The work of the Taskforce set up by Economy Minister Conor Murphy to develop an action plan for expanding Ulster University in Derry~Londonderry offers new opportunities for growth, Ulster University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew has said.
The Taskforce, which brought together a range of stakeholders including the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Government and business representatives, trade unions and the community sector, has today published its final report and action plan for growth of the University’s Derry~Londonderry campus.
Vice Chancellor of Ulster University, Professor Paul Bartholomew said:
“The collective efforts of the Economy Minister’s Taskforce have generated a report that describes potential opportunities to accelerate our planned growth in Derry~Londonderry. We have worked with the wider taskforce to bring the opportunities and challenges to the forefront, and we welcome the ambitious action plan set out within the Final Report.
"It is clear that momentum is building as we work with partners to unlock new avenues for growth, including the recent confirmation that medical students in Derry~Londonderry will gain access to tuition fee loans from the next academic year, making study at Ulster University’s Graduate Entry Medical School more financially accessible for students. This year we also succeeded in an SEUPB PEACEPLUS funding bid to establish a 15,000m2 indoor sports and leisure Dome on the Northland Road, which will be match funded by Ulster University to become a hub for community and student events in the city. Working in partnership with the Economy Minister, we also welcomed a funding uplift to allow up to a further 500 undergraduate students to study in Derry~Londonderry, over and above the extant Maximum Allowable Student Numbers.
"We thank the Minister and the members of the taskforce for their diligent exploration of the opportunities at our Derry~Londonderry campus and know we will continue to work together to successfully enact expansion and stimulate further economic, social, cultural and civic growth in the North West. We are completely committed to addressing the challenges and tasks laid out in the Final Report for growth at our campus in Derry~Londonderry, in line with our pre-existing strategic commitment for better regional balance.”