U4D thanks Derry City Council for support

U4D thanks Derry City Council for support

University for Derry, the group putting forward radical plans to upgrade university provision in Derry-Londonderry through a major expansion of Magee campus, is looking forward to working in partnership with Derry City Council.

A special meeting of the full council agreed, unanimously, to support the aspirations for substantial university expansion put forward by U4D. These include an increase in student numbers at Magee to 10,000 or more; more courses that are relevant to the economy of the city, particularly in science, technology, engineering, maths and creative industries; and for Magee to expand into the city centre along the Strand Road and riverside area.

Padraig Canavan, chair of U4D, says: "We are very appreciative of Derry City Council's support. We are particularly pleased that this was achieved with all party support. We look forward to working in partnership with Derry City Council to achieve the goals that are now shared by the council and U4D.

"We are also very pleased that the council has agreed to designate Derry-Londonderry as 'a city of learning' or 'education city'. With a young population, it is surely right that our city brands itself on the potential strength of the skills and knowledge of those young people - as produced by the education system at all levels, from primary, to post-primary and on to the North West College, as well as Magee.

"We hope that we can now build a strong partnership for the expansion of Magee with the University of Ulster - reinstating its own plans laid out in 2005 to expand student numbers at Magee to 10,000 students, which, very sadly, have since been greatly scaled-back.

"As we have said many times in recent weeks, the expansion of Magee is the single most important and effective means of driving forward the economy of Derry-Londonderry and we are delighted that elected representatives of this city share that vision.

"Elected councillors made important points in their contributions in the debate in the council chamber. U4D will fully consider those matters and seek to maintain a cross-community consensus behind the university development."

•· For further information or to arrange interviews please phone Paul Gosling on 028 71 351173, or 0777 595 2602, or by emailing u4d@btinternet.com