Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA has expressed her concern regarding the announcement that Ulster University is set to cut jobs due to severe financial pressures. While the precise scale and timeline of the redundancies remain unconfirmed, Alliance representatives have already requested meetings with the university's leadership and tabled urgent questions for the Economy Minister.

Addressing the impact on personnel, Ms Nicholl said: "First and foremost, my thoughts are with the staff of Ulster University who will undoubtedly be nervous and anxious about their employment and what these losses could mean for them and their families moving forward in this uncertain time."

She welcomed the university's commitment to engaging with trade unions and staff representatives, emphasising the need for a fair and transparent process. However, Ms Nicholl noted that the current situation was not entirely unexpected, given the financial challenges that higher education institutions in Northern Ireland have endured in recent years. The South Belfast MLA directed criticism toward the Department for the Economy, suggesting that the current crisis reflects a failure to adequately address funding concerns. She highlighted that a review of higher education funding, initiated some time ago, has failed to deliver the necessary progress to provide long-term stability.

"The review has not moved quickly enough and lacks the ambition and long-term planning needed to deliver a sustainable, long-term and fair funding solution," Ms Nicholl stated. "It also appears to lack the support of key stakeholders essential to moving forward and delivering what we all want – a properly resourced higher education system which delivers for our people and our economy."

The Alliance Party intends to continue pushing for progress on the funding review, advocating for a process that ensures staff, students, and institutions are fully consulted.

"Alongside the review, I also hope the Minister, even at this late stage, can work with colleagues at UU to find a resolution that avoids redundancies where possible, and to ensure further cuts are avoided in future," she added.