“A multimillion pound funding package needed to open a medical school in Londonderry has now been agreed by the NI Executive. The Executive has allocated ringfenced funding for the school at Ulster University’s Magee campus …” (more)
[BBC News, 9 July]
“‘It is odd that this decision can apparently be taken so easily and quickly, when funding requests for the Magee campus are repeatedly delayed and subjected to intensive scrutiny.’ A Derry MLA has criticised a decision to award Ulster University a grant of £25m. SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin said …” (more)
[Derry Now, 30 June]
“Ulster University is seeking a new vice-chancellor to steer it through one of its most challenging periods ever. The new post-holder, who is expected to receive a salary of around £300,000, will take the helm as the university moves through the post-lockdown landscape …” (more)
[Emma Deighan, Belfast Telegraph, 20 June]
“That is the final step in a five point ‘target operating plan’ provided to staff and students, according to the BBC. But it said that it would resume many on-campus activities and teaching earlier if public health advice allowed …” (more)
[Gemma Murray, Derry Journal, 18 June]
“SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood MP has expressed concern that the First Minister was unable to give SDLP MLA, Mark H Durkan, a cast iron guarantee that the Magee Medical School would be ready to open in September 2021 …” (more)
[Derry Now, 16 June]
“However, speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mrs. Foster declined to give a guarantee on when the first intake of students would take place. She said all the ‘necessary preparatory work’ would have to be completed before the Executive could do so, after being asked for a progress update by Foyle MLA Mark Durkan …” (more)
[Kevin Mullan, Derry Journal, 16 June]
“An SDLP MLA and Sinn Féin MLA exchanged words at Stormont yesterday over the issue of the Magee Medical School. Foyle MLA Sinead Mclaughlin voiced the need for urgency to get the project over the line for a 2021 start date while Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd accused her of playing ‘party politics’ and the ‘Derry media’ of writing ‘negative’ headlines …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 4 June]
“Queen’s University (QUB) expects to open all of its campus for teaching and other activities in September. However, lectures will continue to be provided online and facemasks will be provided for staff and students …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 4 June]
“Ulster University has hit out at government plans to limit the number of students from England who can study in Northern Ireland. Economy Minister Diane Dodds and her counterparts in Scotland and Wales have reacted angrily to a temporary cap on the amount of students from England studying in their universities, saying it was beyond the government’s jurisdiction …” (more)
[Allan Preston, Belfast Telegraph, 3 June]
“Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has said the delivery of a medical school at the Magee campus is an exciting opportunity for Derry and the north west. Speaking after receiving a letter from the Health Minister restating the Executive’s commitment to completing the project, the Foyle MLA said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 28 May]
“Foyle SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin has called for greater transparency over the progress on the Magee Medical School. Last week Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced that the Magee Medical School had been agreed and that students would start next September …” (more)
[Derry Now, 27 May]
“People Before Profit councillors have said that Magee Medical School approval should not be allowed to divert attention away from the agreed target of 10,000 full-time students at the Derry campus. Derry and Strabane People Before Profit Cllrs Eamonn McCann and Shaun Harkin said: ‘People Before Profit joins other parties in welcoming the announcement that the Stormont Executive has approved a graduate-entry Medical School at Magee …'” (more)
[Derry Now, 19 May]
“Plans for a Magee Medical School opening next year have been cast into doubt after the Economy Minister told a committee meeting that ‘significant work’ is required and questioned Ulster University’s financial stability …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 21 May]
“The Magee campus story dates back over 150 years with a campaign to establish it as Northern Ireland’s second university beginning in the 1960s. Since then various groups have fought for a meaningful expansion of the Derry campus …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 21 May]
“The department responsible for delivering the Magee Medical School says ‘further work’ is needed to ensure students can enrol in September 2021. It comes after Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill yesterday announced that the long-awaited Derry medical school had been ‘agreed’ by the Executive …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 19 May]
“Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has confirmed that the Executive Office will now take the lead on progressing the Graduate Entry Medical School at Ulster University Magee Campus, which is a key priority for Ministers, Derry and the North West …” (more)
[Derry Now, 7 May]
“Ulster University has said that government sign-off is needed by the end of May to ensure student intake for a Magee medical school can proceed as planned for 2021. Elected representatives from across the north west have called on the Executive to sign off on a medical school at Magee and match funding for Derry’s City Deal …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 4 May]
“Ulster University has launched a series of virtual talks for secondary school children in Derry, allowing future applicants the opportunity to engage in career development conversations and to find out more about life at the university …” (more)
[Derry Journal, 3 May]
“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) will not hold graduation ceremonies on its campus this summer. The university emailed students at the weekend to tell them it will hold ‘virtual’ ceremonies for students due to graduate instead …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 3 May]
“The department of health has said it is readying its own business case for medical expansion in Northern Ireland but gave no assurances that a medical school will be based in Derry. Long-running plans for a medical school at Ulster University’s Magee campus have been plagued with set-backs …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 30 April]
