C4.2 Citizens UK University Agreement¶
The first-ever Civic University Agreement for Greater Manchester has been signed.
Five higher education institutions in Greater Manchester have signed a flagship agreement with Mayor Andy Burnham to jointly drive social and economic change in the city region.
The Vice-Chancellors of the University of Manchester, the University of Bolton, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, and the Royal Northern College of Music, alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, signed the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement together with ten local authority leaders from across the city region.
The agreement commits to collective action in the following six priority areas:
Education and Skills
Reducing Inequality
Employment and Growth
Digital Economy
Net Zero
Creative and Cultural Economy
These commitments were made following consultations with political and civic leaders and a poll of Greater Manchester residents. This poll found that the issues city residents considered important were economic growth and reducing unemployment, improving health and wellbeing, tackling the climate crisis, and improving job quality.
The poll also highlighted that people in the city region recognise the role universities play in meeting these priorities by training professionals for public service jobs, creating employment opportunities, and opening up access to higher education for young people from Greater Manchester and beyond.
The Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement is the largest and most ambitious partnership of its kind in the UK. Covering two cities, eight boroughs, and 2.8 million people, it outlines how we will work together to improve our city through innovation, realise Manchester's climate change ambitions, and support educational pathways to quality jobs.
Mayor Andy Burnham stated that the signing of this agreement is a landmark event for Greater Manchester. Guided by this agreement, we can provide more pathways for citizens to access higher education and ensure our city region becomes the best place for people to learn and develop throughout their lives.
The image below shows the main signatories of the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement.
