New Magee campus will require around £700m investment - Taskforce reports

The Magee Taskforce interim report published today has outlined that progress has been made on securing further commitment and defined timelines from key stakeholders ahead of the formulation of its action plan later this year.

The Taskforce has said that there is a stronger unity of purpose than ever before, and a genuine willingness to address historic underinvestment in the North West, but, sustained direct interventions will be required.

The Taskforce has said that whilst it is still receiving input, all parties are committed to delivery for the first time since the New Decade New Approach agreement, five years ago.

The Taskforce has acknowledged serious commitment from Ulster University, the Department for the Economy and Derry City and Strabane District Council in setting up specific teams to focus on the expansion project.

The Taskforce understands a significant part of the £700m is already secured or committed. It is estimated that up to 40% could come from private sector investment in student accommodation.

The Magee Taskforce was announced in March to bring forward an action plan to expand Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry to 10,000 students as soon as practicable.

Referenced in the three year economic vision and his 2024/25 Business Plan by the Economy Minister published this week, it has also been included in the draft Programme for Government, in addition to its forthcoming inclusion in the Investment Strategy for NI - further evidence that the project is embedded in public sector planning.

Nearly 30 ‘asks’ have been requested of key stakeholders in the Department for the Economy, Ulster University, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the UK and Irish Government among others.

In its report, the Taskforce seeks support with mechanisms the NI Executive and Ulster University can reasonably employ to increase numbers of enrolments at Magee.

Some of the wider asks focus on issues such as funding, development of an oversight group and project infrastructure.

The Taskforce has also stated in the report that the development will be across all four faculties of the university but that no expansion of Magee should come from displacement of students from Coleraine to support the Executive’s regional balance ambitions.

Stephen Kelly, Chair of the Magee Taskforce said: “Through this work, the Taskforce can see the pathway for delivery on this significant project.

“Co-design has been central to the development of this report, and it shows that we have gained further commitments from all of the key parties, indicating a real statement of intent.

“A substantial leap forward has been made. There is now a sense of urgency and a unity of purpose after five years of inertia and delay since the commitment was made in the New Decade New Approach agreement.

“We must maintain the course we are on, however hard, or challenging, it may seem.

“We have also been able to shape the value of this investment and the significance it will have for Derry and the North West cross border city region.

“Although there is still some finessing to be undertaken, the approximate investment from the public and private sector will be almost £700m.

“There is no doubt that this will have massive, direct, indirect and induced benefit for the region, but it will also deliver on key policy priorities on regional balance, good jobs and increasing productivity.

“We now have the commitment, the timeline and the indicative price. Delivery has started and, learning from past failures, we now have the teams, processes and policies in place to make that stick.

“The report published today (Wednesday) is an important milestone in the delivery of an expanded Ulster University campus at Magee. The work means we will deliver the promised action plan towards the end of 2024.”

Economy Minister Conor Murphy emphasised the strategic importance of the campus expansion in driving economic development in the North West region.

He said: “Increasing Derry’s student population is a key driver for economic development in the North West. There has long been an aspiration to expand Magee.

“We now have the basis of a plan, developed by and with local people, to actually deliver expansion.

“The Taskforce has set out exactly what is needed from various partners, including my Department. We will now work together to finalise a delivery plan and drive progress towards the 10,000 target.”

Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, Professor Paul Bartholomew welcomed the interim report by the Taskforce.

He said: “We have worked with the wider taskforce to pool our collective efforts into identifying a pathway to a University for 10,000 students. Prior to the formation of the Taskforce, the University expressed its intention to expand to 6,500 students, arriving at that ceiling due to constraints within the operating environment, so we thank the Taskforce for the time spent exploring the changes that would be necessary to expand to 10,000.

“We also acknowledge the Minister’s recent commitment of funds that have already made a difference to the operating environment allowing us to revise our plans to expand to 7,000 students. Further changes in the operating environment will allow us to go further still. We will continue to work together – at pace - with the Taskforce, the Minister, the Department, and all of the stakeholders outlined within the Interim Report to successfully enact expansion of the campus, the curricula and the number of students.

“There is much still to be done – the report brings to the fore a clear picture of the challenges to overcome and crucially, the way forward to unlock those challenges, but it is greatly encouraging to see support galvanised to maximise the potential of this campus and the economic, social, cultural, civic and research benefits that it will in turn deliver for the region.

“We remain completely committed to growth at our campus in Derry~Londonderry, in line with our strategic commitment for better regional balance.”

Anna Doherty, Chief Executive, Derry Chamber said: "Derry Chamber welcomes the publication of the Magee Taskforce's interim report on the expansion of the Ulster University campus in Derry. With the taskforce having convened in March of this year, it is pleasing to see this progress occurring quickly.

"It has also been encouraging this week to see the expansion of the campus mentioned in both the Programme for Government and the Minister for the Economy's action plan.

"While the North West has been waiting for the delivery of the pledged provision of 10,000 students for our university since New Decade, New Approach, the convening of the taskforce and the publication of this report has made it feel as if momentum is finally gathering behind this much-needed growth goal.

"Derry Chamber looks forward to the publication of the final action plan and to assisting the taskforce with its implementation in any way possible."

SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin said that the first report of the Magee taskforce presents a clear challenge that the Minister must now answer.

The Foyle MLA said:“The findings of the Magee Taskforce Report presents a very clear set of asks to the Economy Minister and the wider Executive. As the taskforce continues its work, it is now incumbent on the Minister to go to his Executive colleagues, answer those requests and finally get serious about expanding university provision in Derry.

"It’s more important than ever that we see a focus on getting Magee to 10,000 students at a minimum, particularly after the disappointing language in the Programme for Government.

“We have been waiting 60 years for a properly resourced university to be delivered. It should have been delivered long before now. The people of our city and region are not prepared to wait any longer, nor should they be expected to.

"Minister Murphy similarly does not need to wait for the next phase of the taskforce’s work before getting on with the job at hand and responding to the gauntlet that the taskforce has laid down on this issue. 

“The department must now evidence in its financial planning how it will fund the expansion of our Magee campus and work with other departments to provide the student accommodation necessary to meet demand.

"I look forward to seeing clear evidence from each of the other departments referenced in this report, including health and finance, who each now have clear responsibilities to undertake. Every step of the way I will be pressing the Executive parties and Minister Murphy in particular to live up to their responsibilities.

“Expanding higher education in the North West is a key lever to raise economic productivity and reduce inactivity across the North by investing in a city with huge potential.

"It is fundamental to the future of our economy and addressing regional inequalities. The first steps have been made clear on the task ahead and the Minister and his Executive colleagues must now demonstrate the political will that has been lacking for far too long and get on with the job.”

A spokesperson for the Derry University Group slammed the interim report, describing it as a 'list of excuses'.

The spokesperson said there are two possible interpretations that could be made to of the report.

“One, the Department for the Economy has cynically established and used this Ulster University-led taskforce to row back on commitments made in 2020, and to crush a city's expectations and ambitions.

“The second is that UU has manipulated the Department and the Taskforce into allowing it to continue to run four unsustainable campuses with competing priorities, and fund cosmetic changes at Derry, while leaving Belfast and Coleraine untouched.”

The spokesperson said Ulster University has no place being on the Taskforce.

“UU needs to be removed entirely from the Magee decision-making process and an external independent commission appointed to carry out the planning work fairly and meet the agreed target of at least 10000 students by 2030, as sanctioned in New Decade New Approach.

“Ultimately, the Taskforce's decision to ignore the advice of the Royal Irish Academy in its 2021 and 2024 reports - and consider cross-border alternatives to UU's one-state, four-campus model, has set this process up for failure."