10th August 2000

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Have you what it takes to be the next Bill Gates? If the answer is ‘yes’ then read on as the new four year full-time course, BSc (Hons) e-Business and Connectivity, at the Magee College campus of the University of Ulster could be the one for you.

This innovative degree programme – the first undergraduate course in Ireland to target the emerging internet business economy – will be delivered jointly by the Faculties of Engineering and Business and Management.

Course director and senior lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Dr Martin McGinnity, said the course – which includes a 12 month industrial placement – is tailor made for school leavers who want to get in on the e-Business revolution but are not sure of the best place to start.

"The degree will greatly enhance their employment opportunities as they will have an in-depth knowledge of the principles of e-Business and the essential underpinning technologies, such as computer programming, connectivity, communications and computer networks.

"Students will also learn about the use of the internet as a vehicle for business, how to use the internet for marketing, how to ensure security of transactions and what makes for a good entrepreneur."

Dr McGinnity said that demand for the course is expected to be high and places will be limited. Minimum entry requirements are 3Cs at A level or the equivalent qualifications (GNVQ, Distinction with 6 additional units or 3Bs and 3Cs in Irish Leaving Certificate, Honours level).

"As this is the first year of operation, entry is by direct application to the University and it is not necessary to apply through the UCAS system. An application to this course will not affect applications to other courses made via UCAS," he added.

Northern Ireland currently has the lowest level of internet connectivity of any region in the United Kingdom. To help address this, the University of Ulster, which has been at the cutting edge of quality research and teaching in Informatics and Business and Management in Europe, has spearheaded a number of important training and research initiatives to support the business community.

The most recent was the opening in July of the Northern Ireland Centre for e-Business, an on-line business centre at the University’s Coleraine campus.

Co-director of the Centre, Professor Dolores O’Reilly who is also Head of the International Business School at the University, said the emergence of the internet as a vehicle for international business, offered unprecedented opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurial activity. "The course will relate to the real needs of the business community and will have an important impact on the local economy," she said.

Application forms are available from the Faculty Office, Room 5D10, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ulster, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT37 0QB, telephone 028 9036 6305.

For further information, please contact:

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