Renewed calls have been made for Ulster University to fulfill their promise and expand their Magee campus in Derry.
It comes after Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson met with a delegation from Ulster University this week and said that the site's expansion must be a "dedicated focus for all those interested in Derry’s future".
New figures reveal earlier this year that 71% of higher education students in Northern Ireland are based in Belfast, the highest proportion of any capital city across the island of Ireland.
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In the New Decade, New Approach document, a commitment had been made by all five political parties to target 10,000 students for Derry.
However, speaking in October, Ulster University vice-chancellor Paul Bartholomew said while he was committed to the “continued growth” of the Magee campus, 6,000 students for the region was 'more achievable'.
Speaking after meeting with the UU delegation, Ms Ferguson said: “The expansion of Magee is a crucial project for this city and region, economically, socially and politically.
“In the current climate of renewed Tory cuts and the DUP blocking of power-sharing, it is more crucial than ever that we remain focused on delivering the promised expansion because it is vital to our future.
“This is about enabling the young people of the north west to realise the potential of their own lives while also redressing the legacy of a past injustice that was done to this city through a blatantly sectarian decision to site the university at Coleraine rather than in Derry.
“And while there has been welcome progress, not least in the delivery of the medical school, it is clear there is much more still to be done to ensure the commitments that have been made in terms of student numbers and investment are honoured.
“We had a positive discussion with Ulster University today and there is a commitment to ongoing engagement.
“Engagement is good, but we also need to see action and Sinn Féin will continue to relentlessly press for progress until such times as the expansion of Magee is fully delivered.”
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