What will student life at The University of Manchester look like in 2035? How can we reinvent teaching and learning to better meet the needs of a changing world and our diverse community of learners? Well we know the status quo isn’t an option – so, we need to think bigger and bolder for Manchester 2035.
That’s why we’re inviting you to a series of workshops to help us reimagine the future of student experience, and in the process, you could earn money by contributing your ideas and helping to shape the University’s new strategy.
👉 Sign up to one of our workshops and get paid £15 for your opinion 👈
Kick starting the conversation
We know that your needs are evolving, and the demands of the world around you – from future employment to cost of living – are changing. To meet these shifts head-on, the University has crafted three possible “worlds” or scenarios for the future of higher education, each designed to help us think about how we can adapt and thrive as a University.
These three worlds aren’t just hypothetical. They’ve been created to spark discussion about how we can continue to lead in teaching, learning, and student support, while navigating financial pressures, growing demands for flexibility, and our social responsibility. By exploring these possible futures, we’re asking critical questions: What kind of university do we want to be in 2035? How do we best serve our students, staff, and community? And what kinds of experiences will set our graduates up for success in a fast-changing world?
World 1: Small is beautiful
In this future, the University’s physical campus is central, with in-person teaching as the core focus. The curriculum is more specialised, concentrating on areas where both teaching and research excel.
While this ensures high academic quality, it also means a smaller, more focused student body. However, the reduced range of courses and on-campus focus limit interdisciplinary opportunities and global appeal. Plus, the commitment to an exclusively on-campus model has led to a decrease in student diversity over time. Fewer on-campus employment and co-curricular opportunities have also impacted student satisfaction.
World 2: Growth and diversity
The second future models our physical and digital campuses with equal importance. Students can study from anywhere, thanks to flexible, online programmes designed around their lives.
Different models of teaching delivery mean we use our estate more flexibly, and teaching year-round means a different shape to the academic year, but also provides flexibility for academics who want to work on different patterns.
A new global network of micro-campuses allows for a much larger student body, offering diverse course options and an array of work opportunities both on and off-campus. Increased activity means along with the Students’ Union, we offer more student employment opportunities than any other UK university, with placements guaranteed for students from historically underrepresented groups.
It’s a world where flexibility reigns, and Manchester becomes a leader in providing tailored education for a diverse community.
World 3: Federal Manchester
Finally, our third possible world, a world in union. In this vision, The University of Manchester teams up with other institutions to form a broader “Manchester Group” – building on our Civic Universities Agreement. Through these partnerships, students have the option to study across multiple campuses through joint degrees, franchise agreements, and curriculum sharing.
While this setup offers expansive opportunities and reduces operational costs, it brings with it new challenges in ensuring consistent academic standards and navigating different partner expectations.
Next steps
The three potential futures outlined here aren’t set in stone, but it’s now up to us—students, staff, and the wider community—to shape the path forward.
The next step is clear: we need your input. By contributing your ideas and perspectives, you can help define how teaching, learning, and the student experience will evolve at Manchester by 2035. This is an exciting opportunity to ensure the University remains at the forefront of education for decades to come.
Get involved and get paid!
Want to be part of shaping this future? We’re running in-person student workshops where you can get paid a £15 voucher for your contributions! This is a chance to have your say, shape the future of student life at Manchester, and earn money while doing so.
The Reimagining Student Experience workshops will take place on the following dates and times:
- Wednesday 16 October – 16:00
- Thursday 17 October – 10:00
- Monday 21 October – 16:00
- Tuesday 22 October – 09:30
If you are free on one of the dates above, please sign-up to the session via the online form. If you can’t attend, you can still share your feedback via the ‘Share Your Ideas’ section of the website.