UU Magee Taskforce - meeting minutes 9 December 2024
Expansion of Ulster University Derry~Londonderry Campus Taskforce
Meeting 10 - Minutes
Monday 9 December, 1000
Agenda
- Welcome
- Discussion with Minister O’Dowd
- Conflict of Interests
- Minutes from last meeting
- Summary of previous meeting
- Correspondence
- Finalising the Action Plan
- Future work plan and engagement
- Any other business
- Date of next meeting
Taskforce members in attendance:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Stephen Kelly (Chair) (SK) | CEO, Manufacturing NI |
| Nicola Skelly (Vice-Chair) (NS) | Executive Director, Washington Ireland Programme |
| Prof. Paul Bartholomew (PB) | Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University |
| Prof. Paul Seawright OBE (PS) | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University |
Moira Doherty (MD) (Virtual) | Deputy Secretary, Skills and Education Group, Department for the Economy |
| John Kelpie (JK) | Chief Executive, Derry City & Strabane District Council |
| Leo Murphy (LM) | Principal and Chief Executive, North West Regional College |
| Paul Hannigan (PH) | Head of College, Atlantic Technological University Donegal |
| Steven Lindsay (SL) | Deputy Vice President, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce |
| Ethan Davies (ED) | President, Ulster University Students Union |
| Gavin Killeen MBE (GK) | Managing Director, Nuprint Technologies Limited |
| Philip Rodgers (PR) | Director of Workforce Policy, Department of Health |
| Dawn McLaughlin (DM) | Non-Executive Director, Invest NI |
| Mary MacIntyre OBE (MM) | Chartered Town Planner |
Apologies:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Ian McKenna (IK) | Principal Officer, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
| Paddy Mackel (PM) | University and College Union |
| Alison Wallace (AW) | Strategy Manager, Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership |
Welcome
SK welcomed attendees to the meeting.
Discussion with Minister O’Dowd
SK welcomed Minister O’Dowd to the meeting virtually to discuss how the Department for Infrastructure would be able to assist with the ongoing work of the Taskforce.
SK provided a short presentation to demonstrate the role of the Taskforce and the work it has undertaken since inception in March. He particularly noted that to enable a more rapid increase in university provision, infrastructure within the city will have to evolve more quickly than previously to accommodate a quicker influx of students (and the anticipated economic growth that will accompany it). SK stated that the support of the Executive would be critical in expanding the university campus and increasing students to 10,000.
Minister O’Dowd thanked SK for the update and commended the Taskforce on their commitment and efforts. He discussed some of the ‘Asks’ in the Interim Report that were directed to his department and agreed to continue to work together to address these issues.
The Minister reiterated his support for the Taskforce and the expansion of the university campus and student numbers.
SK thanked Minister O’Dowd for his support.
Conflict of Interest
No further Conflict of Interest noted.
Minutes from last meeting
All Taskforce members confirmed they were content, and no amendments were required to the minutes of the previous meeting. The secretariat advised that all the DfE owned Action Points have been completed.
Summary of previous meeting
SK provided a summary of the previous meeting.
Correspondence
SK noted the response from Minister Long, Department of Justice in response to the Interim Report. He also noted the response from Minister Murphy in relation to Asks six, seven, eight and nine of the Interim Report.
Finalising the Action Plan
The Taskforce reviewed the latest draft of the final report and action plan in detail.
- Future work plan and engagement
The Taskforce discussed the future work plan post final report and action plan publication.
Any other business
N/A
Date of next meeting
The date of the next meeting will be confirmed in January 2025.
Action Points
No Action points from this meeting.