UU Magee Taskforce - meeting minutes - 27 March 2026

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Conflict of Interest 
3. Minutes from last meeting 
4. Widening Participation 
5. Update from DfE 
6. Update from UU 
7. Any other business                                      

In attendance

Name	Role
Linda McGuinness (LMG)	Director, Magee Expansion Division, DfE
Leo Murphy (LM)	Principal and Chief Executive, North West Regional College
Prof. Paul Bartholomew CBE (PB)	Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University
Steven Lindsay (SL)	President, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
Dawn McLaughlin (DM)	Non-Executive Director, Invest NI
Paul Hannigan (PH) - Virtual	Head of College, Atlantic Technological University Donegal
Ian McKenna (IK) – Virtual	Principal Officer, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Lee Doran (LD) – Deputising for Emily Roberts	Vice-President Magee, Ulster University Students Union

Apologies

John Kelpie (JK)	Chief Executive, Derry City & Strabane District Council
Alison Wallace (AW)	Strategy Manager, Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership
Louise Watson (LW)	Deputy Secretary, Skills and Education Group, Department for the Economy
Mary MacIntyre OBE (MM)	Chartered Town Planner
Stephen Kelly (Chair) (SK)	CEO, Manufacturing NI
Nicola Skelly (Vice-Chair) (NS)	Executive Director, Washington Ireland Programme
Elaine Hartin (EH)	Chief Strategy & Finance Officer, Ulster University
Emily Roberts (ER)	President, Ulster University Students Union
Gavin Killeen MBE (GK)	Managing Director, Nuprint Technologies Limited
Philip Rodgers (PR)	Director of Workforce Policy, Department of Health
Paddy Mackel (PM)	University and College Union

Welcome

SL welcomed members to the meeting. He explained that, in the absence of the Chair and Vice‑Chair, he would be chairing the meeting. He wished Stephen Kelly a speedy recovery.

SL welcomed new members Elaine Hartin and Louise Watson to the Taskforce and thanked departing members Professor Paul Seawright and Moira Doherty for their contribution and support. He noted both Elaine and Louise’s apologies and all members of the Taskforce who had provided apologies to the meeting. LMG welcomed two new members of administrative staff to the Magee Expansion Division.  

SL provided an update on recent engagement with Derry City & Strabane District Council, noting a positive meeting and reaffirmed cross-party support for the Magee expansion. He also noted the Taskforce’s appearance at the Economy Committee at Magee, during which the ‘One Year On’ Update Report was presented. SL also noted that the Chair had received correspondence from Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM) and had responded by offering a meeting with the Magee Expansion Social Licence Lead.

Conflict of interest

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

Minutes from last meeting

Minutes from the last meeting to be distributed to Taskforce members following this meeting. 

Widening Participation

Richard Gormley, Project Co-ordinator at Ulster University (UU), provided a comprehensive update on the Widening Participation (WP) activity funded by the Department in 2025/26. 

Richard explained that whilst Ulster University already focuses on widening participation, the purpose of the additional funding through Magee Expansion Division is to establish the foundations for scaling up targeted interventions and strengthening and expanding WP applicant pipelines to Magee. He advised that the Magee programme focuses on increasing access to higher education through flexible learning pathways, targeted outreach, and strengthening collaboration across partner institutions.

Richard outlined three core strategic goals: building confidence among prospective students to pursue academic pathways, relaunching and rebranding the virtual learning environment and strengthening partnerships, particularly with NWRC and other key stakeholders.

Engagement activity has been progressing across schools both within the local area and beyond, although Richard noted that some schools have opted not to participate. Eligibility criteria have widened to institutions where 30% of students are in receipt of free school meals, ensuring the project is fully additional to current WP activity.

Richard emphasised the importance of engaging pre-university learners and adult returners. This includes outreach within community settings such as the Women’s Centre and the development of tailored communications, including video content aimed at those considering a return to education. 

Richard highlighted several key achievements from the ‘Discovery Days’ campus visits – 96% of attendees were visiting Ulster University for the first time, 79% reported an increase likelihood of considering Ulster University, and 100% felt that Ulster University is an achievable destination.

LM noted the strong collaborative relationship between UU and North West Regional College (NWRC), highlighting the value of the tertiary pathways available to students.

LMG commended Richard on the progress made and reaffirmed the strength of collaboration between NWRC and UU. She emphasised that marketing activity should align closely with WP work to maximise impact.

PB acknowledged the excellent work already undertaken by the WP team in attracting students from targeted socio-economic backgrounds.

IK thanked Richard for his frank presentation and highlighted the North West Digital Employment Pathways Training Hub (NW DEPTH), supported by PEACE PLUS, noting its potential to support widening participation objectives by providing flexible, structured pathways for upskilling and reskilling in digital and cyber security skills.

Update from DfE

LMG updated Taskforce members on the status of the Programme Business Case (PBC) and advised that submission to the DfE casework committee for approval is currently scheduled for June.

An update on the Gateway review recommendations was provided to the Taskforce. A brief discussion considered any potential implications for the Expansion Programme. Officials confirmed that the follow-up review does not at present, pose any barriers to current business as usual capital programme delivery within UU. 

An overview and update were provided in respect of the proposed governance structures of the Programme. LMG advised that the Taskforce will convene on a quarterly basis going forward. This revised approach ensures that the Taskforce continues in a monitoring role, as per their agreed Terms of Reference, while strategic oversight and delivery responsibilities sit with the Programme Board and associated governance structures. The Taskforce will continue to report independently to the Minister on an annual basis on progress against the commitments set out in the Final Report and Action Plan.

Action Point 1: Taskforce to review Terms of Reference 

An update was provided on student accommodation, advising that the working group chaired by the Permanent Secretary is now fully established and has met twice. It was noted that options continue to be explored to ensure sufficient and appropriate accommodation provision to support the projected increase in student numbers associated with the expansion.

An update was provided on the Marketing Project Board, noting the recent ‘Legenderry’ place-based marketing campaign, which is running throughout March. 

An update was provided on the Private Sector Project Board, confirming that research has been commissioned to assess how Magee’s current and planned courses and skills provision align with the needs of private sector businesses. As part of this, a successful breakfast meeting was held with around 20 local business leaders. Plans are also underway to form a dedicated advisory group of local stakeholders to support the work of the Project Board as required. 

An update was provided on Social License and the importance of adopting a robust stakeholder analysis to ensure inclusion with a community voice throughout to enable a programme delivering meaningful impact across the area with a wide range of stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on communication to ensure engagement activity is purposeful with continued alignment with programme needs and appropriate representation. Next steps have been identified to progress this workstream and its importance within other programme workstreams to ensure continued alignment with programme objectives.

LMG stressed that completion of the PBC remains a critical priority and will provide essential structure, clarity, and direction for progressing the programme. It was widely acknowledged that some aspects of the programme cannot progress prior to its approval. 

Update from UU

PB provided an update on the serious financial challenges facing the university and the broader higher education sector. PB suggested that the Taskforce write to the Minister regarding a sustainable funding model for Universities.

SL noted that while DfE has delivered against the requests made by the Taskforce to date; that uncertainty remains in relation to future funding allocations. His understanding was that the Minister had not currently made a decision on the budget yet. SL noted that, due to the small number of Taskforce members present, a decision could not be made on writing to the Minister and following discussion he agreed to contact the Special Advisor (SpAd) to understand the current timeframes around decisions on funding. He suggested that the Taskforce reconvene to discuss following the budget decisions. SL agreed that continued engagement with the Department and Minister will be critical in the coming weeks. He emphasised that the progress achieved to date and the momentum built must not be lost, nor the strong partnership between the Taskforce, DfE and UU. 

There was consensus that securing funding for the expansion is essential and that the Magee Expansion programme board must prioritise this issue to ensure the viability of the expansion. 

Action Point 2: SL to speak to SpAd to understand the timeframe for decisions and the working assumptions planned by the Department for the expansion.

LMG advised that the PBC process is ongoing and that there has not been any pause in activity. She noted that while strong progress has been made across multiple strands of the programme, its future remains dependent on funding allocated and the successful approval of the business case. 

The Taskforce acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead but reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the programme. It was agreed that timely decisions and clear direction will be critical to avoiding further delays and ensuring successful implementation.

Any Other Business

No other business.

Date of next meeting

TBC.  

 

 

Action Points

No.	Action Point	Owner	Status
1	Taskforce to review Terms of Reference	Taskforce
2	SL to speak to SpAd to understand the timeframe for decisions and the working assumptions planned by the Department for the expansion.	SL