News | Thursday, 20th December 2018
#McrMet2018: July and August's news in review
Highlights of the University's successes in 2018
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.
July
In early July, the University was honoured to host Nobel Prize Winner and inspirational education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, who was the special guest at the annual multi-lingual Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition.
There was awards success for two recent graduates at the Big Chip Awards 2018 – the biggest digital industry awards outside London. Emma Davies and Billy White walked home with the Little Chip Student Award and Most Innovative Application of Technology Award respectively. Staff also demonstrated their technological expertise, with the team behind the ground-breaking augmented reality Manchester Plinth being invited down to showcase their work at 10 Downing Street for London Tech Week.
Towards the end of the month, the University celebrated the graduating class of 2018 at a series of ceremonies at Bridgwater Hall, which were also attended by this year’s honorary graduates.
In recognition of their achievements in fields ranging from business, culture, science and technology, honorary degrees were awarded to Paul Hudson, CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, leading arts fundraiser Joyce Hytner OBE, leading educationalist Professor Sir David Melville and Howard Simms, co-founder of mobile technology group Apadmi.
August
Students returning home for summer usually means it is quiet during August, but the University’s involvement in Bee in the City ensured there was a buzz on campus this year. All Saints Park hosted the Shakespeare Bee – ‘To Bee or not to Bee’ as part of Manchester’s biggest ever public art trail. David Shirley, Head of Manchester School of Theatre, explained why we had chosen the Shakespeare Bee during the project’s arts, music and culture week.
In early August, a new partnership between the University and Greater Manchester Police to help test seized drugs was launched – the first of its kind in the country. Police officers are able to rapidly evaluate unknown substances and their potential level of harm to users across the region.
There was summer sporting success for Dame Sarah Storey, who won the Para-cycling World Championships after training in the University’s sport science environment chamber on the Cheshire campus.
Look back to May and June's news in review
Look ahead to September and October's news in review
