Donaldson calls for “Pro-Active, United Approach” to tackle Brain Drain of Ulster School-Leavers
Following publication this week of research into Northern Ireland’s ‘brain drain’ by University of Ulster academic Bob Osborne, UUP Assembly Candidate Kenny Donaldson has today appealed for “a pro-active and united approach” in order to tackle the issue.
In a statement Mr Donaldson said: “As a young person from a rural background, I am keenly aware of the problem of the brain drain.
“Far too many of our young people are forced to travel to the mainland for their third-level education. Most of these young people would like nothing better than to continue their studies here at home in Northern Ireland, but they are prevented from doing so by the government-imposed hard cap on student numbers here.
“Higher education is the lifeblood of any 21st century economy. Two-thirds of our young people who go elsewhere for higher education will never return. Far too many of our talented young people are being lost to Northern Ireland. Our economy is losing 20% of our university-educated young people on an annual basis. This exodus greatly undermines our aim of creating a competitive, knowledge-based economy fit for the challenges of the new century.
“The Ulster Unionist Party has placed this issue squarely at the top of the policy agenda. Addressing the problem of the brain drain is one of the most important challenges Northern Ireland faces. We will work pro-actively in any new Executive to ensure this problem is comprehensively addressed.
“We will work with social partners across the community to promote Northern Ireland as a great place to study, work and live - both for our own school-leavers and for Northern Ireland students studying in England, Wales and Scotland. The removal of the cap on undergraduate numbers must be our ultimate aim. Whilst the cap remains in place, we will never be able to reach our full potential as a society.
“The failure of direct rule ministers to get to grips with this problem underlines the urgent need for Northern Ireland to get our own Assembly up and running again. We need to elect our own locally accountable representatives into the driving seat so that we can put in place the long-term strategies needed to tackle this issue.
“Distant direct rule ministers have failed time after time to address the challenges that matter to people here. The Ulster Unionist Party is determined to address the real issues which matter to everyone in Northern Ireland - and to make sure that, in future, our Higher Education system will be the option of preference for our Province’s school leavers.”