ABSTRACT
The University of Manchester championed ‘research with impact’ well before its inclusion in the UK research excellence framework. Our institutional aim is to embed social responsibility as a highly valued academic activity supported by strategic priorities and monitoring processes, governance structures, researcher development programmes, career progression and reward systems. This provides reflections on the institutional journey we have taken to provide the infrastructure and support to enable social responsibility to flourish. The university embraces a broad view of social responsibility encompassing all disciplines, our professional support services and cultural institutions, and includes widening participation, community engagement, public engagement and sustainability. The implementation of the social responsibility (SR) goal has been overseen by the Social Responsibility Governance Group chaired by the University President, who is an inspiring SR role model. Excellence in SR is celebrated through the Manchester Doctoral College ‘Best Contribution to Society’.
