The agreement follows from the hugely successful “United…The Business” programme which piloted earlier this year in Derry~Londonderry. During the programme post-primary school pupils learn how an organisation is run by studying Manchester United as a business rather than a football club.
Pupils in Derry~Londonderry will learn business and entrepreneurial skills to increase their engagement in education and give them greater confidence in their own abilities.
At the forefront of the scheme is the Foyle Learning Community, which has a leading role in educational attainment in the city and reflects Ulster University’s commitment to opening doors to higher education. Ulster University aims to create shared spaces for education that can bring together communities while offering aspiration-raising engagement for young people.
Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Provost of the Magee Campus at Ulster University said;
“At Ulster University, we pride ourselves on our strong links with local schools and strive to create a welcoming environment on our campus for activities that benefit the local community.
Working together with Foyle Learning Community and the Manchester United Foundation, we aim to inspire students by fostering skills and self-belief that they will carry with them throughout their education and future careers.”
Lorraine Lavery-Bowen, School Partnership Manager, Ulster University said;
“We have seen fantastic results from our pilot programme with the Manchester United Foundation so to build on this success with a three year partnership is a great development. At Ulster University, our Schools Outreach programme aspires to make a positive impact on pupils and create firm foundations to nurture the talents of every individual, so that they can reach their full potential.”
John Eades,Operations Director with the Manchester United Foundation said;
“Manchester United Foundation is proud to launch its first partnership outside of Greater Manchester with Ulster University. There’s been great enthusiasm from everyone involved but also, more importantly, we’ve seen from our pilot projects the lasting impact made on the lives of local young people. Over the next three years, we want to continue working closely with Ulster University to ensure we engage, inspire and unite as many young people across the Derry~Londonderry area as viable.”