Vice-Chancellor hits out at University cap

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster has hit out at the cap on university places in Northern Ireland, describing it as making "poor sense for the economy" and a "roadblock to self improvement for the people of our community”.

Speaking at the University's Graduation ceremony at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Professor Gerry McKenna called the cap “indefensible and iniquitous, as we in Northern Ireland are the only one of the twelve regions in the United Kingdom to have such an artificial restraint upon opportunity for our people to enjoy the benefits of a university education”.

“Although some students choose to go to Great Britain, there is evidence that many thousands who are forced to leave Northern Ireland would like to study closer to home," Professor McKenna added. "With the impact of increased fees from 2006, this situation will get worse and will put more pressure upon the artificial cap."

The Vice Chancellor also emphasised that only by lifting the cap could Northern Ireland become economically competitive and develop a proper knowledge-led economy.

He noted a recent report by the Northern Ireland Business Alliance which stated that 140,000 new jobs would be needed in the next decade if the province were to become more economically independent of the public sector.

(MB)