Stephen Kelly, tge head of business support group Manufacturing NI, has been named as the chairman of a new taskforce commissioned to oversee the expansion of student numbers at Ulster University’s Magee campus to 10,000.
Mr Kelly, along with Executive Director of the Washington Ireland Programme Nicola Skelly, were named as chair and vice chair of the task force at UU’s Magee campus on Friday.
While there has been a long-term promise to expand numbers in Derry, the target has never been reached. The development of the university is at the centre of all plans for progressing the north west economy.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy said the development of the Magee campus was key to promoting regional balance in line with his own economic vision.
“Increasing the city’s student population will be a catalyst for economic development in the north west region.
“The task force will put together a comprehensive plan for expansion, including the capital and infrastructure requirements and the wider economic environment needed in the city for the student population to grow and thrive,” Mr Murphy said.
The minister said membership of the taskforce, to be announced in the coming weeks, would include representatives from higher education, business, the trade union movement, the voluntary and community sector, government and local government.
He added the task force would hear all views, including those who have been critical of the lack progress to date. The minister said groups such as the Derry University Group (DUG), which campaigns for an independent university for the city, had different plans for a university in the city.
“There certainly will be plans to talk to everyone who has an interest in the advancement of this university as a catalyst for broader economic growth,” he said.
The task force is expected to deliver an action plan for expansion within nine months and will initially remain in place for three years.
Mr Murphy said: “I expect the group to be challenging to us; it’s not there to nod and present another report that goes and sits on a shelf. This is to create the pathway to identify the issues that need to be dealt with along the way to get to where we intend to be where we’ve committed to be.”
Mr Kelly said the work of the new taskforce was “critical” for Ulster University and the north west.
“There is a lot of work to do and we plan to get started immediately,” he said.
UU Vice-chancellor, Professor Paul Bartholomew said the university remained committed to growth in Derry.
The first meeting of the new group will take place next week.
