Robinson voices disappointment over failure to remove MaSN Cap
Ulster Unionist Further Education spokesperson Ken Robinson has voiced his disappointment over Maria Eagle’s decision not to remove the cap on undergraduate student numbers here.
In a statement, Mr Robinson said: “There is a clear disparity in approach if Northern Ireland can be told there will be no removal of the cap within 24 hours of it being revealed that 63,000 additional higher education places are to be created in England over the next two years.
“International experience shows that higher education is the lifeblood of a knowledge-based economy in the 21st century. Failure to remove the cap undermines Northern Ireland’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.”
He added: “We need a targeted expansion of student places to ensure an increasing number of places for home-grown talent. The removal of MaSN (Maximum aggregate Student Number) must be the ultimate policy aim for a future restored executive – this is entirely in line with the rest of the UK.
“The fact that Northern Ireland has a brain drain cannot be disputed. In 2004, of 32.5% of Northern-Ireland based students who study on the mainland, two thirds will not return to Northern Ireland. At this rate we are losing 20% of our university educated young people on an annual basis.
“Addressing the brain drain must form part of a wider policy framework of making Northern Ireland work. We need to increase our skilled workforce for a 21st Century economy that we can all be proud of. We believe that reversing the brain drain is a small but important step towards achieving that goal.”