AQW 51071/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/09/2026
Answered On Date: 17/09/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to the £800,000 funding announced for short courses at the Ulster University Business School, to detail (i) whether this funding decision was assessed against the continuation of the Skill Up programme; and (ii) whether she will provide any criteria that informed this investment, including any consideration of the financial challenges facing higher and further education institutions.

Answer:

The funding awarded to Ulster University Business School for short course provision was approved on the basis of its alignment with the Department's strategic priorities. These include supporting skills development, addressing regional economic imbalances, strengthening links between higher education and employers, and more specifically, contributing to the delivery of the Magee Expansion Programme and the Executive's commitment to a 10,000-student Magee campus.