Ulster University and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens have formalised their growing educational partnership, creating opportunities for collaboration across teaching, research, heritage, sustainability, civic engagement and public access to culture and history.
Building on relationships developed over the past 18 months, the partnership brings together the expertise of Ulster University and one of Northern Ireland's most significant heritage destinations to support student learning, knowledge exchange and place-based innovation.
The collaboration aligns closely with Ulster University's commitment to delivering student success, research excellence and meaningful engagement with communities, organisations, and industry across Northern Ireland. It also reflects the charity Historic Royal Palaces’ mission to ‘act for the future’ by supporting young people and creating opportunities for them through its stewardship of Hillsborough Castle.
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The partnership will support collaborative activity across areas including the built environment, heritage conservation and sustainability; hospitality, tourism and events management; arts and cultural engagement; and initiatives that encourage dialogue, societal change and reconciliation.
The relationship has already generated a range of successful projects involving students, academic staff, and colleagues from Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.
Within the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, collaborative projects have focused on sustainability, heritage and the built environment. Academic staff have completed a detailed laser scan of the Castle's public rooms, creating a valuable digital record – a moment in time recorded for history - that has been shared with Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Building Surveying students have also participated in heritage-focused site activities, gaining practical experience within a unique historic setting.
Discussions are also underway regarding opportunities connected to the wider Destination Royal Hillsborough vision and the area's heritage-led regeneration ambitions.
The partnership has also created learning opportunities for students at Ulster University Business School's Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management. More than 60 second-year students have participated in site visits and engagement activities at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, allowing them to gain first-hand insight into visitor experience, tourism operations and event management at a world-class heritage attraction.
Further opportunities are being explored to involve students in major visitor events and hospitality activities hosted at the Castle in the future.
Within the Belfast School of Art, students and academic staff have engaged with the Castle's exhibitions and collections through a series of visits and discussions. New relationships have been established between School of Art academics and Hillsborough Castle's collections team, while Castle representatives visited the Belfast School of Art Graduate Showcase 2026.
Future plans include artist engagement opportunities, guest lectures, and collaborative creative programming that will further connect students with the Castle's cultural and heritage assets.
The partnership reflects a shared ambition to create meaningful educational experiences while contributing to the preservation, interpretation and future development of Northern Ireland's cultural and historic resources.
Looking ahead, both organisations will continue to explore opportunities for collaborative research and innovation. This includes collaboration on new research focused on biodiversity, sustainability, native species and the long-term stewardship of historic landscapes.
Through continued collaboration, the partnership between Ulster University and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens aims to create lasting impact for students, researchers, communities and visitors, while strengthening Northern Ireland's reputation for excellence in education, heritage conservation, sustainability and cultural engagement.
Ulster University Provost Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan said:
“Ulster University is committed to partnerships that create impact through education, research and engagement. Our collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens demonstrates how universities and cultural institutions can work together to enrich student learning, support innovation, and contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of our region."
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Caroline Walker, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens said:
“Hillsborough Castle and Gardens offers a unique environment where history, heritage and contemporary learning can come together. Through our collaboration with Ulster University, we have already seen how heritage organisations can support education, research and skills development, creating valuable opportunities for students to engage with our buildings, collections and landscapes.
“We look forward to developing the partnership further and exploring new opportunities that support sustainability, innovation and public engagement.”
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