Proposed medical school at Ulster University ‘a game-changer’ for Derry

By Ursula Duddy

Ulster University has described a proposed medical school at its Magee campus as a ‘game-changer for Derry’.

Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice Chancellor of Ulster University, attended a Derry City and Strabane District Council meeting on Thursday with Professor High McKenna, Dean of Medical School Development at Ulster University.

During the meeting, they outlined the plans for a new medical school at Magee campus which could be operational by 2019.

The four-year graduate entry programme for the medical school would take in 80 students per year with the first planned intake expected in September 2019.

The medical school would also hope to collaborate with North West Regional College, the Coleraine Ulster University campus and cross-border with Letterkenny IT.

The meeting was told that talks have already taken place with the University of Limerick and the National University of Ireland Galway where ‘partnerships would include, providing students with placement experience in two different jurisdictions Post Brexit, sharing of expensive kit, collaborative research, joint videoconferencing of lectures and master classes, and cadaveric experience for students’.

Similar talks on curriculum have taken place with St George’s University, London, and the General Medical Counsel is considering submissions including ‘curriculum and assessment, quality management, placements, support systems, and staffing’.

Interviews have also already taken place for the position of Dean for the Medical School Development Project and the process has now been whittled down to two candidates.

Professor Nixon spoke about the significance of his visit to Derry City and Strabane District Council.

“I came to the city council specifically to talk to them about the expansion of Magee, the key element being the graduate entry medical school,” he said.

“Really, to get their questions to allay some concerns that might have been out there in the community and to challenge them to support it because without the support of all of our politicians and all of our community, we won’t achieve it. We can’t do it on our own.

“Ultimately the funding that is needed to do this will be driven by the policy decisions of our politicians and they will effect what happens in the various departments of health and economy et cetera, so without them agreeing to it we really won’t get that support.

“There are always priorities and decisions to be made but we want them to make this a priority and to do that, we need their support.”

Professor Nixon said that the University of Ulster have already funded the medical school proposal to the tune of almost £3million.

“We have already put in and committed approximately £2.8million at this point, £1.8million of that is to buy the curriculum, which we then modify and use to support our education and teaching programme,” he said.

“Then £1million would be spent in support of the establishment of the new Dean who will come in and lead the endeavour, which we interviewed for this week.”

Professor Nixon gave assurances that the medical school would be located within the grounds of Magee campus.

“The question I get asked all the time is ‘Where is it going to be located?” he said.

“Our proposition and our commitment is to being in Magee.

“We have to assess all the options but we are committed to it being in Magee.

“This is part of our view of how we expand the campus is give it some very specific things that they don’t do anywhere else.

“We have got the business case in, which is about the expansion to 10,000 students in Derry.

“That’s not all the university, it’s always been the case that some of that is based in North West Regional College and that’s about having pathways and different ways for students to get qualifications.

“We need the government to deliver some of the support and funding but we will get on and do some of it ourselves, we can’t wait for people to make decisions for us.

“In terms of the vision of the space, that is a bit of a vision because we have to get land, build buildings et cetera but I think it’s one of the things that will really make a difference to us being an attractive place to students from anywhere to want to come.”

Professor Nixon said he aims to attract international, UK and local students to a vibrant university life.

“There are two good examples in the south of Ireland and there are examples in the UK as well.

“Galway and Maynooth being two good examples in relatively small towns and cities but the growth of the university has led to growth around the whole region of different economical activities, it attracts industry in and supports people starting new industries but there’s all the hotels, cafes and all the knock-on economic effect.

“I’m absolutely convinced that if we get this right, then that will be the impact we have here. Getting students doesn’t happen overnight but we need to start. We’ve committed from our end so we need to get the politicians and others to follow in behind us.”

He added: “I’m a natural optimist but this will, unquestionably, be a game-changer for Derry.”