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Peace and conflict institute facing massive cuts

Incore is expected to be based only at Derry's Magee campus. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.
Incore is expected to be based only at Derry's Magee campus. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin. Incore is expected to be based only at Derry's Magee campus. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.

STAFF numbers at a centre of excellence for the study of peace and conflict are to be slashed by a university making multi-million pound cuts.

The International Conflict Research Institute (Incore) is to be rationalised, Ulster University has confirmed.

Established in 1993, Incore addresses the causes and consequences of conflict in Northern Ireland and internationally and promotes conflict resolution management strategies.

It aims to influence policy makers and practitioners involved in peace, conflict and reconciliation issues while enhancing the nature of international conflict research.

Now, the university plans to shake-up the body due to massive budget reductions. As many as eight of the institute's 11 staff could go.

Ulster University (UU) has already revealed that cuts are forcing it to end as many as 70 different courses across six subject areas.

It plans to shut down its modern languages school while it is also ending stand-alone maths degrees.

In total, it will shed up to 1,200 student places, while 210 staff will leave. The four-campus university has had its annual budget cut by almost £9 million.

It is understood that Incore will be rationalised and become a centre within the School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy.

The university wants to preserve the Incore brand but has warned that the status quo is financially unsustainable.

A physical Incore presence would be maintained at the Magee campus in Derry.

Dependent on the institute securing additional grant funding, the proposals involve the loss of two academic posts, two academic-related posts, two clerical posts and one technical posts with the transfer of any remaining positions to the School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy.

Staff have echoed previous union concerns that the cuts will be presented as voluntary redundancies.

They further warn that while the name and brand will be retained, Incore will no longer support research and teaching.

A university spokeswoman confirmed that Incore was one of the wider areas to be rationalised.

"This may involve moving some teaching provision to Belfast/Jordanstown, however, Incore will still be primarily based at Magee," she said.

"In terms of whether staffing numbers will be affected, yes, there will likely be some posts rationalised but precise numbers or details of which posts cannot be specified until the voluntary redundancy process has completed."