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UU University of Ulster in shock campus move
Friday, 19 December 2008
The University of Ulster is planning to move the majority of its Jordanstown courses to its Belfast campus, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
The university will formally announce details of major “strategic development plans” involving the Belfast and Newtownabbey campuses in the New Year. Expansion of the city centre campus is one of the options being considered and most likely to get the go-ahead.
Jordanstown is the largest of the four UU sites – with 13,200 students and 1,700 staff. This compares with 1,200 students and 300 staff based at the Belfast campus in the Cathedral Quarter.
Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Ken Robinson said today he was “extremely concerned” about the potential loss to the local economy if the move to Belfast goes ahead. He said that he will raise concerns with party colleague Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey.
The Belfast Telegraph has learned the UU is involved in negotiations to buy the Interpoint building near York Street campus as part of the radical Belfast expansion plan.
Jordanstown — which is seven miles north of Belfast — will remain as one of the four university campuses and is likely to concentrate on sport and engineering. Double Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe officially opened its new £20m world-class sports facilities last month.
The students’ halls of residence will also remain on the site and currently provide accommodation for more than 700 students.
Among the departments likely to move to Belfast — which recently benefited from a £30m refurbishment and redevelopment programme — are Business and Management and Rehabilitation Sciences (including physiotherapy and occupational therapy).
The Belfast campus currently consists of two separate buildings connected via a suspended walkway above York Street.
It is home to the School of Art and Design and the School of Architecture and Design although other disciplines are increasingly being taught there – including programmes offered by the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
A university spokesman said: "We can confirm that the University of Ulster is in advanced discussions about strategic development plans which will have positive impacts for all four of our campuses. However, we are unable to comment further at this stage until progress is made on a number of issues."
Mr Robinson said: “I would be extremely concerned if such a move was being contemplated. East Antrim already has the lowest number of public sector jobs out of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies.
“Any substantial relocation of university-generated positions would represent a further potential loss to the local economy and could impact adversely on shops and businesses which have built up a vibrant commercial sector in this part of Newtownabbey.”
A spokesman for the Department for Employment and Learning said: “The location for any of its courses is a decision for the University of Ulster and its governing bodies.”
The NUS-USI student organisation said it did not want to comment and UU student union president Nora Duncan said she wanted to talk to the university and the student council before giving her reaction. The University and College Union did not respond to a request for a comment.
In total, the University of Ulster employs over 3,400 staff and more than 23,000 local, national and international students study at undergraduate to postgraduate degree levels in Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Belfast and Londonderry (Magee).
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Comments
23 Comments
As a current student at Jordanstown campus, I can safely say the campus, it's facilities and staff are fantastic and moving so many courses to the Belfast campus will only result in fewer people applying for university accommodation at Jordanstown for obvious reasons and increase rental prices in Belfast for students. It will also mean traffic headaches for staff trying to get through Belfast. Although it would be handy to be at the Belfast campus because it is closer to bus stations for travelling home I think the benefits of the move are small and that those with the responsibility of deciding on the move consult students, staff and others affected and make the right decision! DON'T MOVE!!!
Posted by Worried | 27.01.09, 16:40 GMT
Moving the majority of the Jordanstown Campus does seem a bit extreme, hopefully when the University releases its’ official statement it will not be this severe and the decision process will have involved consultation with staff, students, local residents and government, but to be honest I doubt this will be the case!
Posted by Freddy | 06.01.09, 13:16 GMT
Rosie, I've studied at both Queens and the UUJ, in the field of Computer Science I can at least say that the UUJ does an excellent job and did better for me than that of their counterpart. Far from being an "uninspiring dump" I enjoyed the relaxing surroundings. What is uninspiring about beautiful sea views and fields of green? How can that be called a dump? One thing I really appreciated with the UUJ over it's city-centre based counterpart was that ALL my classes were in the same area, for Queens I spent a lot of time trying to get to my next class in time. I know plenty of people who work there too share my attitude so it is not only held by students. There is a Union bar in the UUJ, students can go there. I'd say bad-mouthing a university based on it's local pub is highly missing the point of any education establishment. Regarding parking I found that rather than irritate people by stopping them from parking outside their own home in their own street I got the bus or train!
Posted by Michael | 23.12.08, 17:13 GMT
The end of Jordanstown as a main UU campus will be welcomed by most students and staff, anyone who works and studies there will tell you its an uninspiring dump, with no student life whatsoever, unfriendly local residents, moaning about cars parked in their little upper class cul de sacs and no infrastructure ( the only local pub has an over 25, ie no students rule!!). how could anyone choose it over a state of the art campus in the up and coming Cathedral Quarter. at last UU will feel like a proper University. This move might have some detractors now, but we'll all look back and think of it's architects as radical and visionary.
Posted by Rosie | 23.12.08, 01:27 GMT
One word: Parking!
Posted by Frank | 22.12.08, 12:50 GMT
The puppets, otherwise known as management, did not come up with this bizzare scheme. They are dictated to by a hand-picked governing body. This will cost over £100 million. Does the Assembly share DEL's view that wasting public money is entirely a matter for the University?
Posted by Incredulous | 22.12.08, 07:29 GMT
This is perfectly logical. Jordanstown is the most popular of the UU campuses with lots of acreage for further development, so the University is abandoning it. No, that doesn't work - so we have to rely logically on our visionary, strategic and decisive management. That doesn't work either. I give up. Perhaps there is a simple explanation. I'm just too simple to see it.
Posted by Simple Academic | 21.12.08, 23:50 GMT
Once again, the UU management treats its staff with contempt - moving us around as if we were chess pieces and not even bothering to inform us of what's happening.
And once again, it seems nobody is able or willing to stop them. :(
Posted by Angry and frustrated | 21.12.08, 20:16 GMT
Who will this benefit? Certainly not students or Northern Ireland. Only those involved in property deals will gain.
Posted by William from Jordanstown | 21.12.08, 11:39 GMT
This has nothing to do with education. It is designed to fill developers pockets through secret deals. If Reg Empey has no say in how and where public money is used, what is his job? This crazy management must be replaced by those with a commitment to the University
Posted by Angry Academic | 20.12.08, 11:40 GMT
Just a note to say that Ken Robinson is wasting his time being concerned etc.
I know for fact this is definitely going ahead and Jordanstown Campus is becoming a dedicated sports village/centre.
It is a commercial decision.
Posted by Gareth | 19.12.08, 16:39 GMT
Yet another fantastic idea by the senior management at UU or is it Ulster. What impact on traffic congestion will this have or has anyone thought about it?
Posted by The Doc | 19.12.08, 16:38 GMT
Will the head of the University make more money from parking charges this way?
This seems a strange move to me ... Jordanstown has more space ... I can see increasing courses taught in central Belfast a smart move but this plan seems to me another amazing decision by a Provost ... I'll wait to I see the full ideas but they seem crazy to me.
Trevor McMullan
Posted by Trevor | 19.12.08, 16:12 GMT
what about the Enniskillen campus?
Posted by Kieran Burns | 19.12.08, 15:06 GMT
UU's main campus being relocated to belfast is a brilliant idea, save you sitting on the bus with a sore head the morning after!
Posted by john mcd | 19.12.08, 14:52 GMT
The Cathedral area is an attractive location and will make it easier to attract good students and academics. This will be good for the city centre and good for the University.
Posted by Jeremy | 19.12.08, 14:47 GMT
I'd agree with the transport issue as so many students live in ormeau area- but UUJ is an integral part of the shore road and has major financial implications for an otherwise socially deprived area. There are more important issues UUJ needs to tackle like accessibility for socially deprived people.
Posted by Michael | 19.12.08, 13:46 GMT
All Belfast needs is more students!
Posted by JJ | 19.12.08, 13:11 GMT
This will be bad news if you are an engineering student as there won't be any good looking women left to ogle on The Mall.
Posted by John | 19.12.08, 13:03 GMT
studied in jordanstown 15 years ago. didn't live there, but went out at night on a few occasions. it always felt like a ghost town, and the weekends were especially dead. a move to belfast will do them no harm in the long term
Posted by mk | 19.12.08, 12:49 GMT
23 Comments