The Collaborative Newcastle
Universities Agreement
Launched in July 2021, the Collaborative Newcastle Universities Agreement (CNUA) forms a civic university agreement between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities and sets out how we will contribute to the wider economic, cultural and social aims of Collaborative Newcastle.
This Agreement is underpinned by a recognition that the two universities are integral to Newcastle and the North East. The universities play a significant role, economically and socially and culturally, and the city and region enhance the lives of over 10,000 staff and 50,000 students.
Newcastle and Northumbria Universities have a long-established tradition of working collaboratively to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of our region. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the universities’ roles in medicine and healthcare, driving world-leading research and educating the professionals of the future. But it has also shown the importance of our contribution to economic, cultural and social recovery. By working together we are helping to build a sustainable and inclusive future – our graduates and research strengths will help define the North East’s future economic landscape. The Collaborative Newcastle Universities Agreement will enable us to achieve even more.
This Agreement sets out the universities’ commitment and joint contribution to Collaborative Newcastle, an innovative partnership which aims to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of everyone in the City.
Unique in scope and scale, Collaborative Newcastle brings together the NHS, local government, higher education, and the voluntary and community sectors in Newcastle. Working collaboratively and creatively, we aim to reduce inequalities; tackle some of the big things that hold people back; and provide better opportunities for all.
As large institutions we want to use our collective strengths, and the way we operate, to make a positive impact for our place and the communities we serve. It has never been more important, given the enormous challenges facing communities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, that we work together.
In the following pages we set out our objectives based on our understanding of the needs and opportunities of the city and the region, together with a programme of initiatives which has been developed in partnership. We have structured our Agreement around the three core pillars of Collaborative Newcastle: People, Planet and Prosperity. This Agreement is a living document, which will evolve over time. Each year we will review progress and update the plan, identifying any changes needed to maximise its benefits.
