Greater Manchester’s universities today launched a refreshed civic mission designed to ensure they continue to serve the region’s long-term needs in close collaboration with civic and business partners. The announcement was made at an event held at the Royal Northern College of Music, attended by civic leaders, university representatives, members of the Greater Manchester Citizens’ Panel and Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council.
The new priorities were developed jointly with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and informed by the Citizens’ Panel, ensuring that the universities’ civic mission remains grounded in local perspectives while supporting the broader ambition of Greater Manchester becoming “a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life.” The refreshed agenda sits within the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement, launched in 2021, under which the University of Greater Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford, and the Royal Northern College of Music commit to align their strengths with regional needs.
In unveiling the updated priorities, Professor Jennie Henley, Chair of the Civic University Board, emphasised that the universities are integral to Greater Manchester’s fabric, not separate institutions. She said the refreshed direction reaffirms their long-term commitment to the people and places of the region, and that through partnership with communities, civic actors and business, greater impact can be achieved than by acting alone.
The new civic mission concentrates on four interconnected themes where the universities together believe they can make the greatest collective impact: expanding access to education, fostering innovation, and supporting economic opportunity; training health and social care professionals, addressing health inequalities, and embedding prevention into regional health strategy; promoting cultural and creative engagement throughout the region; and using research, education and operations to help Greater Manchester advance its environmental and sustainability goals.
Already, Greater Manchester’s universities contribute more than £4 billion annually to the regional economy, educate over 100,000 students, and host a wide variety of public events, lectures and performances. Between 2022 and 2027, they are forecast to train approximately 9,500 nurses, 3,500 doctors, and 8,500 teachers. Mayor Andy Burnham commented that the universities’ impact extends well beyond educating students and the refreshed priorities reflect the breadth of their contribution across jobs, innovation, health, culture, and community.
By updating their civic mission in this way, the universities have renewed their pledge to deepen collaboration with civic and business partners across Greater Manchester, aligning their work more closely with regional priorities and ensuring their contributions are strategic, sustained and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
Photo credit – RNCM