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An SDLP MLA has revealed that Ulster University (UU) plans to cut over 100 jobs at its Magee campus located in Londonderry. Sinéad McLaughlin, who serves as the party’s economy spokesperson, brought forward the figures during a recent question session in the Northern Ireland Assembly. These job reductions are part of a wider wave of redundancies affecting multiple UU campuses.
McLaughlin detailed the scale of the cuts in the assembly chamber, stating that 221 positions are expected to be lost at the Belfast campus, 114 at Coleraine, 108 at Magee, and seven at Jordanstown. Describing the situation as “a major crisis in higher education,” she pressed Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald on what measures were being taken to support the sector through these difficult times. The expansion of the UU Magee campus has long been viewed as a key driver for economic growth across the northwest region.
Minister Archibald acknowledged the anxiety facing staff amid the job losses, expressing her sympathy for those affected and their families. While emphasizing the fiscal challenges confronting all departments, she claimed to be working toward establishing a budget that ensures a “sustainable further and higher education sector.” Archibald also attributed the redundancies to the limited funding available to the Northern Ireland Executive, describing them as “a real-world consequence” of insufficient financial resources. She noted that the executive’s finances are “unsustainable” and that investment from the British government into further and higher education has been lacking.
Responding to the concerns about the Magee campus layoffs, McLaughlin voiced “genuine shock” specifically over the 108 positions at risk there. She questioned how the executive could claim to prioritize Magee’s expansion while simultaneously allowing reductions in staff numbers. Archibald reiterated that Magee’s development remains an “executive priority” and highlighted that her department has invested £35 million in the campus, which has contributed to a 22% increase in student enrollment. BBC News Northern Ireland has reached out to Ulster University for their response to these ongoing developments
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