AQW 44186/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 17/04/2026
Answered On Date: 11/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) any plans her Department has following the Financial Needs Assessment of the higher education sector; and (ii) when she expects to bring forward proposals for a revised funding model.

Answer:

Following the completion of the independent Financial Needs Assessment, which is the first stage of the wider Higher Education Funding Review, my Department has also commissioned an independent analysis of the costs

associated with Ulster University’s multi-campus model. This work is currently

underway.

The wider Review is anticipated to take 18 months to complete. This timescale is subject to a number of factors.

I continue to seek additional resources for Further and Higher Education.