North-West university Jewish chaplain Rabbi YY Rubinstein has been awarded Manchester University's highest non-academic accolade, the medal of honour.

Recognising an exceptional contribution to the work of the university, it was presented before an audience of 120 at a cermony on Monday. Professor Aneez Esmail, associate vice-president for equality and diversity, said Rabbi Rubinstein had enriched "the quality of student life for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike and promoted community cohesion on campus".

Glasgow-born Rabbi Rubinstein came to Manchester in 1988 and has served as chaplain to Manchester, Liverpool and other north-west universities.

He said it was only the second award he had received in his life. "The first was a shield from my Glasgow primary school's annual competition on road safety. I said in my speech that I was honestly surprised by this award from the university.

"Addressing the vice-chancellor, I said all I had really done was made her staff's lives a misery with problems of exam clashes with Jewish festivals and antisemitism."

His medal is one of just 12 to date awarded by the university.