19th April 1999

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The University of Ulster today launches Ireland's first Institute of Postgraduate Medical and Health Sciences.

Representing a £2m investment in the future of Northern Ireland's health service, the new Institute builds on the University of Ulster's expertise in medical education and research to provide a uniquely favourable environment for the continuing professional development of Northern Ireland's health professionals.

The Institute will provide a full range of postgraduate programmes, from short courses to full doctoral programmes leading to the award of Doctor of Medical Science (MD). Courses will be offered through traditional teaching methods, and also via web based distance learning technologies.

The Institute's learning initiatives will be available to health professionals - hospital doctors, GPs, paramedics, nurses - throughout Northern Ireland, and will be delivered by the University of Ulster and associate colleges as well as via the Web. Three professors have been appointed to drive forward the Institute's mission: Professor Terry Bradley (Continuing Professional Development); Professor Domhnall MacAuley (Primary Health Care) and Professor Scott Brown (General Practice Studies).

Welcoming the establishment of the new Institute, the University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Gerry McKenna, said: "This new Institute is a logical step for the University, drawing on our well established reputation as one of the leading research centres in the biomedical and health sciences, and our outstanding record of innovation in undergraduate and postgraduate education in these areas.

"The Institute has been developed with the enthusiastic support of the health professions, and I am confident that it can be a model for best practice in the provision of continuing professional development support for health professionals, as well as supporting the research needs of the National Health Service."

The Institute launch will include a day long conference featuring papers from distinguished health researchers and practitioners.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk