Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP today visited Ulster University, the UK and Ireland University of the Year 2024 (Times Higher Education) to meet with students and take a tour of teaching and research facilities.
Meeting Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew, Mr Benn visited the Belfast School of Art at Ulster University, in this its 175th anniversary year, and the £1.6 million Virtual Production Studio, a unique training facility where students develop evolving skillsets in film, broadcast and animation.
One year since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont, the Secretary of State visited Ulster University in Belfast meeting with students studying Politics, Social Policy, Sociology and Peace and Conflict Studies before delivering a speech to mark one year of restored devolution.
Speaking from Ulster University, Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP said:
“My thanks to Ulster University; indeed The Times Higher Education’s UK University of the Year 2024, no less. This institution does so much fantastic work and is truly ‘a force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion’, as the judges of that illustrious award so eloquently described you. And it has been a privilege for me to meet some of your remarkable students this morning.”
Touring the state-of-the-art campus, the Secretary of State chatted with Ulster University students about their hopes and aspirations for Northern Ireland as the first anniversary of the return of devolved government passes.
Callum Crummey, second year Sociology student at Ulster University said of the visit:
“Today’s visit is vital as it creates a level of hope for the future of Northern Ireland, for students and young people especially. The one word I would use to describe the future of Northern Ireland is ‘prosperous’. The main thing we should focus on for the future is education; making sure that there’s a great level of education that’s affordable to everyone, especially with the idea of integrated education.”
Niamh Porter, Language and Linguistics student at Ulster University added:
“The word I would use to sum up the future of Northern Ireland is optimistic. I think we need more community involvement; as young people, and within my peers, I think people are becoming less and less interested in politics and I don’t think that’s a good thing. I think we owe it to each other to be involved, community involvement would help to build trust in our government. After the last few years of instability, I think it’s important we move on from that and build those bonds.”
Ulster University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said:
“We were delighted to host Secretary of State Hilary Benn at our campus in Belfast today on this significant anniversary for Northern Ireland. As an institution firmly committed to the prosperity of this region; it was a pleasure to showcase a glimpse of University life to Mr Benn as our students settle back into their studies for this second semester. The visit was an opportunity for the Secretary of State to spend time with our students as well as witness first-hand some of the creativity and innovation happening daily, including at the Belfast School of Art and our Virtual Production Studio. With our eyes always on the future, today’s visit was also a chance to discuss Ulster University’s distinct regional mission and ambitions for our campuses in Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine, as well as our collaborative working with partners across the UK.”