Global community in action

From landmark research partnerships and responsible AI to cultural heritage and our first-ever graduation celebration in Shanghai, explore just some of the achievements of Manchester’s global community in 2026.

Manchester and Cambridge join forces to drive UK innovation 

The groundbreaking partnership between The University of Manchester and The University of Cambridge continues to gather momentum as a landmark collaboration in UK research and innovation.  

Backed by £4.8 million from Research England to accelerate inclusive growth and innovation collaboration, the initiative held its inaugural board meetings across Manchester in early 2026. The meetings brought together the mayors of Greater Manchester, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Andy Burnham and Paul Bristow, alongside industry leaders and the Vice-Chancellors of both universities, Professor Duncan Ivison and Professor Deborah Prentice.

As the UK’s first cross-regional innovation partnership of its kind, it will pioneer new models of place-to-place collaboration, drive economic growth and set the benchmark for future partnerships across other cities. With further investment from both universities, total funding for the partnership now stands at £6 million, reflecting the scale of ambition behind the collaboration. 

Cambridge University's Professor Deborah Prentice and Manchester's Professor Duncan Ivison

First in the world for sustainability impact

Manchester has been ranked first in the world for social and environmental impact in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, reaffirming its leadership in addressing global challenges.

We also retained our position as the top-ranked institution in the UK and Europe and remain the only university to feature in the global top ten in every edition of the rankings. The results recognise universities for their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across research, teaching and engagement.

The achievement reflects Manchester’s long-standing commitment to using research and education to drive positive change at scale. 

Celebrating ten years of the Purple Wave 10k

Purple Wave, a University of Manchester Sport initiative, celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, marking a decade of bringing together students, colleagues, alumni and the wider community through shared physical activity and experiences.

On Sunday, 31 May more than 600 Purple Wave entrants took part in the Great Manchester 10k run, with President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison accompanying Barnabee, the University’s bee mascot, to complete the route.

Despite the unseasonable heat, the sea of purple runners embodied the unity and pride that define our University, raising more than £11,200 in support for meaningful causes including cancer research and dementia. 

Purple Wave, a University sport initiative, celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026

Manchester celebrates graduates in Shanghai 

In May, the University marked its first graduation celebration in Shanghai, bringing together more than 500 graduates, alongside families and friends, to recognise their achievements and continued connection to Manchester.

The event offered a chance to celebrate academic success closer to home for many graduates based in China, with formal proceedings and informal gatherings reflecting the spirit of graduation in Manchester.

The occasion highlighted the scale of the University’s global alumni community and the lasting relationships formed during study, which continue to connect graduates around the world long after they leave campus. 

The Manchester Odyssey

Summer 2026 saw the release of The Odyssey, Sir Christopher Nolan’s big screen adaption of the ancient Greek epic.

The John Rylands Library holds the world’s oldest surviving copy of Odyssey in codex form – an early ancestor of modern books, formed from folded sheets of parchment. At 1,700 years old, the parchment offers a rare opportunity to encounter Homer’s epic much as its earliest readers experienced it.

Rylands’ Director Professor Christopher Pressler and curator Dr Jeremy Penner worked closely with Universal Pictures ahead of the movie’s release and will present the manuscript alongside The Odyssey’s filmmakers and cast, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway.

To coincide with the release, from mid-July visitors to the Rylands can view The Manchester Odyssey and explore the history of the third-century parchment, as well as the work being carried out to ensure its preservation for future generations. 

The University holds the world’s oldest surviving copy of Odyssey in codex form

Backing responsible AI for a better future

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work – but its future depends on ensuring it is developed responsibly and used to benefit society.

Through the Coller AI Competition, the University and the Jeremy Coller Foundation – established by Manchester alumnus and entrepreneur Jeremy Coller in 2002 – are supporting the next generation of innovators to turn responsible AI ideas into reality. The £100,000 investment will help an early-stage venture develop its solution and take the next step towards creating real-world impact.

Delivered in partnership with Unit M, the University's gateway for innovation, the competition brings together Manchester's research expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and global community of students, colleagues and alumni. By supporting new ventures exploring how AI can address challenges across society, it reflects the importance of collaboration in shaping the technologies of tomorrow.