Hosting the THE World Academic Summit in our bicentenary year

From 7-9 October 2024 the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit – one of the flagship events of our bicentenary year – arrived in 51¸£ÀûÉç.

Our University was honoured to host the , welcoming more than 650 delegates from over 80 countries to consider how universities can make a difference to people's lives.

A packed agenda featured 100 esteemed speakers, with talks and tours taking place around campus and events happening across the city, including at the Science and Industry Museum, 51¸£ÀûÉç Museum and the Whitworth.

Under the theme ‘Making a difference: The purpose of universities in a rapidly changing world’, the Summit sharpened the focus on universities’ obligation to make a tangible impact – acting as drivers of positive change locally, nationally and internationally.

Summit headlines

The event explored some of the biggest questions facing higher education today, including:

The purpose of universities in a rapidly changing world

In his conversation with Phil Baty, THE Chief Global Affairs Officer, our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Ivison discussed the need for higher education institutions to adapt to the world’s changing realities while staying true to their core missions.

He continued the discussion on the changing face of higher education in  (content behind a paywall).

Making science accessible

Professor Brian Cox joined THE Editor John Gill to explore how science communication can foster public understanding, trust and engagement with scientific knowledge, bridging the gap between complex scientific concepts and the broader public.

Afterwards, Professor Cox provided some top tips on .

Graphene: At the forefront of science and technology frontiers

Speaking to our former President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Professor Sir Andre Geim – who, alongside Sir Kostya Novoselov first isolated graphene at 51¸£ÀûÉç 20 years ago – discussed their famous discovery and the ongoing movement it sparked.

Later, THE shared Professor Geim’s  (content behind a paywall).

Interdisciplinary research: Research platforms as a model

This panel discussion spotlighted the role of our University’s four research platforms – Creative 51¸£ÀûÉç, Digital Futures, Healthier Futures and Sustainable Futures – in addressing the challenges of interdisciplinary researchers working collaboratively with civic partners.

Towards inclusive lifelong learning

Our Flexible Learning Programme explored how we can take a collective approach to microcredentials, kickstarting the discussion around moving towards an agreed approach in the UK and ensuring the potential of microcredentials isn’t lost.

Afterwards, the panel shared some their .

Government's role in supporting impact

Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills at the Department of Education, joined THE Chief Global Affairs Officer Phil Baty to talk about the government and, specifically, the important role it can play in helping to support university impact.

Accelerating civic impact through cross-sector collaboration

An engaging in-conversation session considered how to create meaningful civic and social impact through higher education, government and civic partnerships, and the critical role of universities in innovating, scaling impact and driving sustainable change.

During the Summit, our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Ivison discussed how we’re maximising support of our region’s innovation economy in an inclusive way through our new capability, Unit M.

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