3.7.04
BBC
CAPPING POLICY 'INDEFENSIBLE'
Professor McKenna criticised government 'capping' policy
The vice-chancellor of the University of Ulster has described the limits imposed on university places in Northern Ireland as "indefensible and iniquitous".
Professor Gerry McKenna told graduates and their families at a graduation ceremony in Belfast's Waterfront Hall, that the capping policy imposed by government made poor economic sense.
He said limiting student places was "a roadblock to self improvement for the people of our community".
Northern Ireland was the only one of 12 regions in the UK to have "an artificial restraint upon opportunity" for university education imposed by the government, he added.
"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," he said.
"Crucially for our economy and for a pluralist community trying to emerge from conflict, the evidence shows that over 70% do not return to Northern Ireland after graduating."
--Professor Gerry McKenna
"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 said that about 14,000 full-time undergraduates from Northern Ireland were studying in Great Britain.
"Crucially for our economy and for a pluralist community trying to emerge from conflict, the evidence shows that over 70% do not return to Northern Ireland after graduating. We cannot afford this loss of talent," he said.
Professor McKenna also said that if the cap were lifted, the level of funding provided for each student would have to be protected to ensure that any increase in entry would not mean any lessening of the high quality of university education available in Northern Ireland.
CAPPING POLICY 'INDEFENSIBLE'
Professor McKenna criticised government 'capping' policy
The vice-chancellor of the University of Ulster has described the limits imposed on university places in Northern Ireland as "indefensible and iniquitous".
Professor Gerry McKenna told graduates and their families at a graduation ceremony in Belfast's Waterfront Hall, that the capping policy imposed by government made poor economic sense.
He said limiting student places was "a roadblock to self improvement for the people of our community".
Northern Ireland was the only one of 12 regions in the UK to have "an artificial restraint upon opportunity" for university education imposed by the government, he added.
"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," he said.
"Crucially for our economy and for a pluralist community trying to emerge from conflict, the evidence shows that over 70% do not return to Northern Ireland after graduating."
--Professor Gerry McKenna
"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 said that about 14,000 full-time undergraduates from Northern Ireland were studying in Great Britain.
"Crucially for our economy and for a pluralist community trying to emerge from conflict, the evidence shows that over 70% do not return to Northern Ireland after graduating. We cannot afford this loss of talent," he said.
Professor McKenna also said that if the cap were lifted, the level of funding provided for each student would have to be protected to ensure that any increase in entry would not mean any lessening of the high quality of university education available in Northern Ireland.
