“Ulster University has agreed that students living in the university’s student accommodation who wish to return home will be released from their contractual obligations. The University operates a Student Support Fund which makes funds available for those students suffering from genuine financial hardship at this time …” (more)
[Derry Now, 25 March]
“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has cancelled all exams due to go ahead on campus. The university said it would arrange alternative ways to assess students instead. Both Queen’s and Ulster University closed their campuses to all but some key staff on Tuesday …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 20 March]
“Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew informed staff and students across Ulster University, that it continues ‘at pace’ in its work to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and wellbeing of staff and students remains the university’s primary focus and with that in mind, a number of decisions have been taken …” (more)
[Derry Now, 17 March]
“Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew informed staff and students across Ulster University, that it continues ‘at pace’ in its work to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and wellbeing of staff and students remains the university’s primary focus and with that in mind, a number of decisions have been taken …” (more)
[Derry Now, 17 March]
“The notorious St Patrick’s Day parties in Belfast’s ‘Holylands’ area – an annual source of concern for local residents – are causing particular anxiety this year as Northern Ireland grapples with the spread of Covid-19 …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 17 March]
“Preparations are underway at Ulster University to allow students and staff to work from home in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Universities in the South of Ireland and in other parts of the world have taken the decision to facilitate home study in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 16 March]
“The New Decade New Approach document has included a commitment to university expansion in Derry, the North’s second city, and fourth largest city on the island. The stated commitment is good news, although it’s hard not be cynical. We’ve had promises for decades, while student numbers dwindle and courses disappear …” (more)
[Anne McCloskey, Derry Now, 16 March]
“Stormont deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill has said schools, universities and colleges in Northern Ireland should close in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. She claimed the public were concerned and fearful and the difference with the Republic of Ireland’s approach was causing confusion …” (more)
[Michael McHugh, Belfast Telegraph, 13 March]
“The Northern Ireland Executive has decided against following the lead of the Irish Government and is not ordering the closure of schools and universities in an attempt to limit the impact of the coronavirus. The North’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, also complained on Thursday evening that the Northern Executive was not informed in advance of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s decision in Washington to announce a number of actions to address the Covid-19 emergency …” (more)
[Gerry Moriarty, Irish Times, 12 March]
“Sinn Féin’s Climate Action Spokesperson, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, has written to the senior management of Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University seeking a commitment from both institutions to divest from fossil fuels. The East Derry MLA said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 10 March]
“Finance Minister Conor Murphy has visited Derry for the first time since promising to provide match-funding for Derry’s City Deal. Mr. Murphy met John Kelpie, Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council and a delegation of businesses including Redmond McFadden the President and Dawn McLaughlin Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce …” (more)
[Kevin Mullan, Derry Journal, 6 March]
“SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell has said that Magee expansion is an opportunity for the ‘Belfast, Dublin and London governments to demonstrate their commitment to Derry’. The Ballyarnett representative gained unanimous support at Thursday’s Council meeting for a motion calling on the Executive to work with Ulster University and the Irish and UK Governments to finally deliver university expansion …” (more)
[Derry Journal, 3 March]
“Ulster University has announced plans to move many of its healthcare degrees to its Magee Campus in Londonderry. However, its preferred option is for postgraduate students in health sciences to study in Belfast …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 28 February]
“Members of the public and organisations across Northern Ireland are being asked for their views on the relocation of Ulster University’s School of Health Sciences. The Derry News recently revealed that the university was seeking the views of stakeholders and the courses could be moved to any of UU’s campuses …” (more)
[Derry Now, 27 February]
“Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has welcomed confirmation that the Health Minister will visit Derry for meetings to discuss the Magee medical school. The Foyle MLA said: ‘Today in the Assembly, I raised with the Health Minister need for official sign off on the graduate entry medical school at Magee University …'” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 25 February]
“The Health Minister cannot say how Brexit will impact on NHS staff numbers as he faces a crippling workforce crisis. Robin Swann said it is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the potential number of vacancies that will arise in the health service as a result of the UK leaving the EU …” (more)
[Lisa Smyth, Belfast Telegraph, 21 February]
“Students joined forces with university staff in Belfast yesterday as staff started 14 days of strike action. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) from Queen’s University, Belfast, Ulster University and the Open University were among those calling for action yesterday on pay and pensions …” (more)
[Allan Preston, Belfast Telegraph, 21 February]
“A second medical school in Northern Ireland must be ‘urgently actioned’ in order to provide an additional 1,000 consultants by 2033, the BMA has warned. Dr Tom Black, the BMA’s Northern Ireland Council chair, told the Stormont health committee that the proposed medical school at Magee college in Londonderry must be created urgently in order to provide care for an ageing population …” (more)
[Mark Edwards, Belfast Telegraph, 20 February]
“Some lecturers at universities in Northern Ireland are beginning 14 days of strike action on Thursday. The action by University and College Union (UCU) members is due to a long-running dispute about pay and pensions …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 20 February]
“Ulster University said it has robust disciplinary procedures in place to deal with any student who is the subject of any off-campus complaint. ‘Off-campus complaints can relate to low level anti-social behaviour such as noise and social activity, and on occasions reports of disorderly behaviour’, a spokesman added …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 12 February]
