UT Austin is greatly expanding its partnership with the University of Manchester, Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, England, announced Friday at Austin City Hall. The partnership is part of a larger friendship cities agreement between Greater Manchester and Austin that was signed by both Burnham and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.
Part of that growing partnership is the bond between the University of Texas and the University of Manchester. Burnham hopes the schools’ connection will lead Americans to visit Manchester, where he says the “tables aren’t for studying on, they’re for dancing on.” The schools’ partnership will be finalized at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Monday.
Friendship cities are international communities that formalize cooperative relations with Austin in an attempt to develop both city’s economic, cultural and educational presence abroad. The friendship city classification is the last a city must hold for two years before officially being declared a sister city of Austin.
“This is a proud day for us, … and you’ve welcomed us so warmly from the first time we came and again today,” Burnham said. “Signing that agreement just then felt to me like it truly meant something. It will bring great things between our two cities in the years to come.”
He also reiterated Manchester’s support for all people and belief in equality, drawing on an example from the city’s days producing goods from cotton. At the time, the city voted not to buy cotton from the American south because of its slave ownership. Burnham said that’s just one example of how Manchester prioritizes a belief in humanity, which he’s looking to share with longhorns in the future.
“We need to keep broadening the horizons of our young people, who are living in a really challenging time,” Burnham said in an interview after the signing. “Perhaps they feel the world is getting darker, and perhaps they don’t feel hopeful about things. I think this partnership can do something to change that, connect young people from around the world and build up the next generation of leaders.”
Angelica Wilson, University of Manchester associate dean for internationalisation, said the university partnership will serve to build on the existing partnership, which includes exchanges for Ph.D students, while also looking to serve undergraduates and create online programs.
“We’ll be expanding those research engagements and of course creative opportunities as well,” Wilson said.
Currently, Austin’s only other friendship city is Florence, Italy. Its 14 active sister cities include Adelaide, Australia; Pune, India and Xishuangbanna, China.
Greater Manchester was selected because of the similarities the city shares with Austin — both have a large music culture, passion for soccer and booming economies. Burnham said that Manchester and Austin are the fastest growing cities in the UK and United States, adding that supporting each others’ economic development would serve both countries.
The partnership comes at a time of growing tension between the U.S. and Europe as the U.S. pulls out of international organizations and agreements while shifting diplomatic and foreign priorities.
“We see the change that’s happening here — there’s some turbulence in the system,” Burnham said. “We’ve got to remember what we’ve got in common, rather than what divides us; … this approach, where it’s more about people to people and a place-first approach, rather than party-first, is definitely the way to go. … We need to rethink politics in the 21st century and make it work better for people and places, and I think more partnerships like the one we’ve just signed with Austin are a part of that.”
Friday’s signing included both mayors; UK Consul General Sujeevan Sathesan; Genesis Gavino, the city manager’s chief of staff; and Anthony Segura, the interim director of Austin’s Economic Development Department, which works with organizing group Austin Sister Cities International to facilitate the city’s international relationships.
Sathesan came to City Hall from the UK’s British Consulate in Houston, one of eight it operates around the U.S., in addition to the UK’s embassy in Washington, D.C. He spoke after the signing, reiterating the United Kingdom’s commitment to Texas and touting the Texas Legislature’s recent efforts to support the UK, including the introduction of a bill that would help establish a Texan Trade Office in England.
“This agreement is a very local one,” Sathesan said. “It’s going to be shaped by what the cities of Manchester and Austin need, but the British Consulate General is going to be there every step of the way. … But the one thing I must caution and warn is His Majesty’s government cannot help either of your football teams — but there’s always next season, so let’s look to the future.”
Watson also issued a proclamation declaring March 7 Greater Manchester Day in Austin, and the mayors announced intentions to begin musician exchanges in an effort to form a closer relationship.
Greater Manchester is actually a county encompassing 10 metropolitan boroughs Burnham represents, including the cities of Salford and Manchester, home to the famous Manchester City Football Club. Burnham announced hopes for an Austin FC and Man. City FC matchup when the Austin delegation visits in June 2026.
“The piece of paper we’ve just signed is not going to be like some of the other pieces of paper that mayors sign that perhaps just sit on a shelf,” Burnham said. “This piece of paper that we signed will turn into real relationships between people, real relationships between organizations.”
