Category: BSc PES

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has officially opened new sports pitches at Stranmillis University College, marking a significant investment in the college and its students.

The £4m project has delivered a new environmentally friendly 3G pitch — the first of its kind in Ireland, a 2G multi‑use games area, floodlighting to enable year‑round use, and associated changing and medical facilities alongside improved car, coach and cycle parking.

The Department for the Economy provided 90 per cent of the funding for the development, which was formally handed over to the College in March 2026.

Speaking at the official opening, the Economy Minister said:

“These new sports facilities at Stranmillis University College represent a significant investment in teacher education and student experience.

“Teachers play a vital role in our society and our economy, and it is essential that those training for the profession have access to modern, high‑quality facilities that support their learning and development.”

The investment demonstrates the Department’s commitment to targeted capital investment that improves learning environments, supports skills development, and delivers long‑term value for students, institutions and the wider economy.

Stranmillis University College delivers Physical Education modules as part of its undergraduate teacher education programmes and offers a BSc in Physical Education and Sport. The new facilities will support the practical delivery of these courses and enhance opportunities for wider campus and community use.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Jonathan Heggarty, Principal and CEO of Stranmillis University College, said:

“Stranmillis is proud to introduce its brand-new sports complex, designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users, from our own students to community groups and elite sports organisations. These cutting edge facilities offer flexible, high-quality spaces for training, competition, events, and wellbeing activities.

Sport has played a vital role in life at Stranmillis for over a century, not only for our clubs and societies but also for students across our programmes. For example, our Physical Education and Sport programme has grown significantly in recent years, establishing Stranmillis as a key provider in this important field. These new facilities will further strengthen our work in this area and provide our students with a hugely valuable resource.”

Fort Hill Integrated Primary School pupils work with BSc Physical Education and Sport students as part of ‘Active Schools’ pilot.

On Thursday 3 April, P6 pupils from Fort Hill Integrated Primary School were invited to Stranmillis University College for an event which involved the children designing and practicing their own breaktime games, under the guidance of final year students enrolled on the BSc PE & Sport degree. The P6 children were also asked to draw a picture illustrating their favourite activity which they created and would like to do in their school playground during breaktime.

Their wonderful ideas included agility ladders, obstacle courses, cheerleading and target games.

This creative and practical consultation with pupils is part of the Active Schools model designed by Dr Melanie McKee, a senior lecturer from Stranmillis University College, which is currently being piloted in collaboration with Simon Patterson, the principal of Fort Hill Integrated Primary School.
The pilot was launched January 2024 by Lady Mary Peters, and then followed by an update presentation in November 2024 which was attended by the Education Minister Mr Paul Givan MLA, Lady Mary Peters and Lord Mayor of Lisburn Mr Kurtis Dickson.

The aim of the Active Schools pilot is to assist with advocating for a strategic and sustainable, cross-departmental investment in an Active Schools programme for schools in Northern Ireland.

The idea of an Active School is that it values, promotes and develops every child’s physical literacy by creating a physically active school community. Hence, it will provide multiple opportunities to increase physical activity and develop physical literacy, for example, through active travel to/from school, active breaktimes, active play, active classrooms, active PE, active after-school clubs and active home learning.

Speaking about the event, which was organised in partnership with the University College’s Widening Participation programme, Dr Melanie McKee said “The children’s voice is central to the development and implementation of the model to ensure they participate in the decision-making, so it was great to have the P6 children on campus working with our final year students.  A big thank you to the final year BSc students, P6 teacher Miss Hawthorne and teaching assistant Miss Best  from Fort Hill Integrated Primary School, and Mrs Danielle Armstrong from the College’s Widening Participation and Community Engagement Team for all their help with this consultation.”