THE University of Ulster has been shortlisted for two gongs in the prestigious Times Higher Education awards. The annual event, in its 10th year, recognises the outstanding achievements and pioneering activities being delivered by UK universities.
The University of Ulster has been shortlisted for its outstanding contribution to the local community through sports outreach and for an innovative ICT initiative that has global impact in the area of human rights awareness and research.
University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett said: “These two very different shortlisted projects serve to represent the diversity, wide-ranging focus and international impact of research activities undertaken at the University of Ulster.
“One of the projects, a human rights focused knowledge resource, aims to help shape research and deliver outcomes with tangible benefits internationally. It provides access to previously undocumented experiences and data through a unique digital platform.
“This project includes close collaboration with Queen Mary University of London and King’s College, London; two other leading research institutions and a partnership that is a resounding endorsement of the quality and global reach of Ulster’s research capability.
“The second initiative to be recognised is the university’s sports outreach unit. The University of Ulster is renowned for its sports science and excellence in sports performance and training. A key part of this is our outreach work, which translates our expertise into opportunities to shape and support local communities and young people.”
The awards will take place on November 27 in London, where the winners across 18 categories will be announced. Meanwhile, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry, has reinforced the significant and strategic role that further education (FE) colleges play in the delivery of higher education (HE) provision.
Speaking at a South Eastern Regional College (SERC) graduation ceremony in the Waterfront Hall, the minister outlined the commitment of the further education sector to the development of higher level skills in Northern Ireland.
Commending the graduating students, he said: “Skills are widely accepted as the key component in the modern knowledge-based economy and are a driver in how we achieve our economic goals. I am acutely aware of the vital role that our six further education colleges play in strengthening economic development, promoting learning and enhancing social cohesion.
“FE colleges play an important role in increasing participation and achievement in higher education. The scale of the sector’s contribution to higher education delivery is demonstrated by the fact nearly one-fifth of all higher education students in NI are studying in one of the six FE regional colleges. I am committed to the sectors delivery of HE and my department has added an additional 828 full-time higher education places in the FE sector.”