While on campus, DPM Heng and his delegation explored opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the space of R&D and innovation. The visit to Swag直播 was the only non-London element of the DPM鈥檚 UK visit, alongside Cambridge; they visited the city due to its effective innovation ecosystem evident in the relationship between the university, businesses and local government.

DPM Heng observed a briefing by the and the before having dinner with President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison. He also visited the Swag直播 Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and met with the UK Biobank.

As part of his visit to the city, DPM Heng met with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Swag直播, to discuss views on how government, academia, finance, industry and talent can come together to grow vibrant and integrated innovation ecosystems.

Swag直播 has a longstanding relationship with Singapore, welcoming many Singaporean students each year. Undergraduate exchange agreements are in place with the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.

The International Development Division at Swag直播 maintains good relationships with the various institutions across Singapore and arranges several visits to Singapore each year for colleagues from Faculties and Schools.

The International Development Division also has close links with the Singapore Students鈥� Society of Swag直播 who act as ambassadors at events, and there are also close ties with the active University of Swag直播 Alumni Group.

The Alliance Swag直播 Business School (AMBS) has had a presence in Singapore since 1992 and opened the , in Singapore, in 1999; with 400 active students and 1,500 alumni, the Centre offers MBA course and Masters Degrees.

The South East Asia Centre participated in the University鈥檚 bicentenary event, Light Up, in January 2024, by gathering current students and esteemed alumni for a jubilant reception.

Simon Johnson - who studied Economics at Swag直播 in the 1980s, and is now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - won the prize alongside Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson in recognition of their work to analyse how institutions and the rule of law shape national prosperity.

Professor Johnson was born in Sheffield, and completed his undergraduate studies at Oxford University, before doing a master's degree at Swag直播 and a doctorate at MIT.

His career has included prominent roles at the Washington-based Peterson Institute and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he served as chief economist from 2007 to 2008 during the global financial crisis. He eventually returned to MIT as a professor, focusing on global economic inequality and policy.

Through their research, Professor Johnson and his colleagues have shaped global debates by demonstrating that democracies, which hold to the rule of law and provide individual rights, have spurred greater economic activity over the last 500 years. Their insights - derived from studying colonialism鈥檚 enduring effects on global development - have broad implications for economic strategies today.

Professor Johnson鈥檚 academic achievements have established him as a leading voice on global economic policy, which has now been further cemented by this honour. He becomes the 26^th Nobel laureate associated with Swag直播, either as staff or alumni.

鈥淚t is a surprise and a delight to win the Nobel Prize in Economics,鈥� said Professor Johnson. 鈥淕etting my master鈥檚 degree at Swag直播 helped launch my professional career 鈥� and I will always be grateful to my teachers and fellow students in those years. Their guidance and inspiration (and many late-night conversations) helped push me down the road towards careful empirical work, bringing history to bear, and understanding the importance of building institutions that support inclusive prosperity.鈥�

鈥淭his year鈥檚 laureates have pioneered new approaches, both empirical and theoretical, that have significantly advanced our understanding of global inequality,鈥� said Nobel committee member Jakob Svensson. 鈥淩educing the huge differences in income between countries is one of our times鈥� greatest challenges, and their insights show that democracies are - on average - better for promoting growth in the long run.鈥�

The report, a collaboration between Bupa Global, India & UK (BGIUK), Swag直播 and The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, aims to tackle the issues faced by the healthcare sector, currently responsible for almost

The report explores the financial, operational and logistical challenges of reducing organisations鈥� environmental footprints, plus opportunities to reduce emissions, update clinical practices to reduce environmental impact, engage employees and work with supply-chains.

Included is a showcase of best practice from hospital and technology providers, NHS trusts, insurers and industry and sustainability associations. It adds to a growing body of work and pulls together best practice examples with practical actions for healthcare providers.

The report also features a practical scorecard that allows organisations to measure progress against carbon reduction best practice and take forward practical actions in five key action areas:

• Supply chain 鈥� the largest proportion of a healthcare organisation鈥檚 carbon impact
• Healthcare estates 鈥� which make up 18% of all healthcare provision emissions
• Travel and transport 鈥� which makes up 4% of an organisation鈥檚 emissions footprint
• Clinical practice 鈥� including reassessing clinical pathways to provide care that鈥檚 best for patients and the planet
• Governance and staff 鈥� the importance of high quality governance and engagement when making change

The launch took place in central London at an event attended by over 100 healthcare leaders, providers and industry partners who had a chance to hear in depth about the recommendations of the report and see the scorecard in action.

Also in attendance were suppliers and collaborators Bupa is working with as part of its aims to become a net zero business by 2040, including Upcycled Medical (medical uniforms made from recycled plastic and wood pulp), Sagetech Medical (anaesthetics gases capture and recycling system) and Naked Energy (solar energy providers).

The report is available to download .

Anna Russell, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Director for BGIUK said: 鈥淎t Bupa, we believe that the health of people and the health of our planet are inextricably linked, and this means we have a big responsibility to make a better world for the generations to come.

鈥淎cross the healthcare sector we share a responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare while upholding high standards of patient care. We hope that this report will serve as a useful roadmap for organisations and that we can work together on common challenges to reach our environmental goals.鈥�

Lou Cordwell, Professor of Innovation and Special Advisor to the President & Vice-Chancellor at Swag直播 said: 鈥淲e're delighted to launch this first project as part of the University's strategic innovation collaboration with Bupa. This report leverages the incredible sustainability expertise of the Tyndall team to create a valuable tool that we're confident will be hugely impactful across the Bupa business and partner network as well as the wider industry.鈥�

The 鈥�Zero Carbon Without a Net鈥� initiative is part of the University鈥檚 Environmental Sustainability strategy which was launched last July, and subsequently won the 2023 . Now, the University is being honoured for its dedication to sustainability on an international scale.

The awards featured 95 finalists from 28 countries, with the University coming first in the 鈥�鈥� category, which focuses on assessing the steps that institutions are taking - or are planning to take - to reach their sustainability targets.

Recognising the innovative and pioneering initiatives in sustainability, the celebrate the projects undertaken by further and higher education institutions who are striving for a sustainable future.

The University鈥檚 initiative focuses on decarbonising its operations to secure a zero-carbon future by 2038. Progress already made includes:

• The landmark deal signed in May 2024 that will see up to 65% of the University鈥檚 electricity demand supplied through a brand-new renewables project.
• Completion of the first phase of building decarbonisation projects including the newly refurbished building which now has the infrastructure to support zero emissions.
• A further 拢25m pledged to decarbonise the University, taking the zero-carbon budget to 拢175m.

The Green Gown Award judges commented: 鈥淪wag直播鈥檚 鈥淶ero Carbon Without a Net鈥� initiative is candid and ambitious. The approach of clearly assessing reality in relation to ambitions is very important and ensures that the approach taken is sincere, going beyond intentions to focus on transformation. Its scientific approach, detailed planning. And substantial internal funding demonstrates a deep institutional commitment to sustainability.鈥�

Swag直播鈥檚 Environmental Sustainability strategy builds on the University鈥檚 core goals of Teaching and Learning, Research and Discovery and Social Responsibility and stresses the need to embed sustainable practises into all University plans, policies and processes.

The strategy also highlights six priority operational areas, all linking back to the United Nations Sustainability Goals: Construction and Refurbishment; Risk and Climate Resilience; Responsible Procurement; Resource Management; Valuing Nature; Travel and Transport. 

鈥淲e are incredibly delighted to be recognised internationally for our decarbonisation plans, which are firmly grounded in science, with our zero-carbon target set in collaboration with experts from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research鈥� said Julia Durkan, Swag直播鈥檚 Head of Environmental Sustainability. 鈥淭his award not only acknowledges our ambitious plans but also celebrates the collective efforts of our colleagues who have made this initiative a reality.  We鈥檙e proud to be part of the international effort to tackle climate change, and we know achieving these goals requires continuous, urgent action and global collaboration.鈥�

City of Trees is an independent charity that plant, look after and promote a culture of trees across Greater Swag直播. They work with volunteers across the region, as part of their 鈥楥itizen Forester鈥� programme to enhance green skills, boost health and wellbeing, and to help tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Aligned closely with the University鈥檚 values and social responsibility agenda, both City of Trees and Swag直播 are passionate about making the region even better, one tree at a time.

In the University's special bicentenary year, it is partnering with City of Trees on several initiatives:

• The University's International Relations team signed the first agreement City of Trees earlier this year, kicking off the partnership which has been growing throughout the bicentenary year. The new agreement and initiative is a positive step in looking at the small changes with big impact that we can make as an institution
• The new agreement and initiative was officially launched at the International Friends of Swag直播 Day on 10 October, whereby the University made a donation on behalf of each international delegate to City of Trees. City of Trees will then plant a tree in Greater Swag直播 to represent each international delegate who attended the event - signifying that international colleagues continue to be a crucial part of the growth and development of both the University and the city.
• For our 200th year specifically, the University is working with City of Trees to plant 200 trees across new woodland sites in Greater Swag直播.
• From 7-9 October the University hosted the THE World Academic Summit and chose to make a charitable donation to City of Trees on behalf of each delegate attending, to the total of 拢1,500.

Swag直播 is truly excited to be supporting City of Trees and partnering with them on these activities, which will foster into the future.

Published this week by , the volume investigates the lives and public work of Henry and Emily Simon, and Ernest and Shena Simon, a family shaped by their German ancestry and Swag直播鈥檚 mercantile class.

The book is written by , Senior Lecture in Geography, , Doctoral Researcher in History, Dr Diana Leitch MBE, former Deputy University Librarian of the John Rylands Library, , Professor of Intellectual History, and , Professor Emerita in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

Although many in Swag直播 are familiar with the Simon name 鈥� through the University鈥檚 Simon Building, Simonsway in Wythenshawe and the Swag直播 College鈥檚 Shena Simon Campus 鈥� the family themselves are often overlooked in favour of other prolific local individuals. This volume aims to boost their profile by illuminating their deep contributions to public life, both locally and nationally. 

The book aims to study the family collectively, by highlighting the marriages of Henry and Emily and of Ernest and Shena as strong partnerships in which the women played important roles not just as mothers and housewives but also as philanthropists, activists and public figures.

Dr Diana Leitch said: 鈥淓mily Simon was one of the first women to be awarded an OBE in 1920, shortly before she died aged 60, for her tireless work at the Red Cross Hospital she ran in her home in very tragic personal circumstances. It was a tribute to her courage and resilience through the First World War.鈥�

The first section of the volume, 鈥楥osmopolitan Swag直播 and the Simons鈥�, focuses on the four Simons as individuals; the four biographical chapters are framed by a study of Swag直播鈥檚 German community. The second part, 鈥楾he Simons鈥� contribution to society鈥�, emphasises the family as a unit and spotlights their economic, social and political endeavours in Swag直播. 

In a later chapter, 鈥楤urghers and citizens: The Simons and the University of Swag直播鈥� Professor Stuart Jones and Dr Professor Chris Godden examine the relationship between the University and the Simon family. Ernest and Shena were at the heart of the University for many decades, and the family have a long connection with the institution and its precursors. 

In 1898, as a leading benefactor, Henry Simon was asked to lay the foundation stone for the new Physics Laboratories for Owens College, later integrated in 1903 into Swag直播. It was in these same laboratories that Ernest Rutherford, Hans Geiger and their colleagues first split the atom. 

Ernest Simon鈥檚 substantial personal investment in social science research - notably through the Simon fellowship scheme - was conceived as a contribution to the cause of citizenship education, to which he devoted much of his public work from the 1930s onwards.

Professor Stuart Jones comments: 鈥淎s a senior lay officer at the University for a quarter of a century, as a leading benefactor, and as a practically-minded thinker, Ernest Simon did more than anyone in his time to sustain a vision of what it meant to be a civic university: a university for the city.鈥�

The family greatly enriched Swag直播鈥檚 cultural and civic institutions, worked to improve the lives of its citizens and helped to spearhead profound national reforms in healthcare, women鈥檚 rights, housing, civic planning and education. 

• Read the full text of The Simons of Swag直播 .

The rankings are developed based on responses to questionnaires sent to the world鈥檚 leading academics and take into account these senior figures鈥� opinions. They assess research-intensive universities across 18 performance indicators, which are divided into five pillars covering their core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and internationalisation.    

The University - one of only twelve UK Universities in the top 100 - fell slightly from 51^st place in 2023. Swag直播 is also ranked the 6^th best university in the UK and 52^nd in the world in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, with the University鈥檚 social and environmental impact ranked in the top ten globally (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings).  

The last 12 months have seen a raft of major developments and initiatives at Swag直播. The University has marked its bicentenary with a huge number of events across campus celebrating 200 years of learning, innovation and research. Unit M, a new capability to drive the University鈥檚 approach to innovation, was launched at the World Academic Summit. Staff, students, alumni and partners are currently participating in Swag直播 2035, the University鈥檚 bold new strategy for the next decade.  

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison said: "Whilst rankings don鈥檛 measure everything we value, Swag直播鈥檚 place among the world鈥檚 top universities is testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire community. We excel in pioneering research, outstanding teaching, and social responsibility and it has been exciting to share our campus and city with delegates at this week鈥檚 Summit.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

鈥淗owever, we recognise there is always room for improvement. Collectively, over the next decade, we need to be more impactful, more engaged, more innovative, and more committed to excellence than we have ever been in our history. This is the vision that is inspiring us as we begin to develop our new Swag直播 2035 strategy over the coming months.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

Phil Baty, Times Higher Education鈥檚 chief global affairs officer, said: 鈥淲hile, overall, the picture of UK higher education in our rankings is positive, the sector is being battered by numerous prevailing winds. Chief amongst them is the extremely stretched finances it is facing and the restrictions on recruiting international students making it harder for them still, making it almost impossible to see how the sector can sustain its position in the coming years without significant help.  

鈥淲e have heard positive words from education secretary Bridget Phillipson, which is very encouraging for the sector. We hope this more positive environment will translate for better news for UK HE which has somehow stayed world-leading despite the extremely tough funding environment it finds itself in.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

contains full list of the 100 universities with the best reputation in the world. 

The (UMHC) was created by Student Minds in partnership with leading higher education bodies and thousands of staff and students. Swag直播 was amongst the first group of universities to sign up as members of the , which brings together universities committed to making mental health a university-wide priority, to share practice and create cultural change. 

The is a voluntary accreditation scheme that supports universities to understand their areas of strength and development to inform ongoing improvement in mental health and wellbeing, recognising good practice along the way. 

As part of the assessment process, we conducted a robust, evidenced-based assessment of our whole-university approach against the principles of good practice within the , including any challenges, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. A self-assessment report, a student-led report and a two-day onsite visit from Student Minds which involved over 100 staff and students, were all part of the assessment process.

Overall, Student Minds stated: 鈥渋n many areas we can be confident that the University is sector-leading鈥� and that they were 鈥渆ncouraged that the University is going in the right direction.鈥� Student Minds felt that 鈥渢he University is largely doing well to meet the Principles of Good Practice and is doing an incredible job to work towards having a whole university approach to mental health.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;  

In awarding the University with the UMHC Award, Student Minds highlighted several examples of excellent practice, including: 

• Within the External Partnerships and Pathways theme, Student Minds 鈥渨ere particularly impressed with the University 鈥檚 commitment to the partnership work across the Greater Swag直播 Universities Student Mental Health Service. This is widely being acknowledged as novel, innovative and sector leading.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
• Within the Progression theme, Student Minds 鈥渞ecognised as excellent practice that the University now offers 3.5 years (versus the standard 3 years) of funding to funded PhD students in recognition of the positive impact of this on completion and PGR student wellbeing.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
• Within the External Partnerships and Pathways theme, Student Minds noted that 鈥渢he University is part of a sexual violence network across Swag直播 that includes the HEI鈥檚, police, council, and NHS. This approach is potentially sector-leading and an example of excellent practice in developing external partnerships.鈥�

Speaking about the UMHC Award, Sarah Littlejohn, Director of Campus Life and UMHC Lead said: 鈥淭he UMHC Programme has given an additional focus and impetus to our existing institutional priority of student and staff mental health and wellbeing. It has helped to shine a light on our whole-University approach, encouraging us to reflect on our current practice across all the different framework themes. We are proud to have achieved the UMHC Award which marks the latest part of our journey in our commitment to continuous improvement around mental health and wellbeing, and our dedication to its ongoing development.鈥� 

The University will continue as members of the UMHC Programme and will now start to use the Award Outcomes Report to inform and feed into our work in this area. Our priorities for the next 6-12 months will focus on the UMHC Framework themes of Student Voice and Participation, Learning, Teaching and Assessment and Inclusivity and Intersectionality. 

Aisha Akram, Wellbeing and Liberation Officer, University of Swag直播 Students鈥� Union commented: 'I'm really pleased that we have received this award and I particularly appreciate the commitment to including myself and my fellow officers at the Students Union within countless panel discussions, in order to ensure that the University's commitment to the student experience with our support service is driven by student feedback. 

鈥淲e will continue to work with the University to ensure that we all stay committed to working in this area and building on the recommendations offered to us. I'm excited to enhance collaboration between the Students鈥� Union and the University to push for the best possible student experience.鈥�

Head of Colleague Wellbeing, Helen Brewis, said:  鈥淚鈥檓 delighted we have achieved the UMHC Award, reflecting the commitment we place on the wellbeing of our students and colleagues and how we have worked as a whole university community on our approach to mental health.

"Over the last two years, we have significantly developed our approach to supporting our colleagues鈥� mental health and wellbeing. The process of working towards the award has helped us to reflect on what is working well and where we can do more. We look forward to using the recommendations from the Award Outcomes Report to continue developing our approach to promoting and supporting good mental health and wellbeing at work.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

• For further information about UMHC Award holders, please visit the  
• For further information about the UMHC Programme, please email UniversityMHCharter@manchester.ac.uk.

Swag直播 is today launching a new capability, , to rethink how it supports the region鈥檚 innovation economy. With a mandate to drive the University鈥檚 new approach to innovation, Unit M will connect and catalyse the innovation ecosystem in Swag直播 and the wider region to accelerate inclusive growth.

The UK faces a myriad of interlinked urgent economic and social challenges which require faster and more inclusive growth across all parts of the country. Cities like Swag直播, as the UK鈥檚 second largest city, are critical to rebalancing growth - but lower productivity, R&D spend and startup activity currently hinder the region in achieving its full potential. 

鈥淭he transformative potential of fully embracing innovation cannot be understated, both for the region and for the UK more widely鈥� says Duncan Ivison, President and Vice Chancellor of Swag直播.  鈥淯nit M lies at the heart of the University鈥檚 ambition to power an inclusive economy, positioning Swag直播 as a central player on the global stage to accelerate growth for all in society.鈥�

Unit M is designed to address all aspects of the innovation challenge - from R&D through to innovation adoption through to talent and skills - by making the world leading  innovation assets and talents of the University more accessible to all. Unit M will drive a new strategy for the University to create a globally leading innovation ecosystem in the region. This will encompass powering the start up and scale up community, catalysing industry clusters, leading future skills provision, strengthening the University鈥檚 partnerships within the region, and telling Swag直播鈥檚 innovation story.  
 

Examples of some of the activities that Unit M will undertake include:

• Creating accelerator and incubator programmes and building investor networks for the startup and scale up community;
• Developing regional innovation clusters and innovation partnerships to attract new innovation-intensive businesses to the region; 
• A new lifelong approach to skills - from expanding scientific/technological skills provision for students, to training executive leaders on innovation adoption; 
• Rethinking the University鈥檚 approach to R&D to be more flexible and responsive to industry demand

Unit M will have the agility to operate dynamically in response to the most impactful opportunities as they emerge - whether that鈥檚 connecting students into the ecosystem or drawing on expertise from across the whole University to help solve real world challenges from industry. 

鈥淪wag直播 has experienced major change over the past 30 years, but not everyone has benefited from rising prosperity鈥�, said Mayor of Greater Swag直播, Andy Burnham. 鈥淣ow, more than ever, we need to pioneer a new model of regional collaboration that harnesses our industrial strengths and innovation capabilities. Unit M will not only foster inclusive growth throughout Greater Swag直播, but contribute to the broader prosperity of the UK.鈥�

Unit M is live from today, and will be rapidly scaling over the coming months. The team is seeking to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, changemakers and business leaders who are interested in partnering with the University.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Swag直播 City Council, said: 鈥淪wag直播 has always been a hotbed of innovation. Building on our existing strengths is vital to Swag直播, and Greater Swag直播, accelerating our growth at scale to generate more jobs and investment. With Unit M, Swag直播 is doing exactly that - doubling down on innovation while encouraging even more collaboration with our business community. Further strengthening the city's innovation ecosystem will help create jobs, investment and growth that works for everyone.鈥�

Unit M will align with and complement existing capabilities across the University, including the University鈥檚 tech transfer office, The Innovation Factory,  The Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology and the Turing Innovation Catalyst and its sector leading business engagement, student entrepreneurship, and flexible learning teams. It will also partner closely with external capabilities, including the Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority (GMCA), local councils and other institutions.  

By convening these existing innovation services across the University and its key strategic partners, Unit M will accelerate and drive the development of new opportunities to build a strong innovation economy throughout the region.  

Led by Professor Deborah Greaves at the University of Plymouth, the Supergen ORE Hub includes co-directors from a consortium of ten universities. From Swag直播, serves as a Co-Director and is an Early Career Researcher (ECR) Co-Lead.

The report, aimed at researchers, industry, policymakers, and the public, summarises the current impacts of climate change and the UK鈥檚 progress in reducing carbon emissions. It outlines offshore renewable energy deployment pathways needed for a just, sustainable and secure energy transition, with 2040 identified as a key milestone towards the UK 2050 Net Zero goals.

Key findings from the report include:

• Achieving 100 GW of offshore wind energy by 2040 is critical, requiring a nearly seven times increase in capacity. Radical innovation is essential to optimise and scale up growth.
• Tidal stream energy has the potential to grow alongside offshore wind and could reach over 11 GW of capacity in UK waters. Rapid progress is required, to deliver the EU SET Plan target of 6 GW deployment of tidal stream by 2050.
• Wave energy has significant potential, with an estimated exploitable resource of 25 GW in the UK. Deployment of 12 GW of wave and tidal stream by 2050 could add 拢40 billion GVA to the UK economy and reduce energy balancing costs by 拢1 billion annually. Investment in innovation over the next decade is crucial to achieving this potential.

Professor Tim Stallard said: 鈥淭he ORE Outlook 2040 report highlights the high potential for Offshore Renewable Energy sources to contribute to the UK meeting its Net Zero goals. The growth required cannot be realised by upscaling current approaches alone and urgent action is needed to accelerate innovation and deployment.鈥�

The report also explores ORE development through lenses of planning and consenting, people, supply chain, and infrastructure and grid. Investment in research and innovation is highlighted as crucial to de-risking new technologies, reducing costs, improving performance and ensuring the UK retains its technological leadership on the global stage.

The Supergen ORE Hub, established by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), aims to deliver strategic and coordinated research on sustainable power generation and supply.

Celebrated every October, Foundation Day marks the coming together of the Victoria University of Swag直播 and Swag直播 Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2004.

This year marks the University鈥檚 200^th anniversary. The bicentenary represents an important milestone for the University, and the chance to both reflect and look ahead. As well as anniversary celebrations, this year鈥檚 event is particularly significant as it is President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison鈥檚 first-time celebrating Foundation Day since joining the University in August 2024.

Giving the annual Foundation Day address, President and Vice-Chancellor explored critical questions about our future, the path to achieving our ambitions, and the ways in which we can further our commitment to social responsibility, teaching and research excellence, and civic engagement. These themes are behind Swag直播 2035, the University's new strategic roadmap building on the purpose, vision, and values of Our future, to identify and accelerate Swag直播's ambitions for the next decade.  

Each year Foundation Day sees honorary degrees given to a number of notable names for their achievements.

2024鈥檚 Honorary Graduates:

Professor Emeritus John Casken is an established and successful composer; his works range across different genres and are inspired by literature, landscape and visual arts. He was a Professor of Music at the University from 1992 to 2008. His music will be performed at the 20^th anniversary celebrations for the Martin Harris Centre on 25 October.

Sir Clive Lloyd is a former cricketer and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He was captain of the West Indies cricket team, and played for the Lancashire cricket team from 1968, before being made captain in 1981.

Professor Emeritus Tony Redmond OBE studied medicine at Swag直播 and is a world-leading specialist in emergency medicine. He is the founder of UK-Med, an organisation which coordinates the provision of health workers to international crises, and he was appointed as the medical director of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dame Sharon White is Chair of the John Lewis Partnership (her term ends at the end of September this year). She previously held a variety of roles in the Civil Service and was the Chief Executive of the British media regulator Ofcom from March 2015 to November 2019. White was Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury from 2013 to 2015; she was the first black person and the second woman to occupy this role.

The Athena Swan Charter is designed to help institutions achieve gender equality and meet equality legislation requirements. It also identifies areas for positive action, recognises and shares good practices, and supports the promotion of inclusive work environments.

All three Schools (School of Biological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Medical Sciences) were holders of individual Silver Athena Swan awards since the formation of FBMH.

In 2022, the Faculty  consolidated efforts into one Athena Swan Award application, rather than submitting three concurrent School applications. This approach was designed to enable the scaling up of initiatives, whilst showcasing achievements in a more detailed way. It also allowed the Faculty to include a larger number of professional services staff, demonstrating  commitment to equality and career progression for all staff in FBMH.

There are three levels of the Athena Swan award: bronze (for planning), silver (for doing), and gold (for sustaining). The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has been awarded the silver award, which is valid until September 2029.

Established in 2005, the Athena Swan Charter was created to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).

It has since been expanded to include recognition of work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), in professional and support roles, and for transgender staff and students. This also includes efforts to combat gender equality more broadly, namely through addressing barriers to progression, irrespective of sex or gender identity.

Professor Natalie Gardiner and Dr Beth Micakovic, Athena Swan Leads of FBMH said: 鈥淐reating and maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment where all staff and students thrive is our priority. We have outstanding colleagues driving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across FBMH and this award is testament to everyone's hard work. A huge thank you!

鈥淭hrough the Athena Swan process our EDI leads and self-assessment team were able to take stock of our progress, reflect on successes and where we need to do more. Through critical self-assessment, consultation with key stakeholders, we have co-created an ambitious action plan to tackle inequalities, to promote a positive learning and working environment for staff and students of all genders.

鈥淲e hope you will see a number of commitments already coming to fruition, but we look forward to working with the whole FBMH community in delivering on the commitments set out in the Action Plan.鈥�

Advance HE will host a ceremony for all 2024 Athena Swan award recipients in early 2025.

Swag直播鈥檚 continued commitment to the principles of the Athena Swan Charter, and to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, will ensure a diverse and vibrant working environment for both staff and students.

Swag直播鈥檚 new 拢1.7bn innovation district and neighbourhood opens the doors to its first building, while unveiling its new name as . The district has also announced its first customer, Sustainable Ventures, Europe's leading climate tech hub, which will officially move into the Renold Building in November. 

Previously known as ID Swag直播, Sister is a joint venture between Swag直播 and . The project will see the transformation of the University鈥檚 former North campus into a 4 million sq ft globally competitive innovation district and will help elevate Swag直播鈥檚 position as a national centre for science and technology.

Sister will specialise in advancing innovation across sectors including digital tech, health innovation, biotechnology, advanced materials and manufacturing. It will provide access to state of the art facilities, connecting early-stage high growth potential businesses with investors, while creating a collaborative ecosystem that enables UK and global businesses to benefit from cutting edge innovation. 

Driving economic growth and creating opportunities for local communities

Sister is primed to be a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity across the North of England, and is projected to contribute around 拢1.5bn GVA per annum to Swag直播. More than just a development project, the district aims to create a positive social impact through the generation of a large portion of high-quality employment opportunities, including over 10,000 on-site full-time equivalent jobs and accessible routes to education, training and apprenticeships for local people. 

Over 1,500 new homes will be delivered, alongside over 2 million sq ft of commercial, innovation, retail and leisure space. Within 9 acres of public realm space, Sister will also create a new civic square for Swag直播 and feature a variety of new and enhanced green spaces for local communities to access and enjoy.  

Reinventing a historic educational building for tomorrow's leading businesses

The opening  of the Renold Building marks the first phase of the ambitious 15 year project and is supported by funding through the Greater Swag直播 Investment Zone, of which the district is a key initiative supporting the growth of the advanced materials and manufacturing sector.

The 110,000 sq ft newly renovated building has been transformed into an innovation hub, celebrating its history as a purpose-built teaching facility and centre for science and technology excellence. To support the growth and scale-up of early-stage start-ups and spin-outs, the Renold Building will provide a range of low and no-cost coworking facilities, private office suites, as well as a community cafe and flexible event spaces accessible to local businesses and community groups. 

The first customer to move on site this November is Sustainable Ventures, which helps climate start-ups and entrepreneurs scale through investment, workspaces and venture support. Sustainable Ventures will expand its presence outside of its London headquarters, currently Europe鈥檚 largest climate tech hub, by occupying three floors of the Renold Building. 

It will be joined by a number of University innovation initiatives at the Renold Building, including the Turing Innovation Catalyst Swag直播, accelerating the growth of AI-start-ups;  the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for health technology research and innovation; and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst, a cross-sector collaboration to empower the growth of biotechnology businesses.

Following the opening of the Renold Building, Sister will soon announce plans for the district鈥檚 first major development zone, set to include new commercial workspace, a mix of retail and leisure facilities and new public realm spaces.  

A model for successful public-private collaboration

Sister is leveraging successful cross-industry partnerships to become a major economic enabler for the future of the city. The district is one of the key strengths in the GM Investment Zone, which will invest 拢160 million in projects that increase growth and innovation in the region over the next 10 years and sees central and local government work closely with businesses, higher education institutions and other local partners. Key to delivering Sister鈥檚 long-term economic impact is the city region鈥檚 strong local leadership and support from industry investment, including through the Bruntwood SciTech joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Swag直播 Pension Fund, now the UK鈥檚 largest dedicated property platform dedicated to the growth of the knowledge economy.

Why Sister?

The name, Sister, represents the close bond between industry and academia and expresses an ethos of collaboration, openness and the use of knowledge to solve problems. It builds on the heritage of the former academic campus, once home to the University of Swag直播 Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), and represents a vision to create an ecosystem of like-minded companies, institutions, districts and cities to drive innovation forward and help tackle some of the world鈥檚 greatest challenges.

Bradley Topps, Project Director, Sister and Chief Commercial Officer, Bruntwood SciTech, said: 鈥�Sister is founded on the belief that it takes a community to raise an idea and that although ideas may appear in a single mind, they flourish when people come together. This new district marks a new chapter in Swag直播鈥檚 history of science and innovation. Over the next 15 years, we鈥檙e dedicated to developing an inclusive space that connects talent, investment, education and enterprise, providing the perfect conditions for ideas to spark, collaboration to flourish, and world-changing innovations to scale.鈥�

John Holden, Associate Vice-President, Swag直播 and Executive Committee Member, Sister said: 鈥淭he opening of the Renold Building is a major milestone in the development of Sister, capitalising on Swag直播鈥檚 research, innovation and education capabilities to catalyse the growth of successful science and technology start-ups. Sister will be home to some of the most exciting businesses in the UK developing solutions to help tackle society's biggest challenges. We're excited to open the doors to a vibrant new innovation district that will drive growth for ambitious start-ups and scale-ups, attract new science and technology companies to Swag直播, and create new opportunities for our staff, students and local communities.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Swag直播 City Council, said: 鈥淭his is a significant moment for Swag直播. The fact that Sister will ultimately create 10,000 jobs and add 拢1.5 billion a year to the city鈥檚 economy underlines its scale and the sheer ambition behind this major new district. This development will add to Swag直播鈥檚 thriving innovation ecosystem and, true to the heritage of a site from which great ideas and innovations have previously sprung, will help keep the city in the forefront of future innovation.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Swag直播, said: 鈥淪ister will be a thriving innovation district at the heart of Greater Swag直播. With the Renold Building opening and welcoming its first occupier, we鈥檙e seeing the first signs of what this area will become 鈥� a home for start-ups, innovation-led businesses, universities, researchers and investors, where the clustering effect helps create jobs and opportunities. Sister is also a key site for our Investment Zone, which is supporting the growth of the advanced materials and manufacturing sector. Our city-region has been a centre of scientific and technological innovation for two centuries and places like Sister are where the next chapter of that story is written.鈥�

CEO of Sustainable Ventures, Andrew Wordsworth, said: 鈥淲e're thrilled to grow Sustainable Ventures' footprint in the UK by establishing a presence in Sister, at the heart of the UK鈥檚 second-largest tech ecosystem. This partnership empowers us to supercharge climate tech innovation across The North, bringing workspace, investment and a wealth of expertise to the region鈥檚 pioneering startups and entrepreneurs. The climate tech companies we鈥檝e supported to date have already created over 6,000 jobs and we hope to replicate that economic growth within the region over the next few years.鈥�

To mark World Alzheimer鈥檚 Day, Saturday 21 September, Professor Douglas Field is announcing the release of a new book, Walking in the dark: James Baldwin, my father and me, a moving literary exploration of the disease.

Douglas Field was introduced to Baldwin's essays and novels by his father, who witnessed the writer's debate with William F. Buckley Jr. at Cambridge University in 1965. Professor Field rediscovered Baldwin鈥檚 works when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and turning to Baldwin for answers about his father鈥檚 condition inspired Field to write his book.  

Set for publication by in November 2024, Walking in the dark blends biography with memoir. By interweaving his personal experiences with Baldwin鈥檚 iconic works, Field demonstrates the power of literature to inspire and illuminate new understandings of both our personal experiences, and the universal mysteries of everyday life.

Douglas Field is a writer, academic and Professor of American Literature. He has published two books on James Baldwin, the most recent of which is All Those Strangers: The Art and Lives of James Baldwin (2015). His work has been published in Beat Scene, The Big Issue, the Guardian and the Times Literary Supplement, where he has been a regular contributor for twenty years. He is a founding editor of James Baldwin Review.

Led by , World Alzheimer鈥檚 Day takes place on 21 September, during World Alzheimer鈥檚 Month. The 2024 campaign and World Alzheimer Report, which will be launched on 20 September, will centre on challenging why people still wrongly believe that dementia is a part of normal ageing.

Leading up to 21 September, Alzheimer鈥檚 organisations and individuals affected by the condition share stories to raise awareness and address the stigma that exists around Alzheimer鈥檚 and dementia. Public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer's Day, are of great importance for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and dementia.

This year鈥檚 campaign will centre around the tagline: 鈥楾ime to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer鈥檚鈥�, focusing on changing attitudes towards the condition, while highlighting the positive steps being undertaken by organisations and governments globally to develop a more dementia friendly society.

Professor Douglas Field is holding a free public book launch for Walking in the dark, taking place at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation and hosted by Professor David Olusoga OBE. 

• Details of the book launch are available .
• For more information about Walking in the dark, visit Swag直播 University Press .
• Find out more about World Alzheimer鈥檚 day .

The KEF provides information about the broad ranging knowledge exchange activities of English HE Providers, such as the way universities work with external partners, from businesses to community groups, for the benefit of the economy and society. 

Swag直播 supports the full range of knowledge exchange activities through public engagement, supporting businesses and commercialising research towards next generation technologies. Students, staff, partners and local communities all play a key role in ensuring that the University makes a positive societal and economic impact. 

The KEF allows universities to better understand their own performance and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. HE Providers are placed into a cluster of peers, grouping together universities of similar types, with Swag直播 placed in a group of 18 large, research-intensive universities including Oxford and Imperial. 

Swag直播鈥檚 performance in continuous professional development and Graduate Startups, which is supported by the work of the and , received an enhanced rating of high engagement in KEF4, and Swag直播 now sits above the cluster group average.  

Swag直播 also continues to receive the highest rating for Research Partnerships, where the University is placed above the cluster group average. This recognises the work of the University鈥檚 Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team.  

The excellent performance of the in licensing, IP income, investment and turnover of spinouts continues to be recognised with the highest rating in IP and Commercialisation. 

The University also received the highest rating for Public Engagement, and includes our achievements in volunteering, festivals, citizen science, and engagement with communities through our cultural institutions, , , , and the . 

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: 鈥淜nowledge exchange is a core priority for Swag直播. We shall continue to ensure that our research, teaching and social responsibility activities benefit the economy and society at local, national and global levels.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

• You can view each university鈥檚 performances on the . 

Nobel prize winning physicist Professor Sir Andre Geim will also be delivering a keynote speech at the flagship event in England on Tuesday 8 October in an interview talk titled 鈥楬ow graphene has been changing science and technology frontiers.鈥�

Brian Cox is professor of particle physics at Swag直播 and is speaking at the opening, in conversation style, keynote. He actively promotes science and is well-known for the science programmes he hosts on the BBC. He received an OBE for services to science in 2010, the President鈥檚 Medal from the Institute of Physics in 2012 and the Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize in 2012.

Sir Andre Geim is regius professor and Royal Society research professor at Swag直播. He has received many international awards and distinctions, including the John Carty Prize from the US National Academy of Sciences and the Copley Medal from the Royal Society. Most notably, he was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for his ground-breaking work on graphene.

THE鈥檚 flagship annual higher education summit will feature more than 140 speakers and 450 guests, bringing together thought leaders from across academia, policy, industry and civil society. The agenda will consist of a mixture of keynote talks, panel discussions, seminars, case study conversations, practical workshops, best practice sharing and networking events.

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of graphene being isolated for the first time by professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov at Swag直播, for which they won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. Graphene is the thinnest material in the world, as well as one of the strongest and hardest. This session will discuss a range of topics including Professor Geim's experiences of isolating graphene and its almost limitless potential.

The event, which takes place at Swag直播, will focus on the theme: 鈥楳aking a difference: The role of universities in a rapidly changing world.鈥� It is the key place to discuss how institutions can make a difference, both internally across departments and externally with industry, government and civil society, to advance transformative research and its practical implementation.

Phil Baty, THE鈥檚 chief global affairs officer, said: "We are extremely excited to be welcoming, as keynote speakers, Professor Brian Cox and Professor Sir Andre Geim. They are two individuals who have had a massive impact on our world which fits in perfectly with the theme of Times Higher Education鈥檚 flagship World Academic Summit 鈥� making a difference.

鈥淲e are also absolutely thrilled to be hosting our World Academic Summit in partnership with one the world鈥檚 most prestigious higher education institutions 鈥� Swag直播, on the momentous occasion of their 200th anniversary.

鈥淭he summit is about making a difference and we are delighted to have the leaders of the world鈥檚 higher education community, as well as some of the leading political, business and civil society figures working in higher education come join and collaborate with us in one of the world鈥檚 greatest cities 鈥� Swag直播.鈥�

The summit will feature the exclusive reveal of the world鈥檚 most widely recognised, authoritative and prestigious ranking, THE鈥檚 World University Rankings 2025, at a gala dinner. This will be followed by an in-depth masterclass from THE鈥檚 data team, providing analysis and insight into the key findings, trends and stories from the rankings data.

Tickets are available for representatives of a university, association, public sector or NGO for 拢1,695 and are 拢2,299 for those in a corporate organisation.

Swag直播 is proud to share that Dr Bovinille Anye Cho has been announced as a recipient of the prestigious (CDF), a programme aimed at developing underrepresentation in UK STEM academia.

Dr Anye Cho is one of eight outstanding researchers selected in the first cohort of CDFs, who are undertaking groundbreaking research that can benefit society and further human understanding.

His research centres on revolutionising bioenergy processes to become more environmentally sustainable, in particular, anaerobic digestion (AD), which is a process that transforms agricultural and food waste into a clean energy source known as biomethane.

Although an effective way to manage waste, this process also creates a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and impurities, which contributes to global warming.

Dr Anye Cho is exploring the use of microalgae, which can be used to convert CO₂ into valuable food supplements and healthcare products through photosynthesis. In the UK, where tons of agricultural and food waste are generated, incorporating algae technology into the exiting AD facilities could increase the production of clean energy, while yielding high-value bio renewables that are currently heavily dependent on imports.

Dr Anye Cho鈥檚 project aims to employ advanced mathematical modelling and Artificial Intelligence methods to ensure that facilities of various sizes can operate effectively for long durations, enabling stability and boosting the production of clean energy and valuable products. His fellowship will be based in the Department of Chemical Engineering, where he has served as a Research Associate since March 2023. He earned his PhD from the same department in January 2023, completing it in an impressive three years while publishing over 11 original scientific papers.

The Career Development Fellowships are currently running as a pilot programme with researchers from Black and Mixed Black heritage. The CDFs offer four years of funding (up to 拢690,000), mentoring and support to kickstart the careers of researchers from underrepresented groups.

The scheme was launched in response to 11 years of higher education data which showed Black heritage researchers leave academia at higher rates than those from other groups. The impact of this higher attrition rate is pronounced at senior levels of academic careers.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: 鈥淲e need an academic system where talented researchers can build a career, whatever their background. But we know that is not the case in the UK today 鈥� particularly for researchers of Black heritage.

鈥淭he variety and quality of research being undertaken by this first cohort of Royal Society Career Development Fellows suggests a bright future ahead if we can ensure more outstanding researchers develop their talents and follow their research passions.

鈥淚 hope this pilot and the support it offers can be a launchpad to achieve that.鈥�

In addition to their fellowship funding and support from the Royal Society, the award holders will have access to networking and mentoring opportunities supported by the (BBSTEM) network.

If the pilot is shown to be effective, the CDF programme could be expanded to include researchers from other groups, where the data shows there is persistent underrepresentation.

Dr Mark Richards, Senior Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London and a member of the Royal Society鈥檚 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee who participated in the shortlisting and assessment panels for the CDFs, said:

鈥淭here are many reasons scientists from marginalised groups may leave academia, often it鈥檚 because they鈥檙e looking ahead and not seeing themselves reflected in those spaces.

鈥淭his scheme, which offers funding, mentoring and recognition from a body like the Royal Society can be the endorsement to propel these eight excellent academics to go on and grow their own research groups.

Overtime I hope it can become self-sustaining, creating a network of scientists in universities, and beyond, who can help raise aspirations and open doors.鈥�

• Applications for the second year of Career Development Fellowships are due to open on 24 September 2024.
• Find out more about the Royal Society Career Development Fellowships .
• Read the Royal Society鈥檚 CDFs press release .

The 鈥楤ee Cup鈥� scheme is a joint project between the University, Swag直播 City Council and which will see the implementation of a reusable cup scheme across campus.

Several caf茅 locations will be involved in this scheme 鈥� including the Student鈥檚 Union, Benugo and numerous locations on Oxford Road, such as the Royal Northern College of Music, Eighth Day and Bold Street.

To take part in this initiative, staff and students need to download the app; at UniCaf茅s only, customers will receive their first Bee Cup drink for free. After finishing their drink, customers must return their Bee Cup to one of the participating locations where it will be scanned into the app, washed, stored and reused.

Customers will incur a 拢5 charge if their cup is not returned within 14 days. The price of disposable cups will increase from 20p to 50p to encourage customers to take part in the Bee Cup initiative.

Thousands of single-use cups are bought, used and discarded across multiple campus caf茅 locations every year. Though many of these cups are considered compostable, they cannot be recycled easily and are instead disposed of as general waste.

Sophie Jones, Community Engagement Lead, said: 鈥淚n Our Nature is a partnership programme dedicated to supporting communities and individuals across Swag直播 to connect the climate crisis with practical actions we can all take to reduce carbon, save money and learn new skills.

鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to be supporting the Bee Cup returnable cup scheme as part of our Community Support offer; helping to reduce waste and enable individuals to make more sustainable choices every day.鈥�

The Bee Cup scheme was developed as part of the University鈥檚 Environmental Sustainability Strategy launched in 2023. The strategy outlined a plan to reduce the University鈥檚 carbon footprint, promote sustainability in teaching, learning, research and innovation, and reduce its negative environmental operational impact.

Alison Shedlock, Director of Campus Services, said: 鈥淲e are so excited to be launching the Bee Cup and working with partners in the city. I hope that the university community embraces the scheme so that we can significantly reduce the number of single use cups purchased on campus and reduce our carbon footprint, with the objective to expand the scheme across Swag直播.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

• The Bee Cup initiative launches today in UniCaf茅 locations. 

A University of Swag直播 scientist has been awarded the prestigious by the Royal Society for his work documenting the history of biology as both an author and a broadcaster.

The medal, given for excellence in a subject relating to the history, philosophy or social function of science, was awarded to Professor Matthew Cobb last week.

Professor Cobb joined Swag直播 in 2002 as a lecturer in animal behaviour; he is currently a Professor of Zoology in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, but will shortly retire, becoming Professor Emeritus.

While most of Professor Cobb鈥檚 research has been on behaviour and communication in animals, his Royal Society medal is in recognition of his contribution to the history of science.

Professor Cobb said: 鈥淭his is a tremendous honour for me 鈥� the Medal is the fusion of three awards, one of which goes back 80 years, and has been won by some extraordinary people.

鈥淚t is really quite humbling to be in such company. And a vindication of Swag直播鈥檚 embrace of multidisciplinarity, and of the School of Biological Sciences鈥� enthusiasm for its students鈥� taking courses from the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.鈥�

In 2021, Professor Cobb presented a BBC radio series on the history of genetic engineering, He has also presented programmes about the history of academic publishing, the development of CRISPR gene editing, as well as programmes about the origins of animals and the life of the revolutionary scientist Sydney Brenner.

Alongside his BBC series, Professor Cobb is known to a wider audience through his books which have received commercial success. In 2022, he published The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest to Edit Life. In 2020, The Idea of the Brain was chosen as one of The Sunday Times' 鈥�Books of the Year鈥�.

The Wilkins, Bernal and Medawar lectures were originally delivered as three separate lectures, before they were combined under one title in 2007. Previous winners include Melvyn Bragg in 2010, Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS in 2020, and most recently Professor Sarah Franklin, who in 2023 delivered the lecture, 鈥楾alking Embryos: Changing Public Perceptions of Embryo Research鈥�.

Professor Cobb鈥檚 passions extend beyond science. He has written two books on the French Resistance during World War II, one of which won the Anglo-French Society Award.

For this work he was made a Chevalier dans l鈥橭rdre des Palmes acad茅miques, an award conferred by the French government for significant contributions to the advancement of intellectual, scientific and artistic pursuits.

Professor Cobb is currently finishing a biography about Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix; Crick鈥檚 extraordinary career will potentially inform the subject of Cobb鈥檚 Royal Society lecture. The date of his prize lecture is yet to be confirmed.

• To read more on the Royal Society鈥檚 2024 award recipients visit .

Research Project of the Year: STEM 

Groundbreaking research that led to the world's first bedside genetic test to prevent babies going deaf has also earned a nomination. 

The research, led by Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, part of Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), Swag直播 and Swag直播-based firm genedrive Plc, helped to develop the pioneering, rapid bedside genetic test which was piloted at MFT in 2022. 

The technology could save the hearing of 180 babies in the UK every year and bring a saving of 拢5m to the NHS annually. The test is now being rolled-out in all Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Greater Swag直播, with a hope that this will become part of routine clinical care across the UK. 

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year 

In collaboration with the University of Salford and IntoUniversity, the University of Swag直播 played a pivotal role in launching a new learning centre aimed at supporting thousands of young people to achieve their academic and career ambitions.  

Salford is the 18th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, with latest figures suggesting 22% of children are living in poverty and pupils in the area now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the end of their GCSEs.  

The centre has exceeded targets since opening, driven by a dedicated team that has supported over 1,500 young people, recruited students to Academic Support, established partnerships with local schools and run programmes through the holidays. 

The Charter aims to raise employment standards across Greater Swag直播. It strives for excellence in the core areas of Secure Work, Flexible Work, Pay, Engagement & Voice, Recruitment, People Management and Health & Wellbeing.

The University seeks to be an employer of choice nationally and internationally, and is one of the biggest employers in Greater Swag直播, providing jobs to more than 12,500 people across a range of professional services and academic roles.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at Swag直播, commented: 鈥淏eing accredited by the Good Employment Charter is important to our mission as a civic university with social responsibility at its core. This voluntary Charter is an independent way to measure our practices around good employment, learn from other employers in Greater Swag直播 and be part of a wider movement of organisations committed to improving the lives of our employees.

鈥淧eople are at the heart of the University鈥檚 vision, and we are proud of our diverse, inclusive community of individuals who work together to create positive change for the world around them. We also know we have more work to do to ensure we remain an employer of choice in the region and are keen to work with the Charter team to share our plans to develop and enhance the experience for our community of colleagues.鈥�

Membership of the is voluntary, and it is allocated when institutions and businesses in the region demonstrate that they have met the criteria in all seven characteristics of the Charter.

Ian MacArthur, Director of the Greater Swag直播 Good Employment Charter, said: 鈥淚 am delighted that Swag直播 are now Members of the Greater Swag直播 Good Employment Charter. As a key anchor institution in the city region it is wonderful to have them as part of our expanding movement, that is continually striving to adopt better employment standards for all.鈥�

The Charter was co-designed by the Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority (GMCA), Greater Swag直播 districts, trade unions, employers and employees from all sectors.

Grace Harvey, Dental Public Health master鈥檚 student and immunology graduate at Swag直播, will be heading to the French capital this month to compete in the para-swimming events.

This is not Grace鈥檚 first Paralympic appearance, having clinched a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 100m breaststroke (SB5). She went on to win gold in the same event at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira in 2022, and silver in the Swag直播 event in 2023 held at the Swag直播 Aquatics Centre.

She has come a long way in her swimming career, having started the sport for physiotherapy and joining her first swimming club at 9 years old. Grace is now the current European champion in the 100m breaststroke (SB5), collecting gold at the 2024 Championships in Madeira and silver in the 100m freestyle (S6).

From Ware, Hertfordshire, Grace is a 10-time British record holder and she swam for the University at the 2018 British Universities and Colleges Sport championships. She is also a University of Swag直播 Sport Scholar, with her extensive training regime comprising of 8 pool sessions, 3 gym sessions and 2 indoor rowing sessions a week.

Also appearing at the Paralympics this year is Archie Atkinson. Enrolled on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and supported by the University, he will be making his Paralympic debut as part of Team GB鈥檚 para-cycling team.

Despite being in the early stages of his cycling career, Archie has already won gold in the MC4 individual pursuit at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships this year. He also secured gold in the MC4 scratch race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-track, and bronze in the MC4 road race at the UCI Cycling World Championships - Para-road.

James Marenghi, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at Swag直播, said: 鈥淭he scholarship programmes at Swag直播 are vital in ensuring students are supported in balancing their studies and progressing their sporting aspirations. We are therefore delighted to see a number of our past and present student athletes progress to represent their country in the biggest sports event on the planet and are proud of their achievements.

鈥淓veryone at the University wishes Grace and Archie the very best of luck for their individual competitions, and we will all be supporting them in their aims of winning Paralympic gold!鈥�

Swag直播 has a proud history of developing elite sportspeople, from students and alumni to athletes supported through , a Sport England funded partnership delivered across education institutions.

Since the scheme launched in 2004, Swag直播 has been proud to be a TASS Delivery Site. Supporting over 150 athletes over this time, the University provides physiotherapy, lifestyle advice, nutrition support and sport psychology services.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will run from 28 August to 8 September.

The University鈥檚 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team hosted the 鈥淲e Belong Here鈥� event in April 2023, which aimed to inspire young people who are care experienced to think about attending university, and to consider Swag直播 as a university of choice. At this event, Professor Jackie Carter connected with several care experienced or estranged young people, including Willow. Jackie was very taken by Willow, stating: 鈥淲hat struck me about Willow was her motivation in wanting to study Sociology because all the books she was reading made no reference to people like her鈥�.

After the event, Jackie arranged work experience for Willow at the University. Willow shadowed Jackie, met with other academics, talked to university students, and spent time exploring the campus. Jackie also offered to mentor Willow by supporting and guiding her through her A-Level exams, as well as encouraging her to apply for the course she wanted to study. In a reflection on her work experience Willow wrote: 鈥淚t felt like they wanted you to succeed and find your place in this academic world. Like, it鈥檚 not just about getting a degree, it鈥檚 about discovering your passions, pushing your boundaries, and becoming the best version of yourself.鈥�.

Congratulations to Willow Stephenson who will be joining in September to study Sociology () and German.

At an event set up by colleagues, met with several care-experienced or estranged young people, which is where she met Willow.

鈥� Swag直播 (@OfficialUoM)

On A-Level Results Day, Willow found out she will be coming to the University in September to study her dream course, which is a brilliant result. Jackie says: 鈥淎 year ago she didn鈥檛 even know she could study this degree and had no intention of applying for Swag直播.鈥�

Since Willow received her results, Jackie has reflected upon the impact herself and other female members of staff had on Willow. Highlighting the importance of representation, Jackie says: 鈥淚 think helping her [Willow] see strong women who cared about her progress has been a huge boost for her鈥�.

Swag直播 continues its commitment to supporting young people who are care experienced or estranged, in succeeding in higher education. Willow鈥檚 story and the dedication demonstrated by Professor Jackie Carter and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion team, illustrates that it is both possible, and imperative, to make a difference.

• For more information about Swag直播鈥檚 commitment to care experienced and estranged young people, visit this page.

The annual rankings see Swag直播 retain its top ten status as the 6th best institution in the UK and 15th in Europe, according to the ARWU. However, the University has slipped from 41 to 52 globally.

This year, more than 2500 institutions were scrutinised, and the best 1000 universities in the world are published. Overall, The United Kingdom has 63 Top 1000 universities, and 38 of them are listed in the Top 500, 8 are listed in the Top 100. 

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison, said: 鈥淲hile they don鈥檛 measure everything we value, what these rankings demonstrate is our consistent position as one of Europe鈥檚 leading universities. But, for a University of our scale and ambition, they also serve as a reminder that we need pay attention to our global performance and work collectively to improve across everything we do to retain our position as a world-leading institution."

Starting from 2003, ARWU has been presenting the world's top universities annually based on a set of objective indicators and third-party data.  

Universities are ranked by several academic or research performance indicators, including alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, Highly Cited Researchers, papers published in Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation indices, and the per capita academic performance of an institution. 

This latest ARWU ranking follows on from Swag直播 named as the world's 34th best University according to the newest , published in June this year. 

Swag直播 was also named top in both the UK and Europe, and second in the world for meaningful contributions towards the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.  

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) an impressive 93% of our research activity was rated 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*), confirming Swag直播 as one of the UK's top research institutions.  

The complete list and detailed methodologies can be found at ShanghaiRanking鈥檚 website    

Swag直播 has appointed Eleanor Morrissey as its new Executive Director for People and Organisational Development.

Eleanor is a leading human resources professional with experience of successful leadership over 28 years. This has included being Global HR Director at Genus Plc - a FTSE 250 biotech company, the Cooperative and the Aspire Group - a commercial business that provides housing, training, and neighbourhood and business services.

Throughout her career she has had a strong focus on data and technology, leading numerous initiatives, leading to more efficient working patterns for staff and smoother processes for people across the organisations.

As well as these roles, Eleanor has also been the Chair of The Gingerbread Centre - a homelessness charity supporting families across Staffordshire 鈥� where she worked to improve governance and developed a new strategy.

She is also currently a member of the Board of Governors at Staffordshire University.

Eleanor holds an MA in Strategic Human Resources Management and has been a fellow of the CIPD for over 15 years.

Eleanor enjoys keeping fit, walking her two Cockerpoo dogs and spending time with friends and family.

Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Hackett, said: 鈥淓leanor is a highly experienced leader who has an outstanding track record in complex and diverse organisations.

鈥淪he is committed to our University鈥檚 values and has a strong emphasis on improving systems and services for everyone. I am very much looking forward to her joining.

鈥淚 would like to also thank Andrew Mullen for leading the Directorate over the last few months on an interim basis.鈥�

Professor Duncan Ivison, who will take up the position of President and Vice-Chancellor from 1 August, said: 鈥淥ur people are integral to the University鈥檚 future, and I am looking forward to welcoming Eleanor to the University鈥檚 Senior Leadership Team.鈥�

Eleanor will officially join the University on 1 September and will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Professional Services Leadership Team.

The University and Viridis consortium will now work together to further develop its DBFO delivery plans with the aim of reaching financial close by summer 2025.

The redevelopment will create modern, high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation on the Fallowfield campus. It forms part of a phased redevelopment to increase the supply of modern bedrooms and student socialising spaces to provide a supportive residential experience.

Swag直播鈥檚 proposal to redevelop the Fallowfield Campus to provide more high-quality, modern student accommodation was approved by Swag直播 City Council Planning and Highways Committee in January 2024.

The approved plans encompass the redevelopment of Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall to meet the demand for student bedrooms in inclusive, safe and sociable surroundings.

Located near the University鈥檚 main buildings, the site is well-connected and provides students with a wide range of support services to ensure a world-class student experience. 

On completion, the wider Fallowfield campus will offer up to 5,400 student beds by replacing the existing older accommodation on-site and delivering 3,300 updated bedrooms to meet the growing demand for high-quality, modern bedrooms across the popular campus.   

The redevelopment will be delivered in multiple phases. Demolition of Owens Park Tower and surrounding buildings, which have been closed for several years, is ongoing and due to complete early in 2025.

Achal Bhuwania, Equitix CIO said: 鈥楧elighted that Equitix consortium has been selected to support the University of Swag直播 in its next stage of growth and development, to provide a world-class student living experience. This is further testament to the proven capabilities and commitment to UK greenfield infrastructure as well as supporting British supply chain partners. This win was achieved through our relentless focus on building trust and long-lasting relationships as well as providing best in class solutions with core focus sustainability & value for money.鈥�

GRAHAM CEO, Andrew Bill said: 鈥楪RAHAM is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Swag直播 to deliver its vision for the Fallowfield Residences Redevelopment Programme. Together, we will focus on creating an exemplar sustainable campus that will enhance the experience of the University鈥檚 next generation of students.鈥�

Swag直播 advisors for the Fallowfield Campus Redevelopment Programme are: RLB, CBRE, Student First Group, QMPF and Pinsent Masons.

The Viridis advisors are: Sheppard Robson (design), Operis (financial and accounting), Osborne Clarke (legal and tax), Howdens (insurance) and WSP (technical)

To view further information and to receive updates on the project, please visit the project website at Fallowfield student campus 

To mark Nancy鈥檚 highly successful tenure, the University鈥檚 Swag直播 Engineering Campus Development (MECD), one of the largest educational spaces in Europe, was named the Nancy Rothwell Building in her honour on 24 July at a special ceremony.

With the help of the robots from the University鈥檚 Centre for Robotics and AI, Nancy was presented with a time capsule, an object created for the groundbreaking ceremony of MECD which was attended by the now Prince and Princess of Wales. The time capsule, which will be sealed in a specially designed vault, contains symbols of Swag直播鈥檚 world-class research, letters from staff and students, a miniature replica of the first car to use graphene in its construction and gold foil representing Ernest Rutherford and colleagues鈥� pivotal work leading to an artificial nuclear reaction.

The ceremony also featured a performance of a specially commissioned poem from former Chancellor of the University, and renowned poet, Lemn Sissay.

Nancy鈥檚 tenure has been marked by significant growth, recognition, and development.

Along with being instrumental in the genesis of the remarkable engineering research and teaching facility now named after her, Nancy has presided over the development of the wider campus, including the Graphene Innovation Engineering Centre, the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, the Paterson cancer research centre, and the redeveloped Alliance Swag直播 Business School.

There has been a transformation of the campus for students, staff and visitors including more open green spaces, and redeveloped cultural institutions which have attracted millions of visitors.

Swag直播 remains the most applied to British university for undergraduate study and was rated Silver overall, Gold for Student Outcomes, and Silver for Student Experience in the TEF 2023.

In research, Swag直播 was fifth in the UK for research power in the 2021 REF and by 2022/23, Swag直播鈥檚 research income had grown to 拢257 million, alongside the establishment of the research beacons to drive investment and impact across five key research areas.

Nancy will be remembered for her strong passion for civic engagement and global impact, and she placed social responsibility as one of the main pillars of the institution.

The QS Sustainability Rankings and THE University Impact Rankings both place Swag直播 in the top three in the world for social and environmental impact and top in the UK and Europe. This reflects the enormous progress the University has made in addressing the UN鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals.

Part of this impact is a commitment to be zero carbon by 2038. Nancy has committed significant investment into this important ambition, including a new solar farm, which will produce 65% of the University鈥檚 electricity needs when it opens in Autumn 2025.

As a leader in innovation, Swag直播 is a partner in Northern Gritstone, an investment business focused on university spinouts and IP-rich businesses in the North of England, which announced a final close of 拢312m in 2023.

Nancy has been a strong advocate for extending opportunities to all, including establishing the President鈥檚 Doctoral Scholar Award to give outstanding students from around the world a foundation to support research training, and Humanitarian and Conflict Scholarships for people at immediate risk who have been forced to flee their homes as a direct result of armed conflict.

The University also holds Disability Confident Leader, Silver Race Equality Charter, Silver Athena Swan and a Platinum Award for Public Engagement status, among many others.

The University鈥檚 leadership in civic engagement has been evidenced with the ongoing development of ID Swag直播 - a 拢1.7bn innovation district planned in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech 鈥� and championing Swag直播 as first place in the country to establish a dedicated cross-city region centre to help support higher education students with mental health needs.

In collaboration with other universities in the city-region, Nancy spearheaded a joint Civic University Agreement with the Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority (GMCA) and its ten local authorities to drive social and economic change in the city region.

Further afield, global partnerships were forged with the Universities of Toronto, Melbourne and Chinese University of Hong Kong among others, and significant networks established with alumni and supporters overseas.  Following the naming ceremony, a dinner was held at which a series of individuals spoke warmly about the different ways in which Nancy has contributed to the life of the University, city and higher education sector more widely.

These included, Chair of the Board of Governors, Philippa Hird; Nancy鈥檚 long-time research colleague, Professor Stuart Allan; Nobel Prize winner, Professor Sir Andre Geim; recent medical graduate and award-winning social entrepreneur, Dr George Obolo; and Professor Lord Patrick Vallance, in a personal capacity as he has known Nancy for many years and co-chaired the Prime Minister鈥檚 Council for Science and Technology with her.

This marked the end of a series of formal events to honour her achievements, including on 10 July and the unveiling of her portrait at the Whitworth on 19 June.

Her term of office ends on 31 July 2024, handing over to Professor Duncan Ivison, former Deputy President for Research at The University of Sydney. Nancy will continue her association with the University as an emeritus professor, building on her achievements as an eminent physiologist, which have led to her furthering the understanding of brain injury and stroke. Professor Ivison has also asked her to continue to play an ambassadorial role in relation to fundraising and external relations.

Philippa Hird, Chair of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors said: 鈥淣ancy鈥檚 leadership and her overriding belief that Swag直播 is a global force for good and for opportunity have underpinned the many achievements of her 14 years. It has been a great honour to work with her.鈥�

Nancy鈥檚 thoughts on her tenure are featured in an interview for the most recent University of Swag直播 Magazine.

The 2024 survey questionnaire remains consistent with the 2023 version, following several last year. In the previous year, the survey explicitly included questions related to mental health, wellbeing, and freedom of expression. Additionally, 2023 marked the first time the survey adopted a 4-point Likert scale, eliminating the 鈥榥either agree nor disagree鈥� option. As a result, this year鈥檚 NSS allows for direct comparisons to the previous year using the new survey format. 

The University鈥檚 2024 results show an overall increase in our teaching results, with 82% of students responding positively, which is a 1% increase on last year. Students also continue to find our courses intellectually stimulating, with 85% being positive about them, down 1% from last year but ahead of the average response across England (84%).  

On the newer question topics surrounding mental health and wellbeing, the university has also seen an improvement on last year, with 77% of students responding positively vs.75% last year. This however is still sitting behind the sector average of 79%. 

The Students鈥� Union received a score of 72% for 鈥榮upporting students鈥� academic interests鈥�, which aligned with the sector average but was a reduction of 2% from last year.  

The University has seen uplifts in aspects of assessment and feedback, and student voice, since last year, with student voice improving by 1%. Within the assessment and feedback questions, students' positive response rate about the fairness of marking has improved (75% this year vs. 72% last year). Similarly, students responded higher than last year regarding their opportunities to feedback on their course (80% this year vs. 78% last year.) However, overall in assessment and feedback in particular, the University remains well below benchmark, and there are clear areas where improvement is required. 

Students have also highlighted a decline in IT learning resources within this year's results, with a positive response of 72% vs. 76% last year and an average across England of 85%. 

Commenting on this year's results Professor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: "The NSS survey is an important time to reflect on progress and areas where we need to do better. This year鈥檚 results reinforce our need to prioritise improvements in assessment and feedback and student voice. We thank every one of our students who completed the survey and told us about their experiences; we are very proud of our amazing graduates, whose Swag直播 degrees support them into excellent jobs and future opportunities." 

The success sees the University climb one place from last year鈥檚 edition and places Swag直播 sixth in the UK.  

The QS World University Rankings: Europe, released today (10 July) by the global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds, was launched for the first time last year and is the only significant regional ranking of European universities.  

Each institution is assessed using 12 performance indicators, including academic and employer reputation, citations, number of papers, employability outcomes, international research, student diversity, sustainability, and more.

This year's edition assessed 684 universities from over 40 countries and territories,

Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, said: "This edition enhances our comprehensive benchmarking tool for one of the world's most competitive higher education regions. It enables institutions, policymakers and prospective students to measure performance against international peers and gain valuable decision-making insights.

"QS is thrilled to celebrate ETH Zurich as Europe's top university, driven by progressive ESG strategies, student exchanges, and impactful research. The UK excels across indicators due to esteemed reputation and global research collaborations and sustainability. However, all countries have successes, highlighted by our extensive datasets, including global appeal, cross-border collaborations, and teaching capacity."

Swag直播 has also recently been named top in both the UK and Europe, and second in the world for meaningful contributions towards the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the . 

Previous collaborations for The Sculpts have included Swag直播 Museum - for whom the designers created a bespoke range of their iconic 鈥榓lphabet鈥� illustrations, the Whitworth gallery and Stock Exchange Hotel. Visit for more information.

Following his retirement as the inspirational Chief Executive of Swag直播 City Council, the University was fortunate to have Sir Howard join it in 2017, as an Honorary Professor of Politics. He became a part-time advisor to the University and was also Chair of the Swag直播 Academic Health Science Centre.  

President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said:   "Having known Howard for many years, I recognised what a remarkable individual he was. I often sought his advice and wise counsel, and I am proud to have had him as a friend."  

Sir Howard worked for Swag直播 City Council for over 45 years, serving as Chief Executive since 1998 where he performed a central role in the regeneration and economic growth of the city. Prior to this role, he led Swag直播 Millennium Ltd where he oversaw the transformation of the city centre following the IRA bombing in 1996. 

Sir Howard's legacy shaped Swag直播 as the city we know, and he will forever be a part of Swag直播's history. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the city he passionately served. 

Nancy was joined by other iconic women leaders from the world of arts and museums: Dr Maria Balshaw, Director of The Tate, Professor Sook-Kyung Lee, Director of the , and Dr Carla van de Puttelaar, acclaimed Dutch portrait photographer. 

Prior to the portrait unveiling, they participated in an 鈥榠n conversation鈥� to debate the importance of universities supporting art.  Chancellor of Swag直播, Nazir Afzal, presided over the portrait unveiling, in the presence of invited University guests. 

An eminent physiologist, Nancy is acclaimed for furthering the understanding of brain injury and stroke. Along with other distinguished academic leadership roles, she served on the Council of the Royal Society, co-chaired the Prime Minister鈥檚 Council for Science and Health and was a non-executive Director of AstraZeneca. 

As President and Vice-Chancellor of Swag直播 since 2010, she has grown the university, built its reputation and developed much of the campus. 

 So how is Swag直播鈥檚 first female leader, acclaimed for transformative global and local impact, to be depicted for posterity? Whilst traditional for university leaders to have a portrait painted when they finish their role, Nancy has chosen to have her image captured by Carla van de Puttelaar, the eminent Dutch photographer who specialises in female portraits, shooting against black backgrounds and using only natural light.

In particular, Carla is known for her series of portraits of prominent leading women from across the globe 鈥� from artists and directors to cultural policy makers. By capturing the image of Swag直播鈥檚 first female President and Vice-Chancellor, this commission continues the important celebration of global women leaders in portraiture.  

鈥淚 really wanted to have a different kind of portrait, not another oil painting! So I was interested in having my photograph taken. Carla鈥檚 work really appealed to me 鈥� not only because she is a renowned female artist 鈥� but she is so good at capturing people naturally, with honesty and intensity. I鈥檝e really enjoyed working with her. Her professionalism and energy made this very interesting and fun for us both I hope people will like the final result as much as I do,鈥� said Nancy. 

The process of creating the portrait has also been captured in a, which was shown at the Whitworth. The portrait will be hung, along with portraits of previous University leaders, in The Christie Building, in the main University quad on Oxford Road.

Nancy鈥檚 term of office comes to an end on 31 July 2024, when she hands over the reins to Professor Duncan Ivison, former Vice-President for Research from the University of Sydney. She will continue to inspire the University in her position as Emerita Professor. Her successful tenure as President and Vice-Chancellor will also be marked by the naming of the engineering building, one of the largest educational spaces in Europe, as the Nancy Rothwell Building, on 24 July.  

has been awarded an OBE for his services to public health, to epidemiology and to adult social care, particularly during Covid-19, has been awarded an OBE for his for services to the advancement of the science of radiation protection, Professor Paul Klapper has been awarded an OBE for services to viral diagnostic testing, and Professor Paul Howarth has been awarded a CBE for his significant contribution and service to the nuclear industry and to UK research and development (R&D).

The list celebrates individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country - such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.

Ian Hall is a Professor of Mathematical Epidemiology and Statistics at Swag直播. He is a long-standing member of SPI-M (the pandemic disease modelling advisory group) and played a critical role in the operations of this group during the swine flu and Covid-19 pandemics.

During the Covid-19 pandemic he was academic chair of the SAGE working group of Social Care and participated in the SAGE Environmental Modelling Group as well as attending SAGE itself. He was also involved in a number of research projects, including the national core study on transmission () and Project TRACK to understand and control the risks on public transport. He also helped analyse data from a new heat map, providing a national picture of the spread over time.

Since the pandemic, Professor Hall has continued working with UKHSA through an honorary contract, notably with Health Equity Division on vaccination strategies in prison and homeless settings.

His other research interests include the impact of diseases on vulnerable populations and the study of vector-borne infectious diseases and environmental infections, such as Legionnaires Disease.

Richard Wakeford is an Honorary Professor in Epidemiology in the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH), having been Professor in Epidemiology at the Centre before retiring at the end of 2019. He specialises in the epidemiology of exposure to ionising radiation, particularly as related to radiological protection.

Professor Wakeford is a member of various committees, including the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, and for 25 years was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Radiological Protection.

Richard completed his PhD in high energy physics at the University of Liverpool in 1978 and worked for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) for nearly 30 years. It was the many challenges faced at BNFL where he developed his skills in radiation epidemiology and radiological protection. He was privileged to work with Sir Richard Doll during this time. After taking early retirement from BNFL, Richard joined the University, initially through an association with Dalton Nuclear Institute and then joining COEH.

Paul Klapper is Professor of Clinical Virology at Swag直播. He began his career in virology in 1976 working as a laboratory technician at Booth Hall Children鈥檚 Hospital. He completed his PhD while working at Swag直播 Royal Infirmary on the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis - a topic he continued to work on for over 20 years and led to the development of a reliable molecular diagnostic test for the condition. He also helped establish independent quality assurance testing in the infancy of viral molecular diagnostic testing. 

Throughout his career, Professor Klapper has been at the forefront of several key developments of viral diagnostic testing. Notably, he worked with the Greater Swag直播 Hepatitis C testing strategy, developing community-based testing methods to aid control of the HCV pandemic. In 1981, he became an NHS Clinical Scientist, working in both Swag直播 and Leeds as a Consultant Clinical Scientist. Ten years later, in 1991 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathology. 

On retiring from the NHS in 2012, Professor Klapper joined Swag直播 as a Professor of Clinical Virology.  Early in 2020, he volunteered to help with establishment of large scale Covid-19 testing and became the clinical lead for the Alderley Park testing facility. He also served as a Clinical Advisor for testing with the Department of Health.

 Professor Klapper continues to conduct vital research in blood-borne virus infection and in congenital human cytomegalovirus infection.

Paul Howarth is Professor of Nuclear Technology at Swag直播 and Chief Executive of National Nuclear Laboratory. 

Professor Howarth has had a distinguished career working in and for the nuclear sector, building a reputation as one of the leading figures in the UK nuclear sector and around the global industry. After completing his degree in Physics and Astrophysics and PhD in Nuclear Physics, he started his career working on the European Fusion Programme. Early in his career he was awarded a prestigious Royal Society Fellowship to work in Japan on their nuclear programme. On returning to the UK he continued to work on nuclear fission leading the UK鈥檚 advanced reactor programme while working at British Nuclear Fuels, co-founding the at the University  and working closely with UK Government on building the case for new nuclear build.

Professor Howarth was appointed CEO for the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) in 2011 following its creation as a public corporation, having been instrumental in its establishment from British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL). During his tenure as CEO, NNL has been transformed into a successful business and a true national laboratory, delivering profits to reinvest into nuclear science and technology and critical support to nuclear organisations in the public and private sectors. 

The birthday honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers, or members of the public.

The awards recognise active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers who have made significant achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.

To see the full Birthday Honours List 2024, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-kings-birthday-honours-list-2024  

With a unique commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Swag直播 is the only institution in the world to rank in the top ten for social and environmental impact in every year of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. 

Swag直播鈥檚 top ranking comes from a record assessment of 2,152 universities from 125 countries and regions, which is 26 per cent increase on last year where 1,705 universities were ranked. This year 72 UK universities participated in the ranking, 11 more than last year (61). 

The ranking, now in its sixth year, is the world鈥檚 only one that measures universities鈥� contributions to the and assesses their commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching 

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at Swag直播, who leads the institution鈥檚 entry to the ranking, said: 鈥淓ach year we submit over 300 pieces of evidence for this ranking covering our cultural institutions, sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, widening access, research impact, public and civic engagement, external partnerships, innovation, the student experience and reporting on the SDGs. Everyone in our University community should be proud of this independent measure of our commitment to social responsibility.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Swag直播 came top in the world for SDG11 鈥� Sustainable Cities and Communities. Initiatives supporting this include the Platinum Watermark for Public Engagement, the investment made in four public-facing cultural institutions and initiative, a commitment to sustainable travel and world-leading research across all three Faculties into the effects of on health. 

The University was also ranked first in the world for SDG15 鈥� Life on Land. Initiatives supporting this included research by the into soil microbial diversity, work to enhance and map our nature on campus and the commitment the University places on sustainable food procurement. 

Other areas where the University was shown to be a world leader include research impact towards SDG9 鈥� Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; the number of citing university research; the number of university the quality of the University鈥檚 SDG reporting; and on the commitment to educational for sustainable development through the School of Health Science鈥檚 free and interdisciplinary UCIL . 

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swag直播 said: 鈥淩etaining the number one rank in the UK and Europe, as well as coming second in the world once again in this year鈥檚 THE Impact Rankings is a great achievement for the whole of Swag直播. Being recognised for our commitment to Social Responsibility is especially important during our bicentenary year in which we celebrate 200 years of our incredible people and community and look toward the future.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at Swag直播 said: 鈥淪ocial responsibility is, of course, a core goal for us so we鈥檙e 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鈥� Sustainable Development Goals. 

鈥淭hese rankings cover our full range of functions 鈥� across research, students, public engagement and university operations 鈥� and we鈥檙e proud to be part of this growing community of universities who want to improve our society, economy and environment in all that we do.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Phil Baty, Times Higher Education鈥檚 chief global affairs officer, said: 鈥淲ith universities in the UK facing a funding crisis, and dozens making cuts and some predicted to close, this new data provides a very timely evidence base to demonstrate that the UK has a great diversity of global-leading universities, right across the country, way beyond the more traditional research elite.   

鈥淯niversities on the whole are offering clear, real-world impact for society 鈥� they are a powerful public good worthy of public support. Excellence in international higher education comes in many forms and this ranking very clearly demonstrates the UK has an abundance of excellence 鈥� world leaders 鈥� on many fronts.  

鈥淭here is a lot of talk in Westminster about how many international students the UK should welcome and which universities they should be allowed to study at. This new data shows that a very diverse range of universities from across the country are attractive to the 鈥榖rightest and the best鈥� from around the globe and can deliver real impact.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

THE鈥檚 Impact Rankings 2024 - World Top 10:   

View the full  

For more information about how Swag直播 is contributing towards the UN SDGs please see: /discover/social-responsibility/sdgs/

Throughout the year, teachers of 5-14 years olds have the chance to upskill in their own knowledge and skills of teaching science enquiry, using innovative resources and ideas related to the theme of Sustainable Science to involve their pupils in asking and investigating scientific questions that matter to them.

Now, on Tuesday 11 June, teachers and their pupils will come together in celebratory events both in-person and online, across the UK and beyond, to share what they have learnt with their peers, family, industry professionals and the general public.  

This year鈥檚 theme is Sustainable Science, with a focus on the Some of the questions shared this year, include:

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; How could we prevent the polar ice caps melting? 

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Which fruit or vegetable is most likely to be able to power an electric car? 

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; What effects does plastic pollution have on wildlife? 

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Which fabrics shed less fibres and are therefore better for the environment? 

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Can we increase the biodiversity in our school? 

The Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS) campaign was launched by Professor Lynne Bianchi, Vice Dean for Social Responsibility at Swag直播, to provide a unique way to elevate the prominence of science in the classroom, focussing on learner-focussed science communication, inclusive and non-competitive engagement, and promoting collaboration.

Supported by a team of specialists, they have an approach that is supported across the STEM sector, and actively involves research from a range of fields including quantum science, fashion materials, computing and the creative industries.

Earlier this year, the campaign was granted the prestigious patronage of the , in recognition of its status as a beacon of excellence in science education and its pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and global citizens.

The team鈥檚 growth strategy, which monitors the reach and quality of the campaign, sees it develop year on year. Now, in its ninth year, there will be more than 650,000 pupils registered across 40 countries, with schools in Montenegro being some of the latest to join.

Professor Lynne Bianchi added: 鈥淕SSfS is a powerful and purposeful way to engage young people with science related to real-world contexts. It offers teachers and school leaders the chance to raise the profile of science at a time where our economy relies so heavily on STEM skills and innovation.鈥�

Professor Bianchi, recently advised on the new Education Endowment Foundation鈥檚 Improving Primary Science Guidance and is researching the purpose and effectiveness of practical work in science as part of a Nuffield Foundation research study. In this way, the knowledge and awareness developed within the Great Science Share for Schools informs leading practice by sharing best practice and insights to make a wider impact.

An exciting addition to the Great Science Share this year is the release of the brand-new which publishes 200 questions shared by pupils.

Professor Bianchi said: 鈥淭his has been an ideal opportunity to celebrate Swag直播鈥檚 Bicentenary, and to inspire more teachers and young people across the world to ask, investigate and share their questions with each other.鈥�

As an active member of the  group of international leaders in university research commercialisation,  and co-author of the and , launched on 20^th May, we recognise the distinction between intellectual property intensive areas such as the life sciences and the simpler pathway for some software commercialisation and sets out practical ways to improve the speed and efficiency of spin out formation. We have therefore initiated a review of intellectual property policies and practice, in collaboration with our partners in the Northern Gritstone investment company, which was established as a positive response to the high concentration of VC funding in London to provide VC funding in the North.

Innovation is a core theme for the University and our ambition is to create a thriving innovation ecosystem, which supports our entrepreneurs, spin outs and partners to start up, secure investment and scale, contributing positively to the prosperity of our region. Working through our technology transfer subsidiary, the , we have produced 29 spinouts in the past three years and remain committed to providing the optimal environment for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas. Our policy review and founder friendly approach and commitment to supporting spin outs, will catalyse growth of a vibrant regional ecosystem which supports companies to grow and scale.

Our joint venture partnership with Bruntwood Scitech to develop our North Campus into an Innovation District, will additionally provide an anchor location for our spin outs to establish and succeed within our own community, with an opportunity to access space, investors, facilities, partners, business support and networks within one location.

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Vice-Chancellor and lead for Innovation said: 鈥淭he Spin-out Review showed the vital role of universities in generating IP-Rich companies in the advanced areas most likely to revitalise our economy. We will use its recommendations as a platform to double down on bringing leading edge discoveries to the market.鈥�

, Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his 鈥渋nvaluable contributions to science鈥�.

Professor Garrett is one of more than 90 exceptional researchers across the world to be selected by the Royal Society - the UK鈥檚 national academy of sciences.

Michael is the inaugural Sir Bernard Lovell chair of Astrophysics at Swag直播 and has broad scientific interest, including the study of the distant universe via high resolution radio observations. He is also active in the and is currently chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Committee.

Prof Garret is a leader in the field of astrophysics and was responsible for the final design, construction, and operational phases of the International , and while Director of the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (2003-2007), he developed the technique of wide-field and spearheaded the roll-out of real-time VLBI (e-VLBI) across the European VLBI Network and beyond.

Garrett was also instrumental in finalising the original design concept for the .

Drawn from across academia, industry and wider society, the new intake spans disciplines as varied as studying the origins and evolution of our universe, pioneering treatments for Huntington鈥檚 Disease, developing the first algorithm for video streaming and generating new insights into memory formation.

Prof Garrett joins other leaders in their fields, including the Nobel laureate, Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier; an Emmy winner, Dr Andrew Fitzgibbons (for his contributions to the 3D camera tracker software 鈥渂oujou鈥�); and the former Chief Scientific Advisor to the US President, Professor Anthony Fauci.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: 鈥淚 am pleased to welcome such an outstanding group into the Fellowship of the Royal Society.

鈥淭his new cohort have already made significant contributions to our understanding of the world around us and continue to push the boundaries of possibility in academic research and industry.

鈥淔rom visualising the sharp rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution to leading the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, their diverse range of expertise is furthering human understanding and helping to address some of our greatest challenges.

鈥淚t is an honour to have them join the Fellowship.鈥�

Statistics about this year鈥檚 intake of Fellows:

• 30% of this year鈥檚 intake of Fellows, Foreign Members and Honorary Fellows are women.
• New Fellows have been elected from 23 UK institutions, including The University of Nottingham, British Antarctic Survey, University of Strathclyde and the Natural History Museum
• They have been elected from countries including Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico and Singapore

The full list of the newly elected Fellows and Foreign Members of the Royal Society can be found here:

The annual competition, which boasts a substantial 拢100,000 prize fund, saw a record-breaking 143 applications this year, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. The competition attracted innovative business proposals across five categories: Healthcare, Services, Technology, Environment, and Social.

From sustainable solutions in the Environment category to revolutionary healthcare innovations and transformative technologies, the breadth and depth of ideas showcased by our finalists have been astounding. On top of that, impressive entries in the Services and Social categories highlighted our students and recent graduates' commitment to addressing a wide range of social issues and needs.

The night started with Lynn Sheppard, Director of MEC, addressing the quality of the entries and the competition鈥檚 significant growth from its previous years. She introduced the evening鈥檚 keynote speaker, Mustafa Khanwala Founder and CEO of MishiPay, Venture Further winner in 2016, who described his successful entrepreneurial journey. Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Luke Georghiou spoke about the entrepreneurial roots of the University of Swag直播 in our Bicentenary year and today鈥檚 innovation ecosystem which will support the winners. He introduced competition judges Lee Pugalis (MEC Deputy Director), Matilda Page (MEC Enterprise Business Development Executive), Sam Patchitt (Investment and Portfolio Manager at GC Angels), Meredith Greey (Head of Programmes at Hatch) and Natalie Jameson (Chief executive and inventor of YZen.ai) who presented the prize-winners in each category.

The Venture Further Awards dinner, held on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, was an evening of celebration and recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation within our community. Winners of the first (拢15,000) and second (拢5,000) prizes in each category were announced and awarded for their remarkable efforts and potential to make a significant impact in their respective fields.

Venture Further 2024 Winners

Environment Category

• 1st place winner: Timothy Capper, OptiSpark                
• 2nd place winner: Nayab Raza, ALGAVERSE

(Winners pictured with Lee Pugalis, Deputy Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre)

Healthcare Category

• 1st place winner: Tunde Oremul茅, Airyn 
• 2nd place winners: Liam Johnson, MouseAble and Steven Mayers, Zeus Biologics Ltd

(Winners pictured with Matilda Page, Enterprise Business Development Executive at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre)

Services Category

• 1st place winner: Moradeke Orekoya, Skinpli
• 2nd place winner: Mark Kashumba, UGAFARM

(Winners pictured with Sam Patchitt, Investment and Portfolio Manager at GC Angels)

Social Category

• 1st place winner: Danielle Fatunla, The Onyx Group 
• 2nd place winner: Chanel Ehi-Palmer, EHI

(Winners pictured with Meredith Greey, Head of Programmes at Hatch)

Technology Category

• 1st place winner: Harvey Lowe, Arcube (pictured above with co-founder Prithveesh Reddy)
• 2nd place winner: Ed Engleback, Altaia

(Winners pictured with Natalie Jameson, Chief Executive and Inventor of YZen.ai)

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre extends its congratulations to all winners and participants. We are incredibly proud to be a part of these bright minds' entrepreneurial journeys. With the conclusion of this year's Venture Further Awards, we look forward to the innovative and impactful ideas that next year's competition will undoubtedly bring.

The night concluded with the announcement that Lynn Sheppard, Director of MEC, will be stepping down from her role after 24 years. On behalf of Swag直播 and the Alliance Swag直播 Business School, we express our gratitude for her dedication. She has been the trailblazer for MEC and a pioneer of entrepreneurship for staff, students, and graduates at this university.

As a hub for all entrepreneurial activities at Swag直播, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre will continue to champion our students, recent graduates, and staff's entrepreneurial aspirations. We remain committed to offering a wide array of co-curricular activities, such as competitions, speaker events, workshops, and start-up support programmes, to help our community gain invaluable experience and kick-start their entrepreneurial journeys.

For more information about the Venture Further Awards or the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, please visit .

In a major move towards achieving its 2038 zero carbon ambitions, the University has partnered with leading UK clean energy company Enviromena to buy electricity generated from its brand-new solar farm based in Medebridge, Essex.

Once complete, Medebridge Solar Farm will comprise 104,000 solar panels across 175 acres of low-grade agricultural land, the equivalent of around 70 football pitches.

The site will also create a significant biodiversity net gain. With enhancements to the existing hedgerows and planting of native grassland and wildflower meadow beneath and around the solar arrays, the site will encourage nesting opportunities for wildlife and improved habitat connectivity.

The contract that secures this investment, known as a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (cPPA), commits the University to purchase 80% of Medebridge鈥檚 total annual generation capacity (58 GWh) for the next decade, reducing University carbon emissions by 12,000 t/co2 every year - enough to power 21,000 homes.

Lee Barlow, Finance & Administration Manager, and Project Lead at Swag直播, said: 鈥淎fter nearly three years of rigorous procurement and negotiations, we are proud to announce this landmark agreement, which reinforces our commitment to sustainability whilst delivering best value to our students and stakeholders, in the form of price certainty and supply stability.

鈥淭he journey has been marked by unprecedented challenges in the energy and renewables sector, first with the 2022 energy crisis, and later complicated by geopolitical events in Eastern Europe. Securing this 10-year cPPA despite such adversity is a huge accomplishment and holds special significance as we celebrate the University鈥檚 bicentennial year.鈥�

and Academic Lead for Carbon at Swag直播, added: 鈥淭he really important thing for us in developing this relationship was that our commitment would add new renewable energy capacity to the UK electricity system. Through our long-term purchasing commitment, we have played a key role in bringing this development forward 鈥� maximising the positive impact of our purchasing power.鈥�

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at Swag直播, added: 鈥淎s consumers many of us may have 鈥榞reen鈥� or renewable energy tariff. These are important, but they don鈥檛 put 鈥榓dditional鈥� renewable power into the grid in the same way as a power purchase agreement. By signing a PPA we鈥檙e supporting not only a greener University of Swag直播, but also a greener energy grid across the UK. This PPA is part of a much wider transition away from burning fossil fuels and towards generating significantly more cleaner, electrified forms of power.鈥�

This milestone achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary implementation team from the University, complemented by the expertise of its energy consultant, Inspired PLC, and Eversheds Sutherland acting as external legal counsel.

Enviromena develops, builds, owns and operates renewable energy assets and currently manages over 300MW of renewables projects. In addition, Enviromena is currently working on a 3GW+ pipeline of renewable energy projects in the UK and Italy that will significantly decarbonise electricity networks, reduce emissions and support the global drive towards net zero.

Lee Adams, Enviromena鈥檚 Chief Commercial Officer, said: 鈥淓nviromena is leading the charge towards a world powered by clean energy and our teams are delivering high volume projects that make a massive contribution to lowering carbon emissions. This significant partnership with Swag直播 demonstrates the shared commitment between ourselves and an influential, large-scale organisation, which, at the time it celebrates its 200-year anniversary, is taking steps towards reducing its carbon footprint through the technologies of tomorrow for a cleaner future energy supply."

Chris Marsh, Enviromena鈥檚 Chief Executive Officer, added: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to partner with the University to support their zero carbon ambitions. In addition to reducing the University鈥檚 carbon emissions over the next 10 years, the site itself will benefit the local habitat over its useful life until mid-2060.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Construction of Medebridge commenced in April 2024, with energisation expected in autumn 2025.

The University has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental impact, in line with its core goal of social responsibility. In 2022 it ended investments in coal, oil and gas and reduced the carbon intensity of its investments by 37%.

All degree programmes are kite-marked against the (SDGs) and the University is rated top in the UK and Europe and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings global performance table (2023). Swag直播 also top in the UK and Europe and third in the world in the independent QS World University Sustainability Rankings (2024)

The research platform brings together the unique depth and breadth of internationally leading research at Swag直播 and builds on the University鈥檚 track record of successful interdisciplinary working, to produce integrated and truly sustainable solutions to urgent environmental challenges. This includes the , which helped create the University鈥檚 Zero Carbon Goal.

Universally Swag直播: Where Great Things Come Together, is an open air gallery of celebratory art, spanning 130 sites across the city centre this week, taking inspiration from people鈥檚 time at Swag直播.

The exhibition marks the run up to the much anticipated Universally Swag直播 Festival - a once in a lifetime, four-day festival to mark the University鈥檚 200th birthday taking place from 6-9 June, with hundreds of free tickets for events with speakers and performers including Professor Brian Cox, GRRRL, Ed O鈥橞rien (Radiohead) and Professor Daniela Delneri (with Cloudwater Brew Co) available to all from the 9th May. Visitors can sign up for early access to the popular events . 

Reflecting on their love for the city, and the lasting impact their experiences have had, contributors to this citywide visual art project include award winning author and Professor of Creative Writing Jeanette Winterson, and poet and former Chancellor Lemn Sissay, alongside alumni including drag performer Cheddar Gorgeous, comedian Josh Widdicombe, actor Mathew Horne and barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder. 

The artworks are a fusion of creativity, each designed by different Swag直播 illustrators, breathing life into the inspiring quotes and the colourful personalities behind them. From 7th May the artworks can be found exhibited at Mayfield Park, St Peter鈥檚 Square Metrolink, and on over 130 digital billboards and poster sites across the city. 

The Josh Widdicombe artwork was created by Ellie Thomas, Lemn Sissay by John Owens, Rob Rinder and Matthew Horne by Beth Wilkinson and Cheddar Gorgeous by Louise Hardman.

Louise Hardman, on illustrating part of Cheddar Gorgeous鈥� quote, which has been painted as a mural by , in Mayfield Park: "Drag performer, producer, academic, and visual artist 鈥� Cheddar Gorgeous is a Swag直播 powerhouse. For this piece, I was deeply inspired by Cheddar鈥檚 playful and unapologetic approach to their art and activism; exhibited by the vivid colours, bold type, and whimsical patterns within the design. 

鈥淭hrough the incorporation of illustrated theatrical iconography, the artwork spotlights Cheddar鈥檚 impressive lifelong career in the performing arts, in addition to their conceptual approach to storytelling and self-expression. It鈥檚 been an utter honour to have had the opportunity to help visualise Cheddar鈥檚 beautiful words."

A mural of Rob Rinder鈥檚 words, illustrated by Beth Wilkinson, will be painted live, by , at Mayfield Park on Thursday 9th May, to coincide with the release of hundreds of free tickets for  Universally Swag直播 Festival, which are available via .

Universally Swag直播: Where Great Things Come Together

鈥淎 show of grit and glass, a beautiful contradiction. Beyond everything else I admire Swag直播's self belief. it punches above its weight and more often than not comes out top of the bill. The city revels in being its own main character. A perfect production; protagonist, antagonist, stage and audience, all rolled into one.鈥� Cheddar Gorgeous: - Drag performer and alumnus.

MAN-cunians or MAM-cunians? The Romans called this place Mamucium. MAM is Celtic for mother, breast, river goddess. The women of this city are its ancient and forever energy. Jeanette Winterson - Writer

鈥淭he ultimate place on Earth to become a grown up, go out until 3am and occasionally go to lectures.鈥� Josh Widdicombe - Comedian and alumnus.

鈥淚f it were not imagined, 
It could not be made, 
Therefore imagination, 
Must not be afraid.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
Lemn Sissay - Poet and former Chancellor.

鈥淪wag直播 was the place to be and remains so. I look back fondly at my time living and studying there. It really was the beginning of everything for me. It鈥檚 the city of opportunity.鈥� Mathew Horne - Actor and alumnus.

Swag直播 never compared itself to anywhere else. I loved the pride the city took in its unique identity. It was, in so many ways, my most important gift. It鈥檚 where I discovered that cultural and intellectual curiosity is limitless and where - like the city itself - I found the courage to be different. Rob Rinder - Barrister, broadcaster and alumnus.

The Festival

Welcoming over 60,000 people, Universally Swag直播 Festival offers everything from poetry to physics, music to medicine, computing to creative writing and more. With events popping up in labs, concert theatres, outdoor spaces and the University鈥檚 award-winning culture hotspots Whitworth Art Gallery and Swag直播 Museum.

Universally Swag直播 will acknowledge the University鈥檚 global impact; the world firsts, the life-changing discoveries, the music, art, science and creativity, all sparked in Swag直播, featuring contributions from Professor Brian Cox, Professor David Olusoga, CBeebies presenter and Down鈥檚 Syndrome ambassador George Webster, Ed O鈥橞rien, (Radiohead), international supergroup directed by Laima Leyton (Mixhell / Soulwax), poet Lemn Sissay, Dr Sarah Crowther (member of NASA鈥檚 OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team), immunologist Professor Sheena Cruikshank, director of Jodrell Bank Professor Tim O鈥橞rien, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges and many, many more.

This has been made possible with the kind support of Swag直播 City Council and Transport For Greater Swag直播 (TFGM).

Free ticketed events will be available to book from Thursday 9 May, with early access available for those that sign up for information.

The Christmas Dinner, which was founded by the University's former Chancellor Lemn Sissay OBE to ensure young care leavers are not alone on Christmas Day, won Gold in the University Reaching Higher Award.  

Zero Without a Net, the University's strategy to reduce its carbon to true zero by 2038, won Bronze in the Sustainability Impact Initiative Award. 

Assistant Director of Estates and Facilities, Alison Shedlock, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to receive these awards. It鈥檚 amazing the support Christmas Dinners gets from the Directorate of Estates and Facilities and across the wider University. It makes such a difference to care leavers on what can be one of the most challenging days for many care leavers.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Julia Durkan, Acting Head of Environmental Sustainability, said: 鈥淩eceiving the Bronze award for 鈥榋ero Without a Net鈥� demonstrates our dedication to advancing our campus decarbonisation initiatives. We are committed to working with our academic and professional services colleagues to safeguard our planet, and this recognition underscores the significant strides we have made so far.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

With the awards, AUDE celebrates teams, projects and individuals who have made a significant contribution to enhancing excellence and ensuring university estates provide best value to support the institutional mission and promote professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness. 

The Christmas Dinner 

The  is an annual Christmas Day dinner and get together for care leavers aged between 18 and 25, where they are served by university colleagues and other volunteers.  

The University has been involved for several years, and last year many of our colleagues volunteered and donated gifts to help ensure Christmas Day was memorable for care leavers who might otherwise be on their own during the festive period. 

Zero Without a Net 

In 2019, the University adopted a targeting of achieving 鈥渢rue鈥� (not net) zero-carbon by 2028 within its carbon budget. Alongside this, part of the University's primary vision is to be recognised globally for the benefits it brings to society and environment. The zero-carbon target is one of Swag直播's top eight KPIs and the University has taken a series of steps, including securing funding of 拢150m over 10 years to achieve this.

The University is also undertaking energy efficiency measures to cut costs and consumption and the decarbonisation of our heat sources 鈥� specifically by replacing gas boilers with electric alternatives. 

To find out more or to donate, visit  

For details of our sustainability strategy, visit our sustainability commitments

On Tuesday 23 April, President Higgins attended a conferral dinner at The Whitworth during which he was presented with his honorary degree. In 2011, Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland and re-elected in November 2018 to serve a second term in office. The President undertook postgraduate studies at Swag直播 from 1968 -1971.

Speaking at the conferral ceremony, President Higgins said: 鈥淭he conferral of a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) from this esteemed University is an honour I very much appreciate, receiving it as I do in what is a very special year for Swag直播 as it celebrates its 200^th anniversary. This honour that you have bestowed on me has a particular personal resonance, given my family connections with Swag直播. My two sisters came to Swag直播 in the late 1950s and married and reared their families here. This was followed by my own experience as a postgraduate student at this University in the late 1960s, times of hope and promise.

鈥淭his period and the work of scholars I met and worked with instilled in me a profound and lifelong interest in migration. This honour I accept today, not just for myself, but for all migrants and those who study and care for them.鈥�

A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins has previously served at every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

Speaking about the visit Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University said: 鈥淚n conferring an honorary degree upon President Higgins and looking forward to his lecture we celebrate power of sharing knowledge to unite us and inspire change. It is especially important during our bicentenary year in which we celebrate 200 years of our incredible people and community and look toward the future.鈥�

On Wednesday 24 April, The President will deliver the first of a new annual series of lectures at Swag直播 named the John Kennedy Lecture Series. The lecture series will run for five years as part of the University鈥檚 . The lectures will promote topics related to the island of Ireland. The lecture will be .

The title of the inaugural lecture, presented by President Higgins is: 鈥�Of the consciousness our times need in responding to interacting crises and the role of Universities as spaces of discourse in facilitating it.鈥�

The President鈥檚 lecture will touch on themes including; Universities providing grounds for thinking freely and empowering students to think freely for the betterment of society and especially their own societies.

The new lecture series is so named in honour of Dr John Kennedy CBE. Dr Kennedy was brought up in a large family in Ireland, he came to Northwest England and founded John Kennedy Civil Engineering. Over the next three decades, turnover grew from 拢10,000 to 拢60 million, making it one of the UK鈥檚 most successful construction and engineering companies.

Commenting on the inaugural lecture of the John Kennedy Lecture Series at Swag直播, Dr John Kennedy, said: 鈥淚t is an honour and tremendous pleasure to welcome the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins to the first in this new series of lectures. I am very proud to not only support education in the UK but in particular to be alongside Swag直播 as it celebrates its 200^th anniversary and remains a pioneering centre of excellence and achievement. I know that tonight鈥檚 lecture will be inspiring and thought provoking at a time when the world is in need of peace and wisdom.鈥�

Judges, drawn from across business and academia, highlighted Swag直播鈥檚 superb standing and achievements across the North and globally.

Celebrating 200 years of academic excellence, Swag直播 has continually demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change locally and globally. Embracing social responsibility as a core value, the institution has pioneered initiatives that address pressing societal challenges, earning accolades such as being rated top in the UK, Europe, and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings global performance table for its unwavering dedication to making a difference.

Moreover, the university's commitment to sustainability and community engagement has been recognised through its top rankings in independent assessments such as the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and the prestigious Platinum Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.

Commenting on the award, the competition鈥檚 judges said: 鈥淎n outstanding University that is such an essential engine for the city and the region.  Celebrating 200 years, their global reach is impressive with students from 170 countries and over 500,000 alumni across the world.  Judges highlighted the innovation and economic impact through their considerable investment of 拢1.7 billion and forecast of 10,000 local jobs. 

鈥淪wag直播 continues to support the local community with 45% of graduates choosing to remain in the north-west region to live and work. Their drive and commitment to development is proven through their research excellence in areas such as Alzheimer鈥檚, air pollution and women鈥檚 abuse. It鈥檚 clear that Swag直播 is very deserving of this award. Great work!鈥�

A hallmark of the University of Swag直播's success lies in its approach to education and student experience. With a diverse range of interdisciplinary learning opportunities the institution empowers students to excel both academically and personally. Notably, its comprehensive cost of living support programme, coupled with strategic investments in enhancing the student experience, underscores the university's unwavering dedication to student welfare.

Furthermore, Swag直播's commitment to innovation and economic growth is exemplified through initiatives like , a groundbreaking innovation district poised to create over 10,000 new jobs and drive advancements in key sectors such as advanced materials, health innovation, and digital technology.

In the realm of research, Swag直播 continues to develop world leading discoveries ranging from robotics, to healthcare diagnostics. Its research power, coupled with a commitment to inclusivity and diversity, has garnered international acclaim and solidified its position as a leading research institution.

Internationally, Swag直播's impact extends far beyond its campus, with strategic partnerships and collaborative ventures spanning continents. From revolutionising cancer treatment in Kenya to celebrating cultural diversity through innovative exhibitions, the university's global footprint underscores its commitment to fostering meaningful change on a global scale.

As Swag直播 embarks on its third century of excellence, the title of University of the Year stands as a testament to a  dedication to driving positive change and shaping the future of education, innovation, and research. With a rich legacy of accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to social responsibility, the university continues to inspire generations of scholars, innovators and pioneers worldwide.

Charlotte Mellor who is a Cancer Research UK PhD student and Candy Kong who studied Criminology at Swag直播 were the first in their family to attend university and are now featured as part of the .

Charlotte Mellor said: 鈥�Without University, I wouldn鈥檛 be working in the field I鈥檓 in. It鈥檚 opened the door to working in a field I didn鈥檛 even know existed before, as it鈥檚 so far removed from school classes. It鈥檚 allowed me to get involved in things at a really high level and have a go at different things that I鈥檝e been interested in.

鈥淢y brother has since applied and been to university, which was easier for him than me as it wasn鈥檛 new anymore. I鈥檇 already been through it and opened the door. My immediate family is really proud of the fact I was the first to go to university and I鈥檝e earned the opportunity to go and do something that I want to do, which I wouldn鈥檛 have had without university.鈥�

Candy Kong said: 鈥淚 value my time at university immensely, from studying a challenging degree, meeting new people and taking on exciting opportunities.鈥�

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; UUK鈥檚 鈥�100 Faces campaign鈥� aims to champion and celebrate the positive impact of 鈥榝irst-in-the-family鈥� (FitF) graduates on the UK 鈥� including England footballer Beth Mead, Lord David Blunkett, Nobel Prize winner Sir Chris Pissarides and actor Amit Shah - in order to highlight the need for access to support, and ensure the next generation can reach their graduate potential.

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; As part of the campaign, new research reveals the transformative impact of going to university  on ambition (74%), with almost three quarters (73%) of FitF students agreeing their degree gave them the confidence to apply for jobs without feeling like an imposter

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; The research  also highlights FiF students鈥�  reliance on depreciating financial support - without financial support, over 4 in 10 FitF graduates couldn鈥檛 have afforded to go to university at all. This is equivalent to around 1.1 million 24鈥�40-year-olds in England and Wales.

路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; With financial provisions dwindling and the cost of living rising, UUK is calling for government to reinstate maintenance grants and increase support for future students

These findings come from extensive new research, commissioned by Universities UK, into the experiences of 6,004 UK graduates and 4,006 non-graduates, aged 24-40, from across the UK.

The success of students like Charlotte and Candy is testament to the extraordinary role university can play 鈥� particularly for those students who are the first in their family to attend and face significant barriers before they even set foot on campus. Despite this inequality, FiF students flourish at university 鈥� with three quarters of FiF respondents saying that their experiences at university made them more confident and ambitious, gave them broader life experiences and crucial life skills which continue to be impactful long after graduation.

However, the research also pointed to the need for uplifted financial support to ensure that FiF students are able to progress. Over 4 in 10 (41%) FitF students believe that without financial assistance they wouldn鈥檛 have been able to afford to go to university, and when non-graduates from across the UK were asked what might have persuaded them to attend university, almost half (48%) responded more financial support.

Many graduates responding to this survey were eligible for non-repayable maintenance grants as students, which were replaced by repayable loans, in England in 2016, although maintenance grants continue to operate in Wales, Scotland and for some healthcare courses in England.

In light of this, UUK is campaigning to highlight the achievements of the extraordinary first in family graduates in every community, and to ensure that future generations don鈥檛 miss out on the transformative impact of a university education.  

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, commented: 鈥淭here are those who say that too many people go to university. I disagree. These stories tell you why. In this country you are still twice as likely to go to university if you are from the wealthiest background, compared to the least wealthy. That鈥檚 not right.鈥�

"There are those who say that too many people go to university. I disagree. These stories tell you why. In this country you are still twice as likely to go to university if you are from the wealthiest background, compared to the least wealthy. That鈥檚 not right.

鈥淭he experiences of students who are the first in their families to have been to university tell a powerful story. I am amazed by how many graduates talked about having imposter syndrome 鈥� and the way that earning a degree helped to banish that feeling. I believe we have a responsibility to keep working to ensure a wider range of people in this country get access to the potentially transformative experience of going to university. For that to happen, we really do need to see an improvement in maintenance support to support those from the least privileged backgrounds.鈥�

Described by the ERC as among the EU鈥檚 most prestigious and competitive grants, today鈥檚 funding has been awarded to the following senior research leaders:

• , Professor of Emerging Optoelectronics, based in the and , to investigate scalable nanomanufacturing paradigms for emerging electronics (SNAP). The program aims to develop sustainable large-area electronics, a potential game-changer in emerging semiconductor markets, that will help reduce society's reliance on current polluting technologies while enabling radically new applications.
• , Chair in Evolutionary Biology, in the School of Biological Sciences, to investigate how genomic complexity shapes long-term bacterial evolution and adaptation.
• , in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Director of the Photon Science Institute to develop a table-top nuclear facility to produce cold actinide molecules that will enable novel searches for new physics beyond the standard model of particle physics.
• Professor Sir Andre Geim, who isolated graphene in 2004 with Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, to explore 2D materials and their van der Waals assemblies.
• , to lead work into chemically fuelled molecular ratchets. Ratcheting underpins the mechanisms of molecular machinery, gives chemical processes direction, and helps explain how chemistry becomes biology.
• , in the Department of Chemistry and  Swag直播 Institute of Biotechnology, to develop enzymatic methods for peptide synthesis (EZYPEP). Peptides are fundamental in life and are widely used as therapeutic agents, vaccines, biomaterials and in many other applications. Currently peptides are produced by chemical synthesis, which is inefficient, expensive, difficult to scale-up and creates a huge amount of harmful waste that is damaging to the environment. EZYPEP will address this problem by developing enzymatic methods for the more sustainable, cleaner and scalable synthesis of peptides, including essential medicines to combat infectious diseases, cancer and diabetes.
•  , based in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to explore Top and Higgs Couplings and extended Higgs Sectors with rare multi-Top multi-Higgs Events with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. This project aims at deeper insight into the most fundamental properties of nature beyond our current understanding.

Swag直播 received seven of the 42 grants awarded to UK institutions.

The grant recipients will join a community of just 255 awarded ERC advanced grants, from a total of 1,829 submissions.

As a result of today鈥檚 announcement, the ERC will be investing nearly 鈧�652 million across the 255 projects.

Head of Department for Physics and Astronomy, which received three of the seven grants, said: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 triple award reflects our department鈥檚 continued leadership in pioneering research. We鈥檙e home to Jodrell Bank, host of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory 鈥� set to be the largest radio telescope in the world; the National Graphene Institute 鈥� a world-leading centre for 2D material research with the largest clean rooms in European academia; we lead experiments at CERN and Fermilab; and 鈥� crucially 鈥� we host a world-leading community of vibrant and collaborative researchers like Professors Flanagan, Geim and Peters who lead the way. Today鈥檚 announcement recognises their role as outstanding research leaders who will drive the next generation to deliver transformative breakthroughs.鈥�

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swag直播, added: 鈥淥ur University鈥檚 history of scientific and engineering research is internationally recognised but it does not constrain us. Instead, it鈥檚 the work of our researchers 鈥� like the seven leaders celebrated today 鈥� and what they decide to do next, that will define us.  We are proud to have a culture where responsible risk-taking is nurtured and transformative outcomes delivered, and we look forward to these colleagues using this environment to deliver world-leading and world-changing research.鈥�

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, said: "These awards are welcome recognition of the world-leading and transformative frontier science that Swag直播 researchers are delivering. The compelling and innovative research supported by these ERC awards builds on the excellent local environment at Swag直播 and are cornerstones of the University鈥檚 strategy for excellence and leadership in research and innovation. The positive and real-world global impact from these research awards could deliver are genuinely tangible.

"As we enter our third century, the awards made in a highly competitive environment, are evidence that we do so with a continued pioneering approach to discovery and the pursuit of knowledge that our research community was built on."

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth at the ERC, said: 鈥淭his investment nurtures the next generation of brilliant minds. I look forward to seeing the resulting breakthroughs and fresh advancements in the years ahead.鈥�

The ERC grants are part of the EU鈥檚 Horizon Europe programme.

Swag直播 has announced the first speakers, performers and events for Universally Swag直播 Festival; a 200th birthday celebration like no other, with 150 free events across four captivating days at its iconic Oxford Road Campus from Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 June 2024.

The once in a lifetime interdisciplinary festival, will welcome up to 60,000 people to more than 150 imaginative and immersive events, featuring contributions from Professor Brian Cox, Professor David Olusoga, Ed O鈥橞rien (Radiohead), international supergroup directed by Laima Leyton (Mixhell / Soulwax), Professor Michael Wood, Dr Sarah Crowther (member of NASA鈥檚 OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team), immunologist Professor Sheena Cruikshank, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges and many, many more.

The launch

The festival opens with Universally Swag直播 x the Whitworth, a very special Thursday late, with a showcase of music marking 200 years of Swag直播 in collaboration with festival partner Swag直播 Histories Festival 2024. This free event is open to all and includes everything from a world premiere of new music inspired by Swag直播鈥檚 history of broadside ballads performed by members of the BBC Philharmonic, to an audio visual experience, celebrating the legacies of Swag直播 computing genius Alan Turning and music pioneer Delia Derbyshire.   

Ideas and discussions

Professor Brian Cox will lead a guided journey to far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and the latest theories on the origins of the universe, while Professor David Olusoga, Professor Michael Wood, Ana Carden-Coyne and Sadiah Qureshi will explore how TV and film shape cultural narratives and reflect societal diversity.

TedX speaker and immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank will debunk the myths behind 'immune boosting' products and regimes, revealing the science behind our immune system, whilst Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Fellow Dr Sarah Crowther will share the secrets of the asteroid Bennu and NASA鈥檚 OSIRIS-REx mission.

A Universally Swag直播 edition of the Talk 200: Lecture and podcast series will tackle inequalities in access to justice, with contributions from the University鈥檚 Chancellor, Nazir Afzal, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges; barrister and advocate Thalia Maragh (UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Grenfell Inquiry); and Suzanne Gower, PhD researcher, and former managing director of the legal charity APPEAL.

A Guardian Live event, led by Professor David Olusoga, Cotton Capital: Slavery and Swag直播 will explore how transatlantic slavery shaped Swag直播. 

Creativity and performance

The diverse programme includes a panel talking us through two decades of creative activism with independent international charity and its ambassador, Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien.

This will be brought to life with a performance from GRRRL, an international supergroup brought together by In Place of War and directed by Brazil鈥檚 Laima Leyton (Mixhell / Soulwax). Featuring women of colour from international conflict zones, GRRRL express themselves on their terms, in their languages, with their stories.

The Whitworth will present The Carnival, a celebration of art, culture and Swag直播鈥檚 dynamic community through live performances, interactive workshops, delicious street food and live music, whilst Mr Wilson鈥檚 Second Liners, a mischievous, revolutionary New Orleans Second Line will pay homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and Mr Tony Wilson.

Further musical performances come from Kantos Choir, a trailblazing vocal ensemble, who perform music by everyone from 11th Century visionary saints to genre-bending, experimental rock stars, Grammy-winning multi-percussionist, educator, arranger, and composer Carlos "Carly" Maldonado, and Senegalese afrobeat musician Sens Sagna.

Community and Families

There will be a whole host of family-friendly events including a Community Fair taking place across Engineering Building A, University Place and AMBS, full of interactive activities. Budding scientists can drive a Lego Mars Rover, peek inside our brains, or enter a world of virtual reality. Creative and crafty activities include screen printing tote bags, clay making and face painting, and sporting challenges including circus skills from The Circus House, a climbing wall and helter-skelter. The Shoopery will deliver a series of positive, upbeat, ambitious, 鈥榦ut of your comfort zone鈥� experiences that are all about letting go.

A visually stunning Flash Bang Show, for kids and adults, will demonstrate the explosive power of chemistry, from basic knowledge about atoms and molecules to the innovative research produced at Swag直播.

Closing

 The festival will close with a Celebration Day in partnership with Swag直播 Histories Festival 2024 which will see over 50 stalls take over the historic Whitworth Hall, giving those of all ages the chance to find out more about the unique history of Greater Swag直播 and the North West from organisations that celebrate, preserve, and explore our histories and heritage. During the day there will be everything from craft activities and walks through to performances and talks 鈥� even a chance to hop on a heritage bus.

With support from partners including BBC Philharmonic, Factory International, the Guardian, In Place of War, Swag直播 Histories Festival and many others, Universally Swag直播 Festival will be taking over Swag直播 Museum, The Whitworth, University of Swag直播 Students鈥� Union, and creating pop-up stages on Gilbert Square.

The Festival Village on Bridgeford Street, in collaboration with Pop Up Market Co., will showcase Swag直播's finest independent artisans, makers, performers and businesses.

Universally Swag直播 Festival will run from Thursday 6 - Sunday 9 June 2024. Free ticketed events will be available to book from Thursday 9 May, with early access available for those that sign up for information .  

The renewed commitment will help Boots and No7 Beauty Company continue to break new ground in helping people care for their skin throughout their life, whether it is maintaining skin health, helping to combat skin ageing or supporting people through significant skin changes such as those resulting from the menopause. It will also further strengthen their market leading cosmetic science innovation pipeline, which has delivered product innovations generating waiting lists of up to 100,000 people, physical queues outside Boots stores and surges in visits to boots.com. 

The announcement was made at a special event held at the University, which celebrated some of the partnership鈥檚 most significant scientific milestones, including the launch of its biggest scientific breakthrough to date; the ground-breaking No7 Future Renew skincare range. The range was launched exactly one year ago this week and was developed following 15 years of research and development between scientists at both organisations, resulting in the discovery of a world-first super peptide blend formulated into a best-selling range and serum that is clinically proven to reverse visible signs of skin damage.  This innovation has taken the beauty industry by storm, with the Future Renew serum becoming a global bestseller and the biggest ever beauty launch in the UK.  In the UK, there were more than 500,000 transactions in the first four weeks, and a year later, one product is still sold every seven seconds.

The collaboration renewal also coincides with both institutions celebrating landmark anniversaries; with Boots marking its 175th anniversary and Swag直播 reaching its 200 year milestone in 2024.

Mark Winter, Managing Director, No7 Beauty Company, said: 鈥�We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with the UoM鈥檚 Centre for Dermatology Research and excited for the next phase of our collaboration.  Scientific innovation is part of our DNA and by working with world-leading partners like the University of Swag直播 we are committed to using our unrivalled research expertise to be at the forefront of skincare and cosmetic innovation, developing ground-breaking, clinically proven, affordable products that work for everyone.鈥�

The event was attended by representatives from both institutions, including Ornella Barra, Chief Operating Officer, International, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, Swag直播.  

from Swag直播 said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with Boots and to pursue our shared aims of uncovering new insights into skin biology and applying this knowledge to repairing accumulated damage.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

, also from Swag直播  said: "Our longstanding partnership with Boots has enabled us to explore the depths of skin science while delivering real-world benefits to consumers through clinical translational research. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration, advancing innovation and enhancing skin health for all individuals."

Where it all began
The partnership was established twenty years ago by a small team of No7 and University of Swag直播 scientists. The ambition was to come together to create cutting-edge skincare solutions that could be taken from the laboratory straight to the high street.  One of the first innovations was the renowned No7 Protect & Perfect serum. The serum famously featured in a BBC Horizon programme in 2007, where the efficacy of the serum was verified by independent dermatologists, leading to the product selling out in Boots stores throughout the UK.

Fast forward to 2024 and today, the collaboration has caught the eyes of the scientific community and the Government.  It has also:  

• Led to 10 patents being filed, with more in the pipeline
• Resulted in over 100 academic publications including 60 peer reviewed papers published in scientific journals
• Helped to upskill thousands of beauty advisors and pharmacists within Boots stores
• Supported a UK talent pipeline of brilliant entrepreneurial scientists 鈥� many of whom are female
• Significantly raised the reputation of bioscience research in the UK and in particular in the North West
• Helped put No7 on the global map with distribution now extending to over a dozen countries including Australia, the Nordics and the US
• Created effective collaborations both in the UK and internationally with the likes of Imperial College London, Kings College, Newcastle, York and Liverpool universities, as well as internationally with Johns Hopkins.

Millie Kendall OBE, CEO, British Beauty Council, comments: 鈥淭he launch of No7 Future Renew was somewhat revolutionary.  The teams took a ground-breaking scientific discovery straight into an affordable, accessible skincare range available to all on the British high street, whereas traditionally you would see cutting-edge scientific innovations trickle down to high street products several years after launching in premium products or clinics. It is testament to the rigour and strength of the partnership between Swag直播, Boots and No7 Beauty Company that they have created truly world-leading skincare innovation together.鈥�

New era of discovery beckons
The renewal of the partnership establishes a ground-breaking five-year research programme that will explore peptides, clinical testing, skin immunology, and the skin microbiome. It includes a pioneering project to investigate skin across the pigmentary spectrum, aiming to develop more inclusive and effective technologies suitable for all skin tones. The project has already secured multi-million-pound funding from The BBSRC鈥檚 Prosperity Award, marking a significant investment in advancing skin science.

Samantha Dover, Mintel Category Director of Beauty and Personal Care research, said: 鈥淏eauty consumers are increasingly discerning and want to know more about the products they buy. This is exemplified by the 71% of UK adults who believe beauty brands should provide more scientific evidence to validate their claims. Showcasing the research and development behind a product can provide brands with a powerful point of difference in a crowded market. Moreover, partnerships that elevate and spotlight the R&D process will undoubtedly appeal to consumers who want brands to validate their claims, and therefore can build brand trust and loyalty.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Investing in the next generation of British scientists
Throughout the partnership, Swag直播, Boots and No7 Beauty Company will support the next generation of scientists through the following initiatives:

• Funding from BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership in 2021 to train 15 PhD students, addressing skills gaps in the UK bioscience industry.
• Co-investing with UKRI since 2019, with UKRI recognising the No7 Future Renew story as an exemplar of business and university collaboration.

An event is being held at Swag直播 on April 11^th (the one year anniversary of the No7 Future Renew launch) to celebrate the impact and success of the partnership and look ahead at the next phase. 

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe will be interviewed by Jon Savage, Professor of Popular Culture at Swag直播, and also answer questions from the audience. The conversation will be preceded by a full album playback.

Tickets for the event sold out in minutes when they went on sale on Friday, 5 April 2024.

Pet Shop Boys said: 鈥淚t will be great to be in Swag直播 on the day our new album is released. We have many friends in the city and it鈥檚 always a real pleasure returning there.鈥�

, John Rylands University Librarian and Director of Swag直播 Library, said: 鈥淭his will be one of the highest profile events in the history of the Library and follows the successful launch of the in 2022 and a series of events, not least the launch of Johnny Marr鈥檚 new book. We鈥檇 like to thank Parlophone Records, Crash Records, Pet Shop Boys and their management for making it happen at the Library.鈥�

鈥楴onetheless鈥� is Pet Shop Boys鈥� 15th album and was produced by James Ford. The Guardian have already described it as 鈥済orgeous...it basks in songwriterly lusciousness鈥�.

Jon Savage鈥檚 acclaimed books include 鈥楾eenage鈥�, 鈥�1966: The Year the Decade Exploded鈥� and 鈥楨ngland鈥檚 Dreaming鈥� which is seen as the classic book about punk. His new book, 鈥楾he Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Music鈥� will be published in June.

Swag直播 has been awarded 拢30 million funding by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for four Centres for Doctoral Training as part of the UK Research and Innovation鈥檚 (UKRI) 拢500 million investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills across the UK.

Building on Swag直播鈥檚 long-standing record of sustained support for doctoral training, the new CDTs will boost UK expertise in critical areas such as advanced materials, AI, and nuclear energy.

The CDTs include:

• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in 2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT) - with cross-disciplinary research in the science and applications of two-dimensional materials, this CDT will focus on a new class of advanced materials with potential to transform modern technologies, from clean energy to quantum engineering. Led by , Professor of Physics at Swag直播.
   
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 - this CDT will bring together students from a range of backgrounds in science and engineering to drive forward the digitalisation of materials research and innovation. Led by , Professor of Applied Mathematics at Swag直播 and the Henry Royce Institute.
   
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI for Net Zero - this CDT will train and develop the next generation of multi-disciplinary robotic systems engineers to help revolutionise lifecycle asset management, in support of the UK鈥檚 Net Zero Strategy. Led by , Reader in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Swag直播.
   
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in SATURN (Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear) - the primary aim of SATURN is to provide high quality research training in science and engineering, underpinning nuclear fission technology. Led by , Professor of Nuclear Chemistry at Swag直播.

Swag直播 received joint-third most awards across UK academia, and will partner with University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, Lancaster University, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde and the National Physical Laboratory to prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industry experts across a wide range of sectors and industries.

In addition to leading these four CDTs, Swag直播 is also collaborating as a partner institution on the following CDTs:

• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power, based at University of York.
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science: Harnessing Aerosol Science for Improved Security, Resilience and Global Health, based at University of Bristol.
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing, based at Cardiff University.

Along with institutional partnerships, all CDTs work with industrial partners, offering opportunities for students to develop their skills and knowledge in real-world environments which will produce a pipeline of highly skilled researchers ready to enter industry and take on sector challenges.

Professor Scott Heath, Associate Dean for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers at Swag直播 said of the awards: 鈥淲e are delighted that the EPSRC have awarded this funding to establish these CDTs and expose new cohorts to the interdisciplinary experience that researching through a CDT encourages. By equipping the next generation of researchers with the expertise and skills necessary to tackle complex issues, we are laying the groundwork for transformative solutions that will shape industries and societies for generations to come.鈥�

Announced by Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, this round of funding is the largest investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills to-date, totalling more than 拢1 billion. Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: 鈥淎s innovators across the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invests in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy.

鈥淏y targeting critical technologies including artificial intelligence and future telecoms, we are supporting world class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unleash the potential of future tech and maintain our country鈥檚 reputation as a hub of cutting-edge research and development.鈥�

These CDTs join the already announced . This CDT led by , Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning at Swag直播, will train the next generation of AI researchers to develop AI methods designed to accelerate new scientific discoveries 鈥� specifically in the fields of astronomy, engineering biology and material science.

The first cohort of AI CDT, SATURN CDT and Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 CDT students will start in the 2024/2025 academic year, recruitment for which will begin shortly. 2DMoT CDT and RAINZ CDT will have their first cohort in 2025/26.

For more information about the University of Swag直播's Centres for Doctoral Training, please visit: