The University of Manchester and the University of Texas at Austin have signed a strategic partnership, following the joining of Manchester and Austin as sister cities.
This partnership is aiming to pave the way for collaborative research, and promoting teaching initiatives between the two institutions.
It builds on joint research projects already in progress, with the deal emphasising the two universities shared views on global engagement and research expertise in engineering, nanotechnologies, cancer research and digital humanities.
The partnership was signed at a “Meet the Mayors” event in Austin, Texas, at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, was in attendance to sign the Austin-Manchester “Sister Cities” Memorandum of Understanding. Explaining the benefits of the partnership, he said: “The new partnership between The University of Manchester and the University of Texas is really exciting and a valuable outcome from Greater Manchester’s visit to Texas.
“Both institutions are powerhouses of innovative research, and contribute a great deal to their regional economies – through commercialising start-ups and spin-outs and wider business support. Combining their expertise can only lead to significant economic and educational benefits for both places.”
Professor Angelia Wilson, the faculty of humanities associate dean for international, signed the partnership on behalf of the University of Manchester.
University of Manchester’s associate vice-president international, Professor Stephen Flint, said: “I am delighted we have signed this strategic partnership with the University of Texas at Austin, a powerful and innovative university in a creative city that draws parallels to The University of Manchester and the powerhouse city we call home.
“This new relationship with the University of Texas at Austin will make an impact across all of our faculties. We look forward to driving forward collaborative research and enhanced opportunities for two-way student and staff mobility, as we work together to tackle key global challenges.”
The senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer at The University of Texas at Austin, Sonia Feigenbaum said: “The University of Texas at Austin is proud to formalize this partnership with The University of Manchester, a renowned institution in a city that mirrors Austin’s creative energy and spirit of innovation. By bringing together our expertise across disciplines, this collaboration will spark ground-breaking research and new opportunities for students and faculty on both sides of the Atlantic.”
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