The University of Manchester is celebrating a double achievement after receiving two Times Higher Education (THE) awards in recognition of its exceptional support for students and ground-breaking STEM research.
At the award ceremony held on 28 November in Birmingham, the University and its Students’ Union were honoured for their outstanding efforts to support students during the 2022/23 cost of living crisis.
In response to the economic pressures students faced, the University provided a robust support package totalling over £10 million. This included one-off payments of more than £9 million in November 2022, with 90% of students benefiting. Targeted additional support was also rolled out in February 2023, at a time when many other institutions could not afford similar initiatives.
The University’s efforts went beyond financial assistance. Students had access to a variety of support services, including cosy campus spaces and free breakfasts on Wednesdays, alongside holistic well-being initiatives. Kelly-Ann Mallon, Head of Access, Student Employability, Success, and Development, who attended the awards, said: “This recognition is a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration across the University that allowed us to respond swiftly and effectively to the cost of living crisis.”
The University’s donors played a pivotal role in making these efforts possible. Initiatives like the Cost of Living Support Fund have provided vital financial assistance to students in need. Additionally, programs such as the Manchester Access Programme and the Undergraduate Access Scholarship are opening doors for more students to access life-changing opportunities.
The impact of these efforts has resonated far beyond the University, influencing national policy and shaping discussions in Westminster. The University continues to advocate for greater financial support for students across the UK, ensuring that all students can reach their full potential.
The University also took home the prestigious award for Research Project of the Year: STEM for its pioneering work on a bedside genetic test to prevent deafness in babies. Developed by researchers at Manchester, this test can identify babies at risk of permanent hearing loss from gentamicin, an antibiotic commonly used in intensive care. The rapid test has been trialled on 751 babies in neonatal units in Manchester and Liverpool, and the NHS is now exploring ways to integrate it into routine clinical care. This innovation has the potential to save the hearing of 180 babies in the UK each year.
Both awards reflect the University’s commitment to making a real-world difference, whether supporting students through times of financial difficulty or pushing the boundaries of medical research to improve lives.