making a difference.
We will be joined by students and alumni, partners, staff and friends of the University and special guests at an event to light up the Middle East Centre - and help start the celebrations.
The celebration event runs from 5:00pm – 10:30pm at Dubai Knowledge Park Conference Centre, with a programme including activities reflecting on our history, students and present and future, through performance, food, games and prizes, with a very special light up event at 18:24 (1824 was the year of the University’s foundation). Later in the evening, there will be a live streaming of the Bicentenary lighting-up event from Manchester.
For the entire year, we'll celebrate our past and look forward to our future with a year-long programme of creativity and imagination which sets the tone for our third century.
This free-to-attend kick-off event will be the start and we hope to see you there (what do people do if they want to attend?)
Manchester is top in Europe once again in sustainability rankings
The University of Manchester has been rated top in the UK and Europe, and third in the world, in the independent QS World University Sustainability Rankings, echoing its performance in the Times Higher Education Impact league table earlier this year.
The latest news shows how the University’s work across research, teaching, and social responsibility is impacting progress and society around the world and changing people’s lives for the better.
QS, which also publishes the globally influential QS World University Rankings, launched the Sustainability Rankings in 2022. The ranking draws on evidence such as policies and case studies, and sources such as staff and alumni surveys and research data. More than 1,400 universities from 95 countries are assessed on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
Dr Julian Skyrme, Manchester’s, Director of Social Responsibility, who led the submission to the ranking, said: “This ranking by QS uses a wide range of unique evidence points drawing on our research, teaching, public engagement and university operations. A remarkably similar picture has emerged to that found in the THE Impact Ranking, where we are also top in Europe. This success reflects the impact that thousands of our staff, students, alumni and external partners make to improve our world and should be a source of pride for our whole community.”
At Manchester, many of these efforts are focused on working towards the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, said: “People want to work and study at Manchester in part because we are so committed to social responsibility. It means that we have thousands of inspiring people coming up with ideas and making a difference through their work and study every day. The QS ranking shows just how much of an impact all of these actions can have, not just on campus but for people all around the world who we may never meet but who will live better lives as a result of someone’s work here in Manchester.”