The target of expanding Ulster University's Magee campus in Derry to 10,000 students by 2032 is now considered unlikely to be met, a Stormont Economy Committee heard on Wednesday. Linda McGuinness, strategy manager with the Department for the Economy's Magee expansion team, told MLAs her assessment was that the deadline would not be achieved and the timeline would shift.

The committee was updated on funding pressures when Professor Paul Bartholomew, Ulster University's vice-chancellor, and Ms McGuinness gave evidence. Ms McGuinness reminded members that Permanent Secretary Ian Snowden had previously briefed them in March that around £40 million in recurrent funding would be required to reach the 10,000 figure.

Professor Bartholomew said sustainable growth requires sustainable funding and warned that it is not viable to continue expanding an underfunded model. He had earlier briefed the committee on the potential for up to 450 redundancies across the university's campuses.

Student numbers at Magee have already grown by 60 per cent since 2021, reaching more than 6,500, well ahead of the original trajectory. However, the vice-chancellor said the 22 per cent growth recorded between 2024 and 2026 would not be repeated until significant new facilities come online. These include a €44.5 million Teaching and Student Centre on the Northland Road, expected in two years, and a Shared Island Building planned for 2028-29 that could provide space for an additional 600 students.

Infrastructure and accommodation constraints were identified as further obstacles. Ms McGuinness noted that several major projects, including City Deal developments and the Fort George expansion, are progressing within a half-mile radius. Without coordinated infrastructure, she warned, the city could quickly come to a halt. On student housing, she said the campus is at its maximum, with only 656 beds in use across the city. Despite planning interest from developers, no new purpose-built student accommodation schemes have materialised.

Professor Bartholomew reaffirmed the university's commitment to growing the Derry campus, pointing to new programmes that continue to attract students. The expansion remains a priority under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, the Programme for Government and the Economy Minister, Ms McGuinness added.

After the session, SDLP economy spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin expressed concern that the 2032 target was now under review and unlikely to be met. She called the expansion one of the most important economic projects for the North West and urged the Economy Minister to deliver a sustainable funding model for higher education to get the commitment back on track.