The group campaigning for an independent university for Derry has called for fees at the Ulster University’s Magee campus to be substantially reduced or waived completely until 10,000 full time places are secured.
The Derry University Group (DUG) was responding to an expansion plan designed to increase UU student numbers in Derry to 10,000 by 2032.
The plan, published earlier this month, was drawn up by a taskforce established by Economy Minister Conor Murphy.
DUG believes an independent university separate from UU should be established in Derry.
A DUG spokesman said a number of crucial measures were needed to ensure the taskforce report was not treated the same as previous university expansion plans for Derry.
The spokesman pointed out that four expansion plans were drawn up since 2005, none of which delivered on their commitments to Derry.
“Minister Murphy has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to right a historic wrong and resolve one of Ireland’s longest-standing civil rights issues,” the group said.
DUG proposed ten recommendations to ensure expansion at Magee was achieved. The group said a proposal by the Royal Irish Academy to create a higher education oversight group in Northern Ireland should work with the minister to drive forward the expansion.
If the 10,000 full time student number was not achieved by 2030, UU should transfer any shortfall from its other campuses to Derry along with necessary budgets, courses, faculties and departments.
DUG also proposed that the Irish government be asked to become a full member of the expansion steering group.
DUG said independent “Oversight Czars” would ensure that targets were met.
As well as reducing/waiving fees in Derry, DUG proposed Magee develop a separate prospectus, including a range of joint cross-border programmes with the Republic’s Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and other higher education providers.
DUG did not set out the cost of provided reduced or free fees to students.
Due to the impact any UU expansion would have on Derry, DUG believes Derry and Strabane Council should have representatives on the expansion steering group and all internal Magee development committees.
Any research into what was needed to attract students to Derry should be conducted across the island of Ireland to identify “evidence-based incentives”.
The DUG spokesman said UU should reverse its 2017 decision to move the International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) out of Derry to Belfast as it was a “uniquely Derry institution”. He said there also needed to be a greater input from the Irish government.
“The Magee expansion cannot be dependent on Stormont. The two governments, via the independent Oversight Czars, will, along with the sitting minister, have specific authority for the completion of the expansion, independent of internal political or departmental challenges and changes,” he said.
