A new report from U4D, the group lobbying for the Magee campus of the University of Ulster in Derry, demonstrates the pressing need to expand university provision in Northern Ireland.
Padraig Canavan.
The report details the damage to productivity, economic output and employment opportunities because Northern Ireland has the smallest university sector of any part of Brtain.
U4D is calling for the substantial expansion of the University of Ulster’s Magee campus as the means to bring Northern Ireland’s higher education provision up to levels achieved in the rest Britain.
Padraig Canavan, chairperson of U4D, the report revealed Northern Ireland required an additional 15,400 places at its universities just to match the levels of university provision in England.
He added: “That provision in England is increasing by 30,000 places this year, precisely because the UK Government realises the connection between the skills generated by university education and the long-term health of an economy.
“We urge MLAs of all parties to read this report and to recognise that Northern Ireland needs to copy England, Scotland and Wales in providing the raw materials for the modern economy – skills.”
Mr Canavan concluded: “It is only by increasing the skill base of the labour market in Derry-Londonderry and the wider North West that we will combat our unacceptably high rate of unemployment. Only the substantial expansion of university provision will turn our economy round.”
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