Ulster University's new Belfast campus is expected to bring a benefit to the Northern Ireland economy of £1.4bn, according to an independent study by the OECD.
The new buildings will enhance the existing Belfast campus by 75,000 squared metres and will host over 15,000 staff and students, which is equivalent to the population of Armagh city. The campus is situated where Royal Avenue meets Donegall Street and York Street in Belfast city centre.
Councillor David Brooks, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: “The new Ulster University building will be a major catalyst for wider regeneration in the area and complements our Future City Centre Programme, including plans for a newly regenerated Inner North West area combining city centre living, tourism, employment and innovation.
“It also sits alongside our place-making scheme for the adjoining urban space at Cathedral Gardens, which is being brought forward for redevelopment as an important city centre open space," he continued. "This represents an opportunity for further partnership working with Ulster University to create a truly transformational space in the heart of this culturally vibrant area.”
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The university has a ‘University Community Benefit Framework,’ developed jointly with Inner North Belfast and Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships. It works with local communities to maximise the social, educational, environmental and economic benefits of the university's location in the city.
One of the initiatives within the Framework is the ‘Taking Boys Seriously Programme’ which started in Belfast Boys’ Model School in 2012 and sees the university working closely with the school to encourage boys to reach their academic potential.
During this time, the percentage of pupils attaining three good A-Level grades has risen from 30% to 70% (21% higher than the average from a non-grammar school male pupil in NI and 26% higher than those from similar socio-economic backgrounds).
The number of pupils who achieve five GCSEs with English and Maths has almost doubled and is 9% higher than in similar schools, according to the Framework's findings.
In 2018 the AS and A Level results were the best in the history of the school – every student passed every exam. 46 progressed to higher education and of those 46, 40 enrolled at Ulster University.
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Ulster University added that the new building will last for at least 300 years and will educate hundreds of thousands of aspiring engineers, business leaders, artists, computer scientists, architects, games designers and more.
The public is welcome to visit when it officially opens, with two floors open to passers by in the community. It also includes a sky bridge, connecting buildings and providing staff and students will a view out over York Street.
Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce added: “It has been a very difficult year for many businesses in Belfast but the new Ulster University campus right in the heart of our city represents a hugely positive development for Belfast and its economy.
"Not only will the 15,000 students and staff that the University will bring help breathe back into the city centre, helping to sustain and create new jobs in hard hit sectors like retail and hospitality, but it will also help to cement Belfast’s growing status as an innovation and tech hub."
For more information on the Belfast Campus, please visit here.
