Queen’s University joins
elite
Belfast's Queen’s University has been invited to join the Ivy League
of British universities.
The university has been accepted for membership of the elite Russell Group
of British universities and will join an association of 19 major research-intensive
universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh and University
College London.
Queen’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said: “This
invitation is tremendous news. It enhances our role as an attractive destination
for post-graduate students, businesses and investment. It also establishes
Queen’s and Northern Ireland as one of the main learning centres
in Britain.
“Russell Group membership is recognition of the outstanding contributions
of our staff over many years and will enhance the Queen’s experience
for future student generations.”
Since taking up his post in August 2004 Professor Gregson has led the
implementation of Queen’s Vision to secure its position as an international
university rooted in Northern Ireland and offering research and education
programmes which are competitive with the best in the world.
Underpinning this vision is an investment of some £250million in
staff, students and facilities over the next five years.
The university is recruiting 140 new academic staff and major projects
include a new £45million library and a £20million investment
in sport and the Students’ Union.
A range of new multi-disciplinary research initiatives are building
on Queen’s track record of excellence in crucial areas of research
such as sustainability, Irish studies, healthcare improvement and child
protection and welfare.
The university recently announced a new partnership with Georgetown
University in Washington DC and a new £10million Institute for a
Sustainable World — an initiative designed to tackle one of the
major global challenges of the 21st century.
In Ireland Dublin’s Trinity College is consistently the highest-ranked
university in Ireland.
The global rankings published by the Times Higher Education Supplement
placed the college at 78 out of a total 200 universities reviewed. The
same study ranked Trinity’s arts and humanities faculty 39th internationally.
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