United front needed for Magee expansion

THE University of Ulster has launched a drive for a united voice behind expansion of the Magee campus and rapid growth in the student population.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett is putting in place a series of meetings with key representative bodies and groups who have a stake in developing Magee as a linchpin consolidating and developing Londonderry as a "knowledge city".

He said: "The University is actively pressing ahead with its ambitious programme of development in Derry. We have already achieved a key target by securing a crucial, exclusive option on Foyle and Londonderry College land that will double the University's footprint in the city.

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“For the first time, we can now plan with confidence, now that this barrier to growth has been removed – and work towards developing a University quarter at the heart of the city.

"Researchers and teaching staff at Magee have an international reputation that has helped to put the University of Ulster in the top 50 of more than 200 across the UK.

"For the first time, Magee has around 4,000 students and the University's aim is to grow that by a further 2,000 over the next five years.

“This is a first-phase development and there is no reason why student number should not grow even higher over the next decade. Magee is the only campus of the University where students numbers are set to grow.

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"To achieve this, we need the united support of the city and its public representatives to convince Government that this is a necessity for Derry’s future.

"We in the University have set out our stall on how we will achieve that - through creation of innovative institutes of research and new degree courses that reflect the needs of the modern world.

"To achieve sustainable student growth, expansion of degree provision and infrastructure that must accompany it, we need a unity of purpose that can command Government support. Magee and the North West needs Government to lift its restriction on our numbers of full-time students. We cannot expand unless the Assembly gives us the permission to recruit these extra students.

"Derry and the North West have demonstrated a massive community will for expansion and all our local political parties are united behind that goal. We welcome the interest shown in higher education by the local business community and share their aspirations for growth in the University quarter of the city.

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“Our business plan for immediate growth is being considered by the Minister: what Derry needs now is to speak to government with one voice on higher education matters. For the long term, the University will continue to work in partnership with ILEX on their regeneration plans for the city.

"The shadows cast across all public spending sectors by the current straitened economic climate will not leave the University of Ulster untouched.

"Along with Professor Deirdre Heenan, Dean of Academic Development at Magee, I now intend to embark on a series of consultations with all the stakeholders, such as elected representatives, post-primary principals, regeneration and lobby organisations, residents and the business and community sectors.

"All of them have the good of Magee and the University of Ulster at heart. We must now harness all our energies so that government can hear a united message about the imperative of achieving Magee's expansion."