Happy Anniversary Manchester Met

On April 7, 1824, the small Manchester Mechanics’ Institution began its life to provide the city with the skills its people and industry needed to thrive.

It was the start of a history of education, training and research that has helped to keep the city at the forefront of innovation – from the mills of Cottonpolis to the modern-day digital revolution.

Two centuries on, Manchester Metropolitan University carries on this tradition from the Manchester Mechanics’ Institution from which the University traces its roots.

Here we take a look at the Manchester Met as it is now: shaping the world around us and a powerful partner for Greater Manchester.

The University is home to 43,000 students, 5,100 members of staff and has 330,000 alumni across more than 170 countries and is one of the UK’s top ten university choices for undergraduates.*

It now sits across one city-centre site in Manchester, having undergone – and still doing so – an eye-catching campus redevelopment that is home to modern research, teaching, and community facilities.

It is now excited to share its 200th anniversary celebration with the city it calls home.

Manchester Met Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press CBE said: “Our 200th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the amazing impact we have here in Greater Manchester as well as nationally and globally.

“It is also a time to look to the future, with hope, ambition, and aspiration, as we continue to transform the lives of our students and deliver research and innovation that benefits business, the economy, and society.”

Manchester Met is celebrating by showcasing its areas of strength and its impact on the city and the world:

Driving Economic Growth – advancing skills, knowledge, and digital technology to build inclusive and sustainable economic growth and innovation, shaped by industry.

Over the last 12 years, 2,000 small and medium-sized businesses have been supported in everything from embedding new digital technologies such as AI, to securing new funding.

Elsewhere, University experts are leading the Government’s High Streets Task Force to develop new solutions to help the UK’s high streets survive and thrive.

An Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ degree apprenticeship provider, students take their learning from the classroom into real-world work solutions in their jobs.

Transforming Health – helping people to start well, live well and age well.

Manchester Met is the exclusive NHS partner to train reproductive scientists helping thousands of people fulfil their dreams of becoming parents. While research into muscles, bones and movement is creating new treatments into conditions such as diabetes and Parkinson’s.

It is a vital pipeline of talent for frontline healthcare professionals.

Championing Creative Excellence – harnessing technology and innovation to support creative practice, knowledge and research that has a real-world impact.

Its School of Digital Arts was founded in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to tackle the digital skills gap in the region, working closely with industry, including Oscar-winner Danny Boyle.

Famous acting and art school alumni include Steve Coogan, LS Lowry, and Julie Walters.

Leading Sustainability – leading innovative solutions, practice, and policy for greener and more sustainable futures.

Research is helping to develop sustainable hydrogen green fuel cell technology, and carbon literacy training has helped thousands of people learn how to cut their carbon emissions.

Not to mention, Manchester Met is ranked second in the UK in the People and Planet University League, which ranks universities on their efforts to be more sustainable.

Tackling Inequalities – actively shaping a more caring, just, and inclusive society.

Research is supporting children in care and who are carers, working with charities to shape and inform policy that can better work for young people.

New Manchester Met research has also shown the barriers faced by older women in the workplace, and what can be done.

Scholarships

Approximately 47% of students who enrolled in September are the ‘first in their family’ to progress to higher education and 49% identify as coming from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds.

Offering a range of scholarships to support individuals from the UK and around the world into higher education, some scholarships are supported by industry partners such as PlayStation and SJM Concerts.

Excellence in education and research

Now, the University is delivering research that is regarded as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ as seen in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), with 90% of the research impact being ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Last year, Manchester Met was awarded gold under the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 and outstanding for student experience.

Investing in the future

Over the last decade, Manchester Met has invested over £400 million into its estate.

This includes the Institute of Sport on Oxford Road – supporting elite sport and healthy living, and the £35 million School of Digital Arts, which drives a skills pipeline for the UK’s digital economy.

The refurbishment of the Ormond Building, built in 1881, was completed in 2020. More recently, the façade of the Grosvenor Building, the original home of the University’s Manchester School of Art, has been taken back to its former glory, complementing the new Grosvenor East building, a hub for creative excellence.

Its new iconic library development will be an eye-catching addition to the Manchester skyline, while the new Science and Engineering building will open later this year to enhance teaching and research in health and wellbeing, sustainable energy, advanced materials and manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

For the last 200 years, Manchester Met and its predecessors have proudly supported the city and region it calls home, and for the next 200, it will continue to do the same.

Find out more about how Manchester Metropolitan University is celebrating its 200th anniversary by visiting the website here.