Led by the Faculty of Business, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (BASE), the University's renewed commitment reflects its ambition to embed responsible and sustainable practices across teaching, research, knowledge exchange, and institutional operations. The UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, bringing together organisations committed to aligning their strategies and activities with ten internationally recognised principles covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ebrahim Adia signed the University's Statement of Continued Support, reaffirming its commitment to the Ten Principles. The statement forms part of the University's latest Communication on Engagement, published on the UN Global Compact website on 16 October 2026, reporting on actions and achievements between August 2024 and October 2026.
The submission highlights how the University's Strategy 2035 is translating these commitments into practical action, including advancing equality and inclusion, driving green innovation through initiatives like the £27 million Green Innovation Corridor, and strengthening communities locally and globally through applied research and international partnerships.
The submission also celebrates the diverse contributions of the University's specialist research centres, including the Institute for Community Research and Development, the Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research, and the Centre for International Development and Training. Their work demonstrates how research, community engagement, and international collaboration can advance human rights, inclusion, and sustainable development.
We are delighted to have led the renewal of the University's commitment to the UN Global Compact. This is an important opportunity to reflect on the progress being made across the institution and to demonstrate how our shared values translate into meaningful action. The submission brings together some excellent examples of work taking place across our faculties and professional services, highlighting the contribution universities can make to a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future.
Dean of BASE, Professor Clare Schofield, commented on the renewal, stating that it was an important opportunity to reflect on institutional progress and demonstrate how shared values translate into meaningful action.
The renewed commitment reinforces the University's role as a civic and globally engaged institution, demonstrating its determination to place sustainability and social responsibility at the heart of its work.
