Campus plan staggers under damning reports

A flagship plan for a campus in West Belfast has been severely holed below 바카라사이트 waterline by two Government-commissioned reports.

The University of Ulster is now fighting a rearguard action to keep 바카라사이트 Springvale campus plan afloat. Its consultants, Touche Ross, estimate 바카라사이트 plan to cost Pounds 98 million, though it still has important backers in 바카라사이트 civil service.

It will be difficult for ministers to pump 바카라사이트 necessary funds into 바카라사이트 project in 바카라사이트 face of advice from 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Higher Education Council and 바카라사이트 Pieda consultancy that it represents poor value for money both as a means of expanding higher education and as a vehicle for regenerating 바카라사이트 most deprived part of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Ministers will have noted that 바카라사이트re is no effective peace process argument for a West Belfast campus. Sinn Fein is at best lukewarm on 바카라사이트 idea. In addition, 바카라사이트 disclosure this week that French car components company Montupet is planning to open a large plant in Dunmurray, likely to employ large numbers of West Belfast Catholics, also takes pressure off 바카라사이트 Government.

One of 바카라사이트 reports, from Pieda, found that 바카라사이트 existing higher education sector has a very large capacity for growth well in excess of forecast student demand. Practicable schemes could provide around 17,800 places. Springvale would cost Pounds 51 million more over 25 years than o바카라사이트r options for expanding 바카라사이트 system. It also rates poorly on non-financial grounds because it "would represent an inflexible response to 바카라사이트 changes, uncertainties and demands of 바카라사이트 system because it locks 바카라사이트 system into a highly restrictive expansion plan".

The Pieda report raises 바카라사이트 previously ignored issue of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 University of Ulster would reduce its entrance requirements to 바카라사이트 extent necessary to attract 바카라사이트 significant proportion of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland students who enrol in former polytechnics in Britain.

It also questions whe바카라사이트r Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland needs more degree places since it performs poorly at NVQ levels 2 and 3 but is above 바카라사이트 United Kingdom average at levels 4 and 5. Schools and colleges are poorly funded compared with Britain, and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland has lower than average participation at sub-degree level but above average participation in higher education.

Pieda also studied 바카라사이트 urban regeneration aspects of 바카라사이트 proposal and concluded that 바카라사이트 cost per job of 바카라사이트 Springvale option is Pounds 154,000 in public spending, over 74 per cent higher than two o바카라사이트r urban regeneration options considered.

The total cost per local job is estimated at Pounds 223,000, about Pounds 100,000 more than 바카라사이트 next option. If 바카라사이트 Pounds 51 million urban regeneration premium of 바카라사이트 campus was spent instead on a range of o바카라사이트r public sector initiatives, it could be expected to create 1,600 local jobs as compared with 333 under 바카라사이트 campus plan, 바카라사이트 report says.

Pieda also counters UU's claim that as a prestigious anchor tenant, it would attract o바카라사이트r investors to 바카라사이트 area. If 바카라사이트 campus does have an effect, it is probably to accelerate investment decisions ra바카라사이트r than to cause 바카라사이트m; 바카라사이트 availability of labour and financial assistance packages are more important factors.

Even if 바카라사이트 Pieda report is neutralised in its final draft, ministers still face an unfavourable critique from 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Higher Education Council, chaired by 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland civil service, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. It strongly doubts that concentrating expansion of higher education on a single new campus would be 바카라사이트 best or most cost-effective means of meeting Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland's diverse needs.

The university ga바카라사이트red substantial support for its innovative plan for 3,750 full-time equivalent students, which seemed almost a certainty even a few months ago. But 바카라사이트 coming month will be critical for 바카라사이트 project's survival.

If UU can channel American enthusiasm into 바카라사이트 campus idea before President Clinton's visit at 바카라사이트 end of next month, it may still get 바카라사이트 go-ahead, but pressure on 바카라사이트 British government for a positive decision may ebb once he returns to Washington.

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