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Queen’s University to Open India Campus..

Belfast— Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has announced plans to establish a new campus in India, set to open next year in Gujarat International Finance Tech City (GIFT City). The project, expected to cost between £5 million and £7 million, will offer five postgraduate programs tailored to meet the specific demands of the Indian economy.

However, the decision has faced criticism from the University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers and support staff. The union has raised concerns over the university’s financial management, particularly given recent budgetary challenges and staff redundancies in Northern Ireland.

University Defends Expansion Plans

QUB Acting Chief People Officer Alistair Finlay has defended the India campus initiative, emphasising that it is part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance partnerships and academic collaboration with India. The university cited a sharp decline in international student enrollment, which has led to financial strain and necessitated a range of cost-cutting measures.

QUB clarified that its redundancy scheme in Belfast was entirely voluntary and was not linked to the funding of the India campus. Since October, 270 staff members in Northern Ireland have left through the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (VRS) due to financial difficulties.

Union Alleges Misuse of Public Funds

The University and College Union has strongly opposed the university’s overseas expansion, calling it inappropriate given the ongoing financial struggles at home. The union argues that QUB receives significant public funding from Stormont, and it is unacceptable to invest resources abroad while cutting jobs in Belfast.

Financial reports indicate that Queen’s University Belfast is facing a deficit of over £11 million for the 2024-25 financial year. Critics argue that, in this context, announcing an expensive international expansion while implementing staff redundancies raises serious concerns about funding priorities and financial transparency.

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