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S. E. A. Statements

McCann on threat to Magee courses

Statement from Eamonn McCann, Socialist Environmental Alliance Assembly candidate in Foyle

Thursday 8th February 2007

Eamonn McCann, SEA candidate for Foyle, says the University of Ulster plans to close sociology and social policy courses at Magee.

Mr. McCann says he has been contacted by a University and College Union (UCU) activist at Magee who says the decision to close the courses is expected to be announced as early as next week.

"This represents yet another down-grading of Magee campus," says Mr McCann. "It is a direct attack on the possibility of local people taking degrees locally that can lead to jobs here in the city.

"The social sciences have long been one of the routes to employment for mature students, especially for women returning to education.

"The courses under threat are part of health and social care education. If plans to bring a medical school to Magee come to fruition, the proposed closure of these courses will soon be regretted.

"The University bosses say that not enough students apply for the courses here. But UCU members tell me they are not allowed to advertise the Magee courses. They say the University bureaucracy has set them up to fail. They are allocated only 17 places while the minimum number of students for a viable course is 20 Ð an impossible situation.

"It will now be now be necessary for people from Derry to travel to Belfast, to Jordanstown or Queens if they want to gain a qualification in these vital areas.

"This happens against the background of fewer and fewer working class young people applying to University as the burden of fees grows. The fear of massive debt, and of jobs in the future that pay low wages even for graduates, means that many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot even consider University these days.

"This situation represents a direct threat to the long-term viability of Magee. Together with the closure of important courses like sociology and social policy, the threat may be even in the medium term. It's time we started to keep developments in UU under closer scrutiny."





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