As a proud Manchester institution with a growing international reach, UoM is based on our fundamental belief that the purpose of our University is to deliver benefit to society and the environment, and to protect our unique status as an open place of enquiry and challenge.

Universities such as ours are ideally positioned to help address many of the world’s major challenges, finding new means to deliver environmental sustainability, close the gap of societal inequalities, improve health, inform and empower citizens, and create the leaders of the future.

UoM’s purpose is to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society.

“The UNESCO City of Literature designation has fostered a true ‘Manchester spirit’ of collaboration between our universities, the City and the city’s diverse literary communities. This report recognises that transformational work, and we are very proud of our staff and students’ contribution to a great literary, creative environment in what our colleague Professor Jeanette Winterson has called an “alchemical city”.

The City of Literature has fostered collaborations across the city on many Manchester City of Literature flagship initiatives, from research on creativity and well-being, to working with writers through Manchester Literature Festival and Carcanet (publisher of another Nobel Prize winner in 2020). It has also led to the development of public engagement activities for schools and libraries and festivals, a key part of our social responsibility agenda.

Colleagues at our University’s Centre for New Writing share the City of Literature’s mission to discover and support emerging writers, and to develop projects which both strengthen our graduates’ employability skills and offer opportunities for them to become part of Manchester’s diverse, evolving literary community.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester