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Over the years the GWT has funded several innovative projects:
The 25@25 Leadership Programme was a learning and leadership development programme for graduates from Ulster University who live and work here, are committed to our place in Northern Ireland and choose to lead Northern Ireland’s future. It was designed to expand experiences, grow leadership capacity, and build a long-lasting network of change-makers, with a firm focus on enhancing and defining the next 25 years for NI. Learning focused on topics such as Foundations of Leadership, Becoming a Creative Leader, Leading with Sustainability, and Leading for the Future.
The overall project aim was to raise awareness of the transformative potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence in education and to prepare educational institutions in the region for its impact. In addition, it helped identify related opportunities and challenges by upskilling educators in the effective, responsible and ethical use of these tools while providing staff and students with hands-on experience in a safe, guided environment. This was achieved through a multi-faceted approach of workshops, events and conferences contributing to the region's readiness and reputation as a forward-looking leader in educational technology.
UGenie 2024 was a unique and innovative Garfield Weston Trust-funded summer programme on the Coleraine campus in August 2024. Pupils entering year 14 (KS5) and students studying an Applied Science BTEC Diploma were introduced to the power of biotechnology and gene editing to solve some of society's greatest issues in relation to medicine and environmental sustainability (biofuels, pollution, climate change, etc.). The students had the opportunity to carry out exciting ‘hands on’ laboratory experiments in CRISPR gene editing using highly innovative and portable ‘all-in-one’ molecular biology workstations.
Connections 2024 was a project led by the National Theatre of London in partnership with the Riverside Theatre and a network of over three hundred other youth arts organisations and six thousand young people around the UK. Every year ten new plays are commissioned for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK's most exciting writers and creatives of tomorrow. The Riverside Theatre brought together arts professionals, local children aged 12-18 years old and Ulster University undergraduate students in a collaborative learning and creative project that enhanced skills and provided experience for all participants alike.
The primary aim of this initiative was to ignite curiosity and foster a love for STEM subjects, rather than steering children toward specific STEM careers. STEM is often underemphasised in schools, and many teachers may lack experience in delivering STEM-focused lessons. The aim was to collaborate with primary schools in socially disadvantaged areas to develop and implement a customised set of STEM activities tailored to Year 7 students.
