News | Thursday, 20th December 2018

#McrMet2018: May and June's news in review

Highlights of the University's successes in 2018

David Beckham and Edward Enninful shown student work by Hannah Bentley (BA Fashion Design and Technology - Menswear) (image: Darren Gerrish and @britishfashioncouncil)
David Beckham and Edward Enninful shown student work by Hannah Bentley (BA Fashion Design and Technology - Menswear) (image: Darren Gerrish and @britishfashioncouncil)

To mark the end of 2018 and celebrate the New Year, we are looking back at some of the biggest news stories from across Manchester Metropolitan University throughout the year. 

May

The University welcomed HRH The Duke of York to meet students, staff and apprentices who completed the opening stage of The Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award, described as the digital and enterprise equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. From tech to textiles: retired footballer and global style icon David Beckham paid a surprise visit to the University's Manchester Fashion Institute along with the board of the British Fashion Council, for which he has been appointed an Ambassadorial President, in order to see the creative and innovative work being carried out by students.

Midway through the month it was announced the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malcolm Press, had been appointed to the board of the Institute for Apprenticeships and will help to shape the sector. And there was more positive news from Manchester Writing School where Creative Writing lecturer Andrew Michael Hurley won the £10,000 Royal Society of Literature prize. He was honoured with the Encore Award for his novel ‘Devil’s Day’. May was rounded off when hundreds of staff and students formed Team Orange to take part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run half marathon and 10k run around the city centre, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Dr Helen Mort signing the Royal Society of Literature's historic roll book with George Eliot's pen (image: Adrian Pope)
Dr Helen Mort signing the Royal Society of Literature's historic roll book with George Eliot's pen (image: Adrian Pope)

June

Chancellor Lord Mandelson championed Manchester Metropolitan as a shining example of a university reinventing itself to meet the demands of the 21st Century in a speech to the Higher Education Policy Institute conference. Laying out his vision for a post-Brexit university system, Lord Mandelson hailed the University’s Degree Apprenticeships and forthcoming screen school, the School of Digital Arts, in particular.

Summer success endured with Poet Dr Helen Mort, Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University's Manchester Writing School, named a Royal Society of Literature Fellow, becoming the third University writer to be awarded the prestigious honour. Meanwhile children and adults alike enjoyed the number problem-solving challenges of the maths-based escape rooms, Oubliette, opened in the University's Brooks Building that was designed by undergraduates.

Manchester School of Art students stacked up competition victories and award nominations ahead of  Graduate Fashion Week where the school as usual hosted a catwalk show for students to display their designs in womenswear, menswear, knitwear, print and embroidery among other disciplines.

Look back to March and April's news in review 

Look ahead to July and August's news in review 

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