The five Greater Manchester Universities, of which the University of Manchester is one, have launched a refreshed set of civic priorities, reaffirming their collective commitment to improving lives across the city-region.

Part of the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement (CUA), the priorities were unveiled this week at a special event at the Royal Northern College of Music, attended by civic leaders, university partners, members of the Greater Manchester Citizens’ Panel and Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council.

Developed in collalboration with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and shaped by the Citizens’ Panel, the new priorities ensure the universities’ civic mission remains grounded in the needs of residents while also supporting Greater Manchester’s long-term vision of becoming ‘a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life’.

The Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement (CUA), launched in 2021, brings together the University of Greater Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Salford, alongside the the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in a shared commitment to align the strengths of the universities with the needs of the city-region, with a shared goal of improving the lives of people across Greater Manchester.

Professor Jennie Henley, Chair of the Civic University Board, highlighted the importance of this partnership: “Our universities are not separate from Greater Manchester; they are part of its fabric. These refreshed priorities are about reaffirming our long-term commitment to the people of this city-region. By working in partnership, we can achieve more together than any of us could alone, helping to build a Greater Manchester that is fairer, healthier, greener, and full of opportunity.”

The four new priorities focus on areas where the universities can make the biggest collective difference:

• Opportunity & Prosperity – widening access to education, creating lifelong learning pathways, supporting innovation, and helping people secure good jobs.
• Health & Wellbeing – training the next generation of doctors, nurses and social care professionals, supporting mental health initiatives, tackling health inequalities, and using research and expertise to put prevention at the heart of the region’s health strategy.
• Culture – celebrating Greater Manchester’s cultural strengths, making arts and creativity accessible to everyone, and building the skills that keep the city region’s creative economy thriving.
• Environment – helping Greater Manchester reach net zero by promoting sustainability in learning and research, creating greener places to live, and preparing people for the jobs of the future.

Greater Manchester’s universities already contribute over £4 billion to the local economy each year, educate more than 100,000 students and welcome millions of residents to concerts, lectures and public events. They also train the region’s future workforce, including an estimated 9,500 nurses, 3,500 doctors, and 8,500 teachers between 2022 and 2027.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Greater Manchester’s universities make a massive contribution to our city region, one that goes far beyond educating students. These refreshed civic priorities reflect the breadth of our universities’ impact across our society and economy, from creating jobs and supporting business innovation to enriching our culture. We recently set out our vision for Greater Manchester’s next decade of growth and we know our universities have a vital role to play in our continued success.”

By refreshing their priorities, the universities have renewed their pledge to work with civic partners and communities to make Greater Manchester a place where everyone can thrive. Explore our shared priorities for Greater Manchester.

• Explore the shared priorites for Greater Manchester