Professor Malachy Ó Néill:

In terms of engaging with bodies like Invest Northern Ireland, for example, to support companies coming into the city region, we have collaborated with North West Regional College and put in place bespoke skills academies for companies like FinTrU and Alchemy, both of which are involved in the fintech revolution that is taking place island-wide but particularly in the north west at present. Such companies have created some excellent graduate employment opportunities and are bringing back some exceptional talent to the city region.

In terms of research, obviously an inability to participate in European-funded research is a huge concern for us all at present. We very much hope that universities within the UK sector can continue to participate in Horizon Europe beyond Brexit in some way. In the past four years Ulster university has been able to double its research income through diversification, partnership and collaboration. Obviously that puts us in a good position, across the institution, to further develop that research piece. Universities deliver research-led teaching and it is absolutely essential that we continue to access funding from all quarters going forward and to do so in collaboration with others is the obvious pathway.