Headline News story - December 2015
150 Years of Magee and 40 Years of the Ulster University Business School
In this issue we celebrate two significant anniversaries for Ulster University – 150 years of our Magee campus and 40 years of the Ulster University Business School, both of which were celebrated since our last issue.
Most recently, the Ulster University Business School celebrated its 40th anniversary in style with a gala lunch at Titanic Belfast. Over 350 alumni and friends of the Business School gathered to mark its past, present and future.
Dean of the School, Professor Marie McHugh, was joined by Ulster University’s Chancellor James Nesbitt and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon to welcome guests throughout the UK, Ireland and from as far away as China and Switzerland.
In his keynote address the Chancellor paid tribute to the many achievements of the School saying that it had “grown to have over 6000 full and part time students, and had become one of the largest, most entrepreneurial and dynamic business schools in Britain and Ireland.”
He added, “Ulster University Business School is at the heart of key policy issues in business and management education and research, and reflects the University’s mission of supporting, facilitating and inspiring regional economic development.”
Guests also heard from a panel of distinguished alumni who talked about the School’s influence both at a personal level and on a Northern Ireland basis. The Master of Ceremonies was veteran business journalist Jamie Delargy who is also an alumnus of the School.
The event was sponsored by Noonans, Danske Bank, Microsoft, NI Connections, Keystone and Titanic Belfast.
Image: Pictured at the Ulster University Business School’s Ruby Lunch were (from left) the Dean, Professor Marie McHugh, Chancellor Dr James Nesbitt, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon and his wife Mrs Vanessa Gstrein.
150 Years of Ulster University's Magee campus
Prior to this event, we celebrated 150 years of teaching, learning and research at Magee campus from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 October 2015. To mark this significant milestone, the University hosted a number of on-campus events.
On the Thursday evening there was an anniversary black-tie dinner, hosted by Ulster University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Paddy Nixon, where guests included Ulster University alumni, key influencers, representatives from local businesses and politicians. We were also joined by three former Provosts - Professor Fabian Monds, Professor Robert Gavin and Professor Tom Fraser - and by the daughters of two former Presidents of Magee College, Professor Ruth Finnegan and Mrs Diana Buchan.
As part of the three-day celebration, there was a public lecture on the History of the Magee campus: Past, Present and Future by Professor Tom Fraser Emeritus Professor of History, followed by a Q&A panel session and a historical guided tour of the Magee campus by John Thompson that provided a rich insight into the Magee campus architecture and notable alumni and patrons.
The arts took centre stage with public readings, a contemporary performance from the Austin's Project, part of the successful City of Culture 2013, and live music performances by Ulster University staff and students. A dedicated library exhibition also showcased special collections telling the story of the founding of the college from 1815 to 1865.
The University also opened its robotics, engineering and renewable energy labs allowing graduates, former members of staff and members of the public to learn more about Ulster University and its range of world-leading research.
All in all, the proceedings were a fitting way to celebrate the rich past of the Magee campus and its exciting future.
