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Coleraine left 'vulnerable' in university job losses

Maria McCann BBC News NI, north east reporter
News imageBBC Claire Sugden has long dark hair and is wearing a pink blouse. She is sitting on a light-coloured chair and staring at the camera. In the background is a grey sideboard with a light wooden top. There are framed photographs, a vase of flowers and a brown candlestick with a white candle on top of it.BBC
Claire Sugden said she is "acutely concerned" about the potential impact of job losses on Coleraine

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.

A politician for the area said "the vulnerability very much lies at the Coleraine campus" while a trade union representative said there are fears it is "an easy target" for financial savings.

Last month Ulster University (UU) announced it is set to make up to 450 staff redundant as it needs to make savings of about £25m.

An UU spokesperson said it was "impossible" to determine the number of staff who may apply for redundancy at each campus but that it "remains committed to Coleraine and our multi-campus model".

'We don't see that same investment in Coleraine'

News imageA road sign saying University/ Riverside theatre - behind it are trees and a blue sign for the UU's main entrance.
The town's university is located on the Cromore Road

East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden said she is "acutely concerned" about the impact of job losses on Coleraine.

"Within Ulster University we see the investment that's happening in Magee, we see the investment that's happening in Belfast but we don't see that same investment in Coleraine.

"It does concern me that that will be the low-hanging fruit for the university if they're trying to save money."

The Independent politician said the institution was "much needed" on the north coast, "not just for the jobs, not just for the students but the whole economy that is kind of stabilised by the university being there".

"We have a big tourism product on the north coast and the students are sustaining that when we're off season," she added.

'Economic anchor for north coast'

Norman Hagan from UCU said uncertainty created by the announcement "has caused significant ripples particularly on the Coleraine campus" because it is such an economic anchor for the wider north coast.

"It's not just the staff, but it's the transport, it's the landlords, it's the hospitality. All of those have the potential to be negatively impacted".

He referred to "major investment at the Belfast campus and the expansion of Magee" and said he understands why people are concerned that Coleraine could become "an easy target when it comes to making financial savings".

News imageA man with white hair and a white goatee and a white shirt with a UCU lanyard round his neck. He is standing in front of a green grassy area with trees in the background.
Norman Hagan is worried that the Coleraine campus will be an easy target

Hagan said he believes the reputation of the university has been "damaged" by the way that this has been handled."

He added that young people considering Coleraine for university will have questions.

"Do I know if the experienced senior lecturers are going to be there to deliver that programme? Will I get the quality of education that I desire? Will I get the support that I need?"

'Widespread concern' among students

News imageChris Murray is standing in front of a blue sign that says Ulster University. He is wearing a black jacket with the initials UUSU on it in white and pink writing. He has dark wavy hair and a dark beard and is smiling into the camera.
Chris Murray says the rumours are a result of the panic the announcement caused

Chris Murray, the vice president of the Ulster University Students' Union at Coleraine said "there is definitely widespread concern especially on this campus".

He said rumours and speculation are "obviously caused by the lack of transparency and widespread panic".

"It goes from one course, two courses maybe changing to Magee or Belfast... all the way to Coleraine campus closing."

Murray said there is uncertainty around what faculties or courses could be affected by job losses but that the students' union is particularly concerned for PhD students who rely on supervisory teams.

"Just one member of staff going off can jeopardise their whole degree, so we really do feel for those students."

News imageA man with grey hair and beard stares into the camera. He is wearing a grey jacket and light blue shirt. He's standing beside a road and there are trees in the background.
Steve Frazer said he believes the government understands the importance of having university campuses in the area

Steve Frazer, President of the Causeway Chamber of Commerce, said the Coleraine campus is "hugely important" and not just an educational establishment but a key economic driver right across the north west.

Frazer said he believes the government understands the importance of having university campuses in the area.

"They've shown that in terms of trying to achieve regional balance. There is support for Magee and the growth of the Coleraine campus. It's just now how they [UU] reshape and plan what works for the university and what works for business."

"I think it'll make the university stronger in the long run and give them a clearer path on where they can grow."

Ulster University 'committed to Coleraine'

An Ulster University spokesperson said "there is no aspect of this announcement that changes the commitment" to Coleraine and the multi-campus model.

"As a multi‑campus institution, the university provided notionally and proportionally-allocated figures for each site based on current staffing at each.

"However, this is a proposed voluntary scheme so it is impossible to determine the number of staff who may apply from each campus until the scheme closes."

Announcing the cuts last month, a university spokesperson said redundancies across the higher education sector have become unavoidable.

"It has recently been made clear to us that a sustainable funding model is not going to be forthcoming, and regretfully we must now act to reduce our costs."