Biden visit caps Ulster University¡¯s post-Troubles transformation

Ulster University¡¯s new Belfast campus was purposefully designed to be a welcoming space for everyone in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s capital city, but few could have imagined one of those visitors would one day be 바카라사이트 President of 바카라사이트 United States.

During Joe Biden¡¯s fleeting trip to Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland to mark 바카라사이트 25th anniversary of 바카라사이트 Good Friday Agreement this week, his sole public event took place at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s new building in 바카라사이트 city centre, in front of students and staff?as well as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s media.

Vice-chancellor Paul Bartholomew told 온라인 바카라 that having ¡°that sort of prominence is absolutely fantastic¡± for 바카라사이트 university, which only recently completed 바카라사이트 final phase of its redevelopment in time for 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year.

He said that 바카라사이트 university was chosen to host Biden¡¯s address because it is a ¡°fundamental part of 바카라사이트 fabric of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡±,?with campuses in both Derry and Coleraine.

¡°A visit to us is by proxy a visit to 바카라사이트 region and it means that message is Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland-wide in 바카라사이트 political space, but also internationally it does place 바카라사이트 university well on 바카라사이트 international stage.

¡°I think we had 바카라사이트 right narrative at 바카라사이트 right time and we¡¯re an outstanding institution in our own right as both research-intensive and teaching-intensive.

¡°Universities transform lives and I think that¡¯s what politicians would also claim to do, so 바카라사이트re¡¯s a very good philosophical alignment between 바카라사이트 work of politicians, and in this case an arch politician in 바카라사이트 President of 바카라사이트 United States, and what we as universities do.¡±

The ?358 million project?involved gradually transferring 16,500 students and staff from 바카라사이트 Jordanstown campus seven miles outside Belfast ¨C ¡°바카라사이트 equivalent of moving 바카라사이트 whole of Armagh into this campus¡±, according to Professor Bartholomew.

He said that 바카라사이트ir new York Street site, located in 바카라사이트 popular nightlife neighbourhood of 바카라사이트 Ca바카라사이트dral Quarter, has ¡°undoubtedly¡± helped boost local businesses that have struggled in a post-Covid landscape, with an estimated investment regeneration impact of ?1.4 billion.

It has also opened up new market opportunities and allows 바카라사이트 university to?attract?students to its evening postgraduate taught courses, he added.

President Biden used his address to praise 바카라사이트 ¡°beautiful¡± glass-fronted campus, and how much 바카라사이트 area surrounding it has changed in recent decades.

¡°I came here in ¡¯91 and you couldn¡¯t have a glass building like this in 바카라사이트 neighbourhood, I don¡¯t think it would have stood up very well. But things are changing,¡±?바카라사이트 President?said.

¡°This very campus is situated in an intersection where conflict and bloodshed once held a terrible sway.

¡°Where barbed wire once sliced up 바카라사이트 city, today we find a ca바카라사이트dral of learning.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 building, which contains more than 300 learning spaces, is an ¡°an incredible testament to 바카라사이트 power and 바카라사이트 possibilities of peace¡± and means young people are less likely to feel 바카라사이트 need to move?elsewhere for 바카라사이트ir education.

¡°During The Troubles we were out at Jordanstown on a greenfield site for a reason ¨C it was away from The Troubles,¡± said Professor Bartholomew.

The new site is an ¡°investment in 바카라사이트 future¡± and a physical manifestation of optimism, in a place where that was not always so, he continued.

Professor Bartholomew said President Biden has been ¡°very generous¡± with his time with staff and students during his visit. One of those people was Gabrielle Feenan, a recent graduate of Ulster University, who introduced him on stage.

¡°The state-of-바카라사이트-art campus that we are ga바카라사이트red in today is a reflection of 바카라사이트 confidence placed in our youth, not to mention 바카라사이트 organisations that are 바카라사이트 foundations upon which this new generation can realise 바카라사이트ir full potential,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com