2nd February 2009

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University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett with Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson and Mayor of Belfast, Tom Hartley

The University of Ulster today unveils major strategic development plans for each of its four campuses designed to spearhead higher education in Northern Ireland over the next decade.

Under the plans, the University proposes to invest a total of  £250m in its Greater Belfast campuses, including the construction of a landmark building adjacent to its existing Belfast campus.

Representing the largest investment in the University's history, the scheme will rebalance University of Ulster student numbers in Greater Belfast between the city centre campus and Jordanstown – which is to be further developed as Ireland's leading sports campus.

The master plan also involves the implementation of the first phase of an expansion of student numbers on the Magee campus. This will provide a basis for future growth by creating new academic units and facilities to drive student recruitment and enhance research capacity.

Details of the development plans for the University's North West campuses are to be released next week.

At its Coleraine campus, the University plans to consolidate student numbers and diversify its activities by facilitating the establishment of a business park on University land.

All of the campus developments will be funded out of the University's capital budget, of which half will be allocated to the Greater Belfast campuses (Jordanstown and Belfast) and the remainder to its North West campuses (Magee and Coleraine).

The announcement of the strategic plans follows the University's strong performance in the UK 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. The University has moved up in the Times Higher Ranking from 63rd place in 2001 to equal 45th place in 2008, a jump of 18 places and now positioning the University in the top third of UK universities.

Speaking at today's announcement, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, said:

"The University of Ulster is a primary force in delivering the skills base, driving social and economic regeneration and contributing to the cultural vitality of Northern Ireland,  and it is now renewing itself to serve the region's needs in the 21st century through the plans announced today.

"The University is rooted in the region and serves the region through its engagement with stakeholders across all aspects of its work, the quality of which is recognised internationally.

"Our recent upgrade to the Belfast campus has shown us that there is an enormous appetite for the University of Ulster's programmes in central Belfast.

"Already, we have migrated our hospitality management programmes to Belfast, a move which has proved highly popular with students and the industry. We have new architecture, urban design and landscape studies programmes there, and are developing our continuing professional development and executive education programmes.

"A vibrant city centre location is important for those kinds of programmes and the students they attract, and our strategic vision is to provide the space and facilities needed for these activities to flourish.

"Through this development the University is making a major contribution to the economic and cultural regeneration of the city's north side, including the Cathedral Quarter, injecting vitality, energy and creativity into the once run-down 18th century heart of the city. This plan will help transform the Cathedral Quarter and surrounding areas into a dynamic cultural, creative and educational destination."

Professor Barnett said that it was the challenge of what to do with the main building on the Jordanstown campus – now nearing the end of its design life – that provided the University with the opportunity to clarify how it can take forward its mission in the 21st century.

"As shown in the JM Consulting Report in 2006, commissioned by the Department for Employment and Learning, the cost of adapting this type of 1970s building would be almost as high as the cost of total replacement, and the outcomes would be less satisfactory for modern higher education, and probably less economic in the long-run."

Welcoming the University announcement, Lord Mayor of Belfast Tom Hartley said: “This morning we have a good news story for Belfast – investment of £250 million. At this time when the economic global trends are very bleak, it is time for us as a city to claim solutions and to turn our back on despair. This morning we are claiming a solution, we are creating through the vision of the University, a solution for the people of this city.

“This is more than just an economic investment - it is an investment in the young people who will create the future for this city.  This is a very exciting time as we sit on the cusp of Belfast’s development and Belfast becoming a greater city than it is today. 

“The idea of all these young people challenging the world, facing the world, shaping the world because of the education they will receive here in this building is truly an exciting vision for the future.”

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young