Derry University Group

Advocating an independent cross-border university for the North West, the return of Magee College to Derry and independent oversight of the North's universities

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

Ulster University attempting to blame their near-bankruptcy on Magee expansion - to which they contributed ZERO capital - and away from their unnecessary and unsanctioned £400m new campus in North Belfast.
Coleraine and Derry must stand together and challenge Belfast greed.

[BBC News NI @BBCNewsNI]

Concerns have been raised about the impact job losses at Ulster University would have on its Coleraine campus and the wider economy on the north coast. https://t.co/YbdBxtSfXo

[Garrett Hargan @GAHargan]

NEW: Department of Education heavily redacts Minister’s letters to Head of Civil Service, after hiding them for more than year

The Department continues to conceal the bulk of what appear to be tense letters from Paul Givan to Jayne Brady.

https://t.co/kv7PgLy2Kx

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

The Minister's review of UU's (unsustainable) multi-campus development strategy cannot come soon enough.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

UU management face a crisis here. If they cut in Derry or Coleraine, they risk losing City Deal funding from both constituencies - and also the wrath of the minister who is committed to regional development. If they cut in Belfast, they risk the viability of the new campus.

[UCU Ulster @UCU_Ulster]

UPDATE ⚠️

@ulsteruni Vice Chancellor has not bothered to respond to the Derry & Strabane Council's motion opposing 450 redundancies

UU is a key employer, education centre, civic hub & economic driver in the Derry & Strabane area. The UU VC should respond as a matter of urgency

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

The Minister's review of UU's (unsustainable) multi-campus development strategy cannot come soon enough.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

UU management face a crisis here. If they cut in Derry or Coleraine, they risk losing City Deal funding from both constituencies - and also the wrath of the minister who is committed to regional development. If they cut in Belfast, they risk the viability of the new campus.

[UCU Ulster @UCU_Ulster]

@UCU_Ulster members, our latest news letter has just been pinged to your inboxes alongside notification/ a link of our upcoming branch meeting on 5th June ✊❤️

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

Now imagine a system with no oversight, such as we have here in Northern Ireland.
Our case is worse again as our entire HE sector is bankrupt because of unchecked overspending, but Dublin has invested properly, targetting HE as a priority, so rendering NI very much second-class.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@MichaelRosenYes @GAHargan @RIAdawson Currently several thousand Donegal students go to Belfast, Galway and Dublin every year. Derry would make more sense for them if the proper (independent) U was available.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

Now imagine a system with no oversight, such as we have here in Northern Ireland.
Our case is worse again as our entire HE sector is bankrupt because of unchecked overspending, but Dublin has invested properly, targetting HE as a priority, so rendering NI very much second-class.

[Michael Rosen 💙💙🎓🎓 NICE 爷爷 @MichaelRosenYes]

The UK's university system is about to collapse.
Discuss.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@MichaelRosenYes @GAHargan @RIAdawson Derry is viewed very much as an Irish city within the North - and has always attracted steadily from Donegal (only four miles away). Southern fees are about half of NI ones but the South has recently invested 40m in Derry HE and has indicated it is open to help further.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@MichaelRosenYes @GAHargan All-Ireland HE structures. The @RIAdawson has a blueprint for a new cross-border centred in Derry, which we believe must be adopted. London and Dublin have both promised 10k HE students in Derry by 2030. They need to become directly involved now as Stormont hasn’t the money.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@MichaelRosenYes https://t.co/oZ9GodRA9s

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

Is Minister @CArchibald_SF considering the dissolution of UU?

Very important - potentially epoch-shaping - update from the @ColeraineChron.

https://t.co/h760g9gEsP

[Mickey Deehan @MickeyDeehan]

@derry_group @CArchibald_SF @ColeraineChron Please Bring It On

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@RCampbell88 @CArchibald_SF @ColeraineChron @RIAdawson https://t.co/ABe2TT33HL

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

Is Minister @CArchibald_SF considering the dissolution of UU?

Very important - potentially epoch-shaping - update from the @ColeraineChron.

https://t.co/h760g9gEsP

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@RCampbell88 @CArchibald_SF @ColeraineChron UU doesn’t own the buildings and land, Magee/Derry does. UU was formed in 1984 as a tripartite merger/partnership and not from the centre/Belfast out.
The @RIAdawson report gives the blueprint for the way forward.

[Derry University Group @derry_group]

@RCampbell88 @CArchibald_SF @ColeraineChron Exactly - and clearly the Minister has had enough of what you so aptly termed UU’s ‘utter bollox’.

[Garbhán Downey @Garbhan_D]

Handled properly, this could be the saving of Derry.
The @RIAdawson blueprint - of a cross-border NWU, independent of Belfast - is now firmly on the agenda.