UU Magee Taskforce - meeting minutes - 10 December 2025

Agenda

1. Welcome  
2. Conflict of Interest        
3. Minutes from last meeting
4. Update on Programme Business Case
5. ‘One Year On’ Progress Report update
6. Any other business                                      
7. Date of next meeting                                              

In attendance

Name	Role
Stephen Kelly (Chair) (SK)	CEO, Manufacturing NI
Prof. Paul Seawright OBE (PS)	Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University
Prof. Paul Bartholomew (PB)	Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University
Gavin Killeen MBE (GK)	Managing Director, Nuprint Technologies Limited
Leo Murphy (LM)	Principal and Chief Executive, North West Regional College
Alison Wallace (AW)	Strategy Manager, Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership
Paddy Mackel (PM)	University and College Union
John Kelpie (JK)	Chief Executive, Derry City & Strabane District Council
Paul Hannigan (PH)	Head of College, Atlantic Technological University Donegal
Mary MacIntyre OBE (MM)	Chartered Town Planner
Ian McKenna (IK)	Principal Officer, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Linda McGuinness (LMG)	Director of Magee Expansion Branch, DfE

Apologies

Steven Lindsay (SL)	Deputy Vice President, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
Philip Rodgers (PR)	Director of Workforce Policy, Department of Health
Nicola Skelly (Vice-Chair) (NS)	Executive Director, Washington Ireland Programme
Dawn McLaughlin (DM)	Non-Executive Director, Invest NI
Emily Roberts (ER)	President, Ulster University Students Union
John Healy OBE (JH)	Chair, Invest NI
Moira Doherty (MD)	Deputy Secretary, Skills and Education Group, Department for the Economy

Welcome

SK opened the meeting and welcomed attendees, noting apologies from the members that were unable to attend.   

Conflict of Interest

Members confirmed that there were no conflicts of interest to be declared.

Minutes from Last Meeting

All Taskforce members confirmed that they were content, and no amendments were required to the minutes of the previous meeting. The actions from the previous meeting were confirmed as complete or in-hand.

Update on Programme Business Case

SK thanked LMG and her team for the huge amount of work that had gone into getting the Programme Business Case (PBC) to this stage and invited her to provide an update.

LMG advised that the first draft of the PBC had been received on 3 December 2025 and that it was currently being reviewed both internally and by Ulster University.  She stated that following the first review, comments would be returned to the report writer, and the document would be updated accordingly, following which a second review of the document amongst internal stakeholders and experts would commence.  She noted that there was a consultation schedule in place to review the document and that the Department was still working towards a final draft being issued to Casework Committee by 29 January 2026. LMG cautioned that approval of the PBC does not guarantee funding and that each individual project would be subject to a full Outline Business Case to secure the necessary budget.

In terms of content, she stated that the first draft was a strong piece of work and thanked Taskforce members and colleagues for their valuable input and contribution towards the document. In response to a question by JK, she advised that the PBC was an internal document and not for publishing, however, she agreed that she would update members on the key elements of the document in due course. 

LMG then updated members on the work that was underway in the student accommodation space and shared some preliminary thoughts on how challenges in this area could be addressed, both through the use of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).  She noted that an expert working group made up of key stakeholders would be set up in the new year to progress this critical piece of work.

In discussion, Taskforce members highlighted the importance of a clear procurement strategy in the development of PBSA, noting that this would define the types of schemes that were put forward by the sector.  LMG reassured members that the Department would seek professional advice and support, both internally and from the private sector, in the development of a procurement strategy, and drew attention to the market research that had already been completed in informing this area to date.

Regarding HMO, LMG advised that there was an opportunity to involve organisations such as housing associations to deliver HMO schemes in a more managed way, rather than relying solely on the private market to deliver.  JK asked that the Council be kept informed with any proposals aimed at addressing the HMO supply given the public interest in this area and the vested interest of the Council. He stressed the challenges the Council face in relation to HMO policy to ensure a joined-up approach was achieved and agreed to discuss further with LMG offline. In discussion around balancing political sensitivities against the social imperative to address the accommodation issue, PB emphasised the importance of the Taskforce taking a position on critical issues to help inform policy direction.

LMG provided an update on her meeting with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), noting that it was productive and that DfI had committed to providing a senior representative to sit on the Taskforce and expert group, as and when required. On funding, she stated that DfI had agreed to provide money from their own budget towards addressing the water infrastructure and transport needs in relation to expansion and that the issue of residents parking was raised with the Department and discussed in detail.

Finally, LMG advised that the Gateway Review was well underway, with a final report due back by close of business the following day.  She thanked those Taskforce members who had been interviewed as part of this process for giving up their time and stated that she would provide an update on the outcome at the next meeting.

Update on ‘One Year On’ Report

SK advised that at the previous meeting it was agreed that the draft report would be circulated for comment, and that members should have received a draft for their review.  He then invited Stephen McGowan from Strategic Investment Board to provide an overview of the structure and key elements of the report.

There was discussion amongst members on the assumptions made within the report and the accuracy of some of the content, with members emphasising the need to present the risks and challenges in the most effective way, including challenges around the sustainability of the University and student fees.  Members agreed that given that expansion would require cross-departmental collaboration, the report would need to clearly set out the importance of delivery of the programme to secure Executive buy-in at the offset, and that the Taskforce ‘One Year On’ Report should assist the Minister in making this case.

SK welcomed the feedback and asked that members provide any further input by the end of the week so that a final report could be finalised and sent to graphics by Friday 19 December.

Action Point 1:  Taskforce to provide comments/feedback to the Department on the ‘One Year On’ Report

AOB

None recorded.

Date of next meeting

TBC.

Action Points

No.	Action Point	Owner	Status
1	Taskforce to provide comments/feedback to the Department on the ‘One Year On’ Report	Taskforce