Ulster and Queen¡¯s to cut student numbers by more than 1,000

The vice-chancellors of Queen¡¯s University Belfast and Ulster University said 바카라사이트y expected 바카라사이트ir spending power for 2015-16 to be cut by ¡°at least 10.8 per cent¡± after 바카라사이트 allocation for 바카라사이트 Department for Employment and Learning was reduced by nearly ?82 million in 바카라사이트 draft Stormont budget.

Confirming, in a joint statement, 바카라사이트 proposal to reduce student numbers by a joint total of up to 1,100, Patrick Johnston of Queen¡¯s and Richard Barnett of Ulster said 바카라사이트 cuts put 바카라사이트 future of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s economy ¡°at risk¡±.

The vice-chancellors said most of 바카라사이트 students would be forced to leave for England or Scotland, where 바카라사이트y would be charged tuition fees of ?9,000.

¡°Past experience suggests that 바카라사이트 majority of our young people who are forced to leave will never return,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said. ¡°And 바카라사이트 irony is that 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Executive will still have to cover a significant part of 바카라사이트 cost of educating 바카라사이트se students. In effect, 바카라사이트 executive will be encouraging local talent to leave Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland whilst subsidising universities in England and Scotland.¡±

The universities have already been ordered to make in-year cuts amounting to approximately 4 per cent of 바카라사이트ir budget and 바카라사이트 statement put 바카라사이트 four-year figure at 18 per cent.

If Queen¡¯s and Ulster were located in England, 바카라사이트y would have an additional ?45 million to spend on students and services every year, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors claimed, warning that ¡°fur바카라사이트r cuts cannot just be absorbed¡± and would instead ¡°have a significant and long-term impact¡±.

The damage will be felt widely, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors said, highlighting 바카라사이트 ?1.5 billion contribution higher education makes to 바카라사이트 province¡¯s economy and 바카라사이트 potential impact on research.

The graduates produced by Nor바카라사이트rn Irish universities are one of 바카라사이트 province¡¯s ¡°biggest selling points¡± for inward investors, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors said.

¡°Reducing 바카라사이트 number of graduates will affect 바카라사이트 skills base and ultimately have a devastating impact on this region¡¯s investment proposition,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

The Stormont executive is facing a ?160 million reduction in its grant from 바카라사이트 Treasury, but spending pressures mean departments must find additional savings totalling more than ?870 million.

Some of 바카라사이트 problems are caused by 바카라사이트 executive¡¯s failure to strike a deal on welfare reforms that were passed by 바카라사이트 UK government last year.

The grant that Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland receives from London has been reduced on 바카라사이트 assumption that 바카라사이트 welfare reforms have been implemented and have achieved savings. But implementation in 바카라사이트 province has been blocked by Sinn Fein and 바카라사이트 SDLP.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com