Ninth Level Ireland

“The guarantee of £60m to build and staff a new medical School has been warmly welcomed in Derry this week but the expansion of student numbers at Magee remains a key demand. The announcement that the money has been ring-fenced was hailed by Foyle MP Colum Eastwood in the House of Commons yesterday …” (more)

[Kevin Mullan, Derry Journal, 17 January]

“Funding to kick-start stalled plans for a medical school in Londonderry is ‘such good news’, said the NI chair of the British Medical Association (BMA). A cash injection of £60m was announced on Wednesday for the school at Ulster University’s Magee campus …” (more)

[BBC News, 16 January]

“The new deal to restore devolution in Northern Ireland has boosted hopes that a new medical school planned for Londonderry could open by next year. Magee Medical College is to be located in Ulster University’s Magee in the city, but the project has been beset by repeated delays and funding problems. It was due to open in 2019 until the Stormont stand-off scuppered the plan …” (more)

[BBC News, 11 January]

“Ulster University’s (UU) vice-chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon is to leave his post in February 2020. Professor Nixon took up the top job at the university in July 2015. He is leaving to become vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra …” (more)

[BBC News, 20 December]

“Irish third-level institutions are to be affected by strikes and other actions over pay and conditions in the coming months. This comes as lecturers and researchers in 60 universities across the UK and Northern Ireland began an eight day strike on Monday over pensions, pay and conditions …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 1 December]

“It has been an argument raging on for 50 years, it briefly united Unionist and Nationalist elected reps in a period of violent division but it has yet to be resolved; a University for our second city. When the Stormont government attempted to shutdown the Magee University College (as it then was) campus and divert its resources to the New Ulster University in Coleraine which was recommended by the Lockwood Report …” (more)

[Jay Burbank, Slugger O’Toole, 28 November]

“Queen’s University is investigating 100 cases of anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area of Belfast since the beginning of term. Figures obtained by the BBC show that the cases had come before the university’s disciplinary officers up to October 11. They are currently ongoing. Ulster University (UU) has issued 47 written warnings to students living in the area from the start of the academic year in September until November 7 …” (more)

[Gareth Cross, Belfast Telegraph, 28 November]

“Brilliant to see students and staff united. Our working conditions are their learning conditions …” (more)

[UCU @ Ulster, 27 November]

“Many lecturers and support staff at Queen’s University (QUB) and Ulster University (UU) are beginning eight days of strike action on Monday. The action by University and College Union (UCU) members is due to disputes over pay and pensions. The strike is expected to continue up to and including Wednesday, 4 December …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 25 November]

“It’s a long-running medical drama that – should it have a happy ending – could help address a shortfall in doctors and kick-start a region’s economy. Plans for a medical school in Londonderry were first mooted in the mid-2000s, and submitted to the General Medical Council in 2016 …” (more)

[BBC News, 23 November]

“Ulster University have spoken of their ‘frustration’ after the first intake of student doctors at the planned Medical School in Derry was delayed for at least another year due to a lack of Ministers to sign off on funding. Ulster University said it has worked tirelessly with partner agencies to progress the project but that the opportunity to recruit the first students for 2020 has now been lost as a result of the vacuum at Stormont …” (more)

[Brendan McDaid, Derry Journal, 19 November]

“Plans to open a graduate medical school at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry have been delayed again. It had been anticipated that the recruitment would begin shortly with medical students to start their studies there next year …” (more)

[Highland News, 19 November]

“Queen’s University and Ulster University face eight days of strike action from many lecturers and support staff, starting on 25 November. The action by University and College Union (UCU) members is due to disputes over pay and pensions. The walkout follows votes in favour of industrial action and will affect about 60 universities across the UK …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 7 November]

“The former speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lord Alderdice, has said Westminster could approve a medical school in Londonderry in the absence of a devolved government. The school at Ulster University’s Magee campus was meant to open this year …” (more)

[BBC News, 30 October]

“No progress can be made on a medical training school in Londonderry until Ulster University submits a final business case, peers have been told. The House of Lords heard ‘nothing can happen’ with the proposed school at Magee without the finalised plan. The university previously blamed delays on the lack of a Stormont Executive …” (more)

[BBC News, 29 October]

“An Ulster University lecturer has criticised the institution’s ‘galling’ spending after it emerged 65 staff were paid at least £100,000 each year. Right-wing pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) announced the finding after submitting Freedom of Information requests to 120 universities across the UK …” (more)

[Allan Preston, Belfast Telegraph, 3 October]

“Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion has reiterated the need for sign off on the Medical School at Magee University. Speaking after attending a cross-party meeting with Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill and the Head of the Civil Service, the Foyle MP said: …” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 23 September]

“Queen’s University remains the best university in Northern Ireland, according to an influential list. It has climbed three places to stay within the top 40 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. Ulster University has also climbed in the national rankings to joint 58th place …” (more)

[Gillian Halliday, Belfast Telegraph, 20 September]

“Holyland residents have described ‘total chaos’ as hundreds of young people partied on the streets of the south Belfast neighbourhood overnight. Chair of College Park Avenue Residents’ Association Brid Ruddy told the Belfast Telegraph that the trouble started at lunchtime on Sunday when students began drinking on the streets …” (more)

[Mark Edwards, Belfast Telegraph, 16 September]

“The flaws with college rankings are well documented. They are produced by commercial organisations which sell their expertise on how to perform better. They ignore key aspects of college life such as the quality of teaching and learning. And the science behind some of the indicators is suspect, at best. But there is no denying their influence …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 11 September]