After 8 years of service to Stranmillis University College, as a College community we gathered together to celebrate the end of Professor Sir Desmond Rea’s term of office as Chair of Stranmillis University College’s Governing Body and his retirement from public service following a long and distinguished career in the University, public and private sectors. We wish him well and thank him for his significant contribution to the College’s continuing success.
Stranmillis University College and St Mary’s University College jointly hosted a Seminar with academics and students from one of our partner universities in Ukraine, Lesya Ukrainka University, Lutsk. Chaired by Dr Patricia Eaton and Dr Gerard McCann, the seminar included powerful presentations by Professor Valentyna Ushchyna and Professor Olexandr Belyakov from the Faculty of Philology, Lutsk, looking at how university teaching and learning has been affected by the invasion of Ukraine. The event also involved heart-felt reflections by four 
Ukrainian students from Lutsk and one studying in Munich, on how the war has changed their lives. The open discussion at the end focused on supporting partners during this conflict, rebuilding life post-war in Ukraine and the role that universities can play in this process.
You can access the full recording of the by clicking on the link below and entering the passcode.
Passcode: 7JipKT*G
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The threefold purpose of the REF is:
For each submission, three distinct elements are assessed: the quality of outputs (e.g. journal articles, book chapters, research reports), their impact beyond academia, and the environment that supports research.
The REF2021 results have just been published, and the College is delighted to able to announce that 78% of our research activity was deemed to be ‘recognised internationally’ in terms of originality, significance and rigour (up from 72% in REF2014) and 22% was judged to be at the very highest levels of ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world leading’.
Commenting on the results, Principal and CEO, Professor Jonathan Heggarty said: “Our mission, as an education-focused University College, is to transform the lives of children and young people through excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. High quality, impactful research is critical to our role in providing excellent research-informed programmes, shaping professional practice and informing policy. These REF2021 results once again demonstrate the expertise, passion and commitment of Stranmillis staff to make a positive impact to lives of so many people.”
Director of Research and Scholarship, Dr Noel Purdy, added: “Today’s REF2021 results are a reflection of the growth of research and scholarship at Stranmillis over recent years. As a small, specialist University College we have worked hard to facilitate the development of research and scholarship expertise over recent years and were really pleased that our 2021 submission included more than double the number of staff than in 2014. We are also delighted that 100 per cent of our research impact was ‘recognised internationally’, which is a reflection of our commitment to changing policy and practice in classrooms and improving educational outcomes for children. Producing high-quality research and scholarship is very much a team effort and I would like to congratulate everyone in the College who has contributed towards these very encouraging results. I would also like to thank our retiring visiting professors (Professors Colleen McLaughlin and Elizabeth Wood) for their invaluable support and guidance.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy project is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, with organisations across the country invited to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’. As part of the project, the College today planted five Lime trees.
Chair of the Board of Governors, Edgar Jardine and Principal and CEO, Jonathan Heggarty marked the occasion by planting two commemorative plaques, supplied by Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), which provides stable, permanent employment for the country’s most disadvantaged veterans and those with disabilities.
These magnificent trees will eventually reach a height of over 30m, and stand tall in the heart of the College’s stunning eco campus. Lime bark was traditionally used to make rope, and lime flowers are considered a valuable source of food for honey bees. Lime wood doesn’t warp and is still used today to make sounding boards and piano keys.
In recognition of her attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education, and in a first for the College, our Director of Teaching and Learning, Dr Trisha Eaton has achieved the distinguished and internationally recognised status of Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) – a status that is awarded to just 1% of the 150 000 HEA Fellows globally 
in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education .
Six students from Lough Road Learning Centre in Lurgan visited Stranmillis University College on Monday 11 April, to be awarded Certificates for completing a course in HTML web design and coding using the Go Berserk resources created by Stranmillis lecturer Ian Simons. The course was delivered as part of a joint initiative between Stranmillis and St Mary’s University Colleges.
Mikey Connors, Daryl Hearne, Christopher Adams, Caleb Myers, Caidon Canning, and Andrew Fan, were invited along with 3 teachers to the special event.
The Certificates were awarded to the students by Stranmillis Principal and CEO Prof. Jonathan Heggarty MBE, and St Mary’s Principal, Prof. Peter Finn KSG, CORE Systems CEO Patricia O’Hagan MBE, along with Ian Simons and Stranmillis student Jack Cassidy, who delivered the training at the Centre.
Lough Road Learning Centre provides education for young people who are unable to manage in mainstream school.
Congratulating the students, St Mary’s Principal Prof. Peter Finn KSG said, “ I am delighted to be part of this collaborative initiative with Stranmillis University College and the Lough Road Centre. Earlier in the year I observed at first hand how effective the Go Berserk resources are in teaching HTML web design and coding when Ian Simons took a course for students at St Mary’s. Congratulations to the six students from Lurgan on completing the course and receiving their certificates.”
Commenting on the joint initiative, Prof. Jonathan Heggarty said: “Partnerships like the one with Lough Road Learning Centre are vital if we are support, inspire and encourage all of our young people to maximise their potential and promote progression in education for all. Coding is a hugely important skill that is, and will continue to be, critical to the Northern Ireland economy. Our hope is that through collaborative and innovative initiatives such as this, that the young people involved may be inspired to pursue future study and indeed a career in the exciting and rewarding field of technology.”
