The Power of Us: New GM Civic University Agreement report highlights regional impact

A year of progress

This year marked the first update to the agreement's shared priorities since 2021. Developed alongside the GMCA and shaped by what residents across all ten boroughs told the Greater Manchester Citizens' Panel matters most, the four refreshed priorities –Opportunity & Prosperity, Health & Wellbeing, Culture and Environment – reflect where GM's universities can make the greatest collective difference. They also connect directly to the refreshed Greater Manchester Strategy, launched last summer, which recognises universities as a central part of the city region's ambitious ten-year vision.

Speaking at the time, then 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.”

Between 2022 and 2027, GM's universities will train an estimated 9,500 nurses, 3,500 doctors and 8,500 teachers, the professionals our public services and communities depend on. But their contribution doesn't stop at graduation. Across all disciplines, 40% of graduates remain in Greater Manchester, building careers and putting their skills to work in the city region they studied in. 

Jo Purves, Pro Vice-Chancellor Partnerships and Global Engagement and Chair of the Greater Manchester Civic University Board said: “Over the past decade, Greater Manchester has built a distinctive way of working together that other places look to and learn from. Our universities are part of that. We have a responsibility to keep earning that place, by listening carefully, acting on what we hear, and making sure that the benefits of what we do reach every person and every community across our city region.”

Looking ahead

The Greater Manchester Post-16 Skills Pathways project, developed in partnership with further education colleges, the GMCA and employers, will provide new insight into how learners move through the city region's education and skills system and where barriers to progression remain. Building on this, the Board will develop a five-year implementation plan over the coming year to turn its refreshed priorities into practical action.

‍As the agreement enters its next phase, the focus is not just on what Greater Manchester's universities achieve together, but how they communicate it. By working more visibly and with a collective voice, the universities can better champion the region’s strengths on a national stage, while ensuring their day-to-day impact remains firmly rooted in local priorities and genuinely felt across Greater Manchester.

Read the report in full: https://bit.ly/4a3NHN5