Steve Aiken OBE MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party’s spokesperson on the economy, has said that the reduction in places at Northern Ireland’s Universities will lead many of the brightest local students to move away to pursue their education and subsequent careers.

Mr Aiken said;

“Big congratulations are due to our young people in Northern Ireland today who have succeeded in gaining excellent results in their A levels. They have certainly done themselves proud.  One of the options many will be considering is the offer of a place at University.

“Across the UK as a whole a record number of University places are available. England has removed the cap on University places and this year has seen the number being offered rising by 3%.

“Unfortunately for students in Northern Ireland we have seen exactly the opposite occur, with our two Universities forced to cut over 2,300 student places over a three-year period in the wake of devastating cuts to Higher Education. So for many of our young people, studying close to home at one of our two high quality institutions is not an option. Instead they will be forced to study in England, Wales, Scotland or the Republic of Ireland.

“This is not a new trend of course, it is now a well-known fact that many young people in Northern Ireland are already forced to study elsewhere with few of them returning home. The cut in student places will only exacerbate the problem. It seems shocking that the Executive are continuing to undermine our knowledge economy with cuts, despite cries from employers of a shortage of quality graduates in key areas. Unless a resolution is found, our economy will continue to drag its feet in the sink hole of a mismanaged budget.

“Today our young people have done us all proud, yet the Stormont Executive are failing them.”