Queen’s University did not make formal request for extra students

A Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the University for Derry group has revealed that Queen’s University did not make a formal request for additional students. Only the University of Ulster made a formal request for 1,000 additional students, with a commitment that all its extra students will be located at its Magee campus in Londonderry. The city’s One Plan locates 9,400 full time equivalent students in Magee by 2020 and this initial 1,000 would keep to this timeline.

A broad based lobby from the city called on the Department for Employment and Learning to allocate all the extra 500 students approved through an increase in the Maximum Student Numbers (MaSN) cap to go to Magee. Instead, only half the extra students were allocated to the University of Ulster for the Magee campus.

The extra student numbers for Magee is the core element of the regeneration plan for Londonderry, the One Plan. This is endorsed by ministers, the City Council, the University of Ulster and the community. It is included in the Programme for Government. Yet the student number increase specified in the One Plan has not been approved.

Padraig Canavan, chair of U4D, said: “It is undeniable that the economic need of Derry is greatest of anywhere in Northern Ireland. That’s why the One Plan identifies that we need more undergraduates and ultimately more graduates in order to turn around our economy. Derry needs local businesses to grow and for inward investment to flow. Increasing graduates in the vital science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines is the key to unlocking this door.

“Yet we now find out – but only because of a Freedom of Information Act request – that Queen’s was allocated a substantial number of additional students, agreed as essential in Derry~Londonderry, without making a formal application and without making a business case. Despite the University of Ulster presenting a strategic outline plan and the One Plan containing a business plan for expansion, Queen’s was handed extra students on the basis of an informal conversation. This is not how government should operate.”