The evaluation of higher education institutions is shifting from a single metric to a system that values classification, distinct characteristics, and substantive development. This transformation demands academic excellence while pushing universities to build new pathways that reflect their unique missions, social value, and global influence. How does a leading university balance academic distinction with societal contribution, and how can local community engagement be translated into a globally resonant narrative? The University of Manchester, a top-ranked institution in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, provides a compelling case study through its leadership.
The criteria for judging a university are undergoing a profound change. People now value not only the quality of research and teaching but also a university's tangible contribution to society. At the University of Manchester, we are fully committed to answering a fundamental question: What kind of university do we need to be, now and in the future, to serve our communities more effectively and make a positive impact? Strategic frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and independent assessments such as the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings are helping universities measure and demonstrate this contribution. The evidence shows that universities must provide core proof of how their operations address the real-world needs of local communities and the major global challenges facing humanity.
The Symbiosis of Excellence and Impact: A Strategic Choice for a Top 10 University
The University of Manchester's "North Star" is to be an outstanding 21st-century civic university, dedicated to creating knowledge for the public good at both local and global levels. The SDGs provide a clear common framework for this "public good" in our era: reducing inequality, protecting the environment, improving health and well-being, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth through partnerships. While rankings cannot capture everything we value, our strong performance in this specific assessment is crucial because it reflects a long-standing commitment to prioritizing social impact alongside academic excellence. For a university, excellence and impact are not mutually exclusive. Since the ranking's inception in 2019, the University of Manchester is the only institution globally to consistently rank in the top ten. This record is a testament to our strategic planning, resource allocation, and cultural choices over time. The Impact Ranking is not driven by a single indicator. It evaluates universities holistically across research, teaching and learning, public and cultural engagement, and operational stewardship. Therefore, this success depends on a genuine whole-university effort, involving deep participation from academic staff, professional services, students, cultural institutions, and external partners.
Institutional Practice: Multi-Dimensional Development
The University of Manchester's strategy, "From Manchester for the World," clearly articulates its vision. Social responsibility is one of the five core pillars of our vision, and our ambition is to be in the top 1% of universities globally for social and environmental impact. This ambition is embedded throughout our operations: in research, through the Sustainable Futures Research Platform; in inclusive growth, via projects like Unit M; in teaching innovation, which has led to a vision of partner-enabled education where students earn credits by solving real-world challenges; and in campus governance, demonstrated by our large-scale transition to renewable electricity and ongoing work to decarbonize the campus.
Partnerships: Connecting Local Communities with the Global South
Building partnerships is central to our strategic approach, whether locally or globally. In Greater Manchester, we leverage deep civic relationships to connect with local government, healthcare innovation, cultural sectors, and economic development agencies. In international cooperation, particularly with the Global South, our focus is on shared challenges like climate resilience, health equity, and sustainable urbanization. This embodies the core insight of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): meaningful progress is achieved only through close collaboration between universities, governments, communities, industry, and civil society. The University of Manchester is also home to four world-renowned cultural institutions: the Manchester Museum, the Whitworth Gallery, the John Rylands Library, and the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement. These institutions, rooted in the university and city center, strengthen our connection with various communities. They collectively welcome over one million visitors annually, creating immersive spaces where scientific research, artistic creativity, and public engagement intersect. By opening precious collections and archives to researchers and community members, they facilitate deep dives into themes like biodiversity loss, social justice, and diverse creative practices, benefiting those who might not otherwise have access.
The Ultimate Question for 21st-Century Higher Education
The core value of the SDGs and the frameworks that assess progress is their ability to influence real-world practices and improve outcomes for people affected by global challenges. They help universities reflect on their purpose, demanding substantive evidence of impact rather than mere assumptions. They push the higher education sector to deeply embrace its responsibility and actively advance the global agenda set by the SDGs. In the coming decades, academic excellence alone will not be enough to sustain public trust and legitimacy. Universities must demonstrate their relevance and responsibility—by collaborating with external partners, learning through practice, and remaining open to scrutiny. Aligning our work with global and local priorities, while protecting academic freedom and critical inquiry, is a powerful way to achieve this. At the University of Manchester, the SDGs have helped us deepen and clarify what it means to be a civic university in the 21st century, while remaining open to new ideas about how global change happens and who shapes it. Whatever the future evolution of global assessment frameworks, the fundamental challenge will remain: universities must earn society's trust by contributing knowledge, building partnerships, and providing practical solutions for the public good. As the only university to consistently rank in the global top ten since the Impact Rankings began in 2019, the University of Manchester has used solid institutional development and data to demonstrate how the UN SDGs can redefine the meaning of a "civic university" in the 21st century.
In the current wave of classified evaluation and substantive development, there is no single standard for a world-class university. As our leaders have stated, academic excellence alone will not be enough to sustain public trust in the future. Universities must prove their social relevance and responsibility by contributing knowledge, building partnerships, and offering practical solutions for the public good. Regardless of a university's type or focus in China, it can find its own path within diverse impact assessment frameworks. Transforming distinctive local practices into a globally resonant narrative not only showcases the unique contributions of Chinese universities but also provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen internal data governance, enhance faculty and student cohesion, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. We hope this strategic reflection from a university leader offers deep insights for Chinese universities in strategic planning, disciplinary governance, data presentation, and global reputation building.
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