Making a Difference Awards
The Making a Difference Awards for Social Responsibility recognise the outstanding achievements of our staff, students, alumni and external partners, and celebrate how they are making a difference.
The awards recognise the impact our staff, students, alumni and external partners are having on the social wellbeing of our communities and wider society and offer the opportunity to share best practice about social responsibility initiatives and encourage others to get involved.
The 2026 Awards are now open for entries
Deadline 14 January 2026
What are the award categories?
There are nine categories which focus on outstanding achievements across many areas of social responsibility including innovation; public engagement; environmental sustainability and equality, diversity and inclusion.
The drop-down menus below contain the specific details and nomination criteria of each award.
This award recognises the successful impact of collaborative working, partnerships and knowledge exchange activities that have enabled University of Manchester research to achieve positive impacts in terms of improvements to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life.
The award is open to (staff or a combination of staff and students):
- Academic staff and researchers, including PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and early career researchers.
- Individuals or small teams.
This award recognises impactful teaching and learning that supports the University’s commitment to social responsibility in and/or through the curriculum.
The award is open to:
- Staff (individuals or small teams).
Recognising innovation through novel solutions to societal and environmental problems, either with a new project or existing enterprise.
The award is open to:
- Staff (individuals or small teams).
- Students (individuals or small teams).
- Recent graduates and alumni (up to three years, as individuals or in small teams).
This award recognises outstanding examples where the University engages and/or partners with the public to share and co-produce knowledge created through teaching and learning and/or research that enriches lives, and inspires and is inspired by our communities locally, nationally and internationally.
There are three sub-categories within this category:
- Outstanding engagement – local/national/international (staff/student).
- Outstanding contribution by our community partners (public contributors).
- Outstanding contribution by our cultural institutions.
Recognising innovation and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and contributions that have taken place outside of the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team.
The award is open to:
- Staff (individuals or small teams).
- Students (individuals or small teams).
This award is to recognise innovative and impactful projects and initiatives that support the University’s professional service’s commitment to social responsibility. This can include creating, developing or delivering processes, policies and services that make a difference to the wider University, our students and partners.
We are particularly interested in entries from across the following roles and areas:
- PS staff working at all levels across the University.
- Administrators, clerical staff and assistants.
- Estates, house services, catering and gardening services staff that support socially responsible and sustainable practices.
- Technical/experimental officers.
- Apprentices and interns.
Recognising innovation and commitment to environmental sustainability at the University or in the local community.
Two awards will be given in this category, one for established projects and one for new projects (under 18 months).
The award is open to:
- Staff (individuals or small teams).
- Students (individuals or small teams).
- Recent graduates/alumni (of up to two years, individuals or small teams).
This award recognises outstanding staff and student contributions to widening access and/or improving student success and outcomes taking place locally or nationally.
The award recognises contributions and activities that support pupils and students from communities underrepresented in higher education across the whole student lifecycle.
The award is designed to recognise individual projects or a portfolio of activities and is open to the following:
- Staff (individuals or small teams).
- Students (individuals or small teams).
This award recognises:
Outstanding contributions by alumni to creating a fairer, greener, and healthier world – through their professional work, voluntary activity, or independent initiatives. This may include contributions made through structured roles (for example, volunteering with the University or other organisations) or self-initiated efforts aligned with the University’s Social Responsibility priorities: social inclusion, prosperous communities, better health, environmental sustainability and cultural engagement.
This award also recognises alumni who have contributed to student access, inclusion and success – by inspiring or supporting the University community, whether directly or indirectly.
The award is open to:
- All alumni who are making a meaningful difference to students or the wider community, either as individuals or in small teams and through either professional or voluntary contributions.
Nominations can be made by staff, students or alumni.
