Ulster University celebrates
Coleraine at 50

In 2018, Ulster University marks 50 years since its foundation in Coleraine in 1968.

Fifty years is a significant landmark in our history and, during the course of the year, the anniversary will be marked with a programme of selected events and celebrations at Coleraine.

This is an exciting time as we reflect on our history of excellence, innovation and breaking boundaries, as well as present our ambitious plans for the future.

Most importantly, we seek to share the journey of past, present and future with our staff, students, alumni and the greater Coleraine community.

Celebrating 50 years

Message from Ulster University Chancellor, Dr James Nesbitt

Welcome to the Coleraine campus

Coleraine at 50 Updates

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Ulster University unveils ‘Towards Tomorrow’- a public art project to mark its 50th anniversary in Coleraine

Designed by and for the local community under the direction of local visual artist Sara Cunningham-Bell, ‘Towards Tomorrow’ reflects Ulster University’s unique and continued contribution to the local area.

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I love Coleraine campus because it gives a welcoming feeling as soon as you walk through the door. It creates a warm and friendly environment to enable us to relax.

Shannon Claire-McAuley - (Student)
The facilities (in Coleraine) are amazing and it’s so handy to access everything you need as staff are very friendly and approachable.

Cathy Yorke - (Student)
I love Coleraine campus because it's a great place to relax with the panoramic views and also the staff create a sense of community with students.

Jade Nelson - (Student)

Events celebrating Coleraine at 50

Coleraine through the decades

Dr Karise Hutchinson

Provost of the Coleraine campus
Ulster University

Dr Karise Hutchinson
Provost of the Coleraine campus - Ulster University

Dr Karise Hutchinson is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and holds a number of positions outside the University including, Affiliate of the Authentic Leadership Institute in Harvard, USA, Vice-Chair of the Causeway Enterprise Agency, Council member of the British Academy of Management and Faculty Board member of the Chartered Management Institute UK. Her experience includes business engagement across a range of industry sectors, where she has led several Knowledge Transfer Projects, organised a wide range of large-scale events for business owners and policy stakeholders, as well as invited keynote speaker.

Read Karise's quote

Frances Lundy

Founder and Managing Director
Riada Resourcing

Frances Lundy
Business Ambassador

Frances Lundy is founder and managing director of Riada Resourcing. She started her career in London, building her own successful sandwich business. An opportunity to travel to Australia arose so they moved to Sydney for three years where she worked as an assistant to the financial controller of Ernst & Young. Her husband convinced her to return to her roots and the family has now been back for over 25 years. For almost 20 years Frances has invested her energy and passion in building a people-focused recruitment agency which has been awarded a Gold accreditation from Investors in People

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Frances is a member of Causeway Chamber of Commerce, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Women in Business and Causeway Business Education Partnership. She is a Director of Causeway Enterprise Agency and a member of the Business Advisory Group at Ulster University. She actively supports local community clubs and businesses alongside corporate sponsorships.

As a recruiter I am responsible for putting the best candidates forward for jobs and matching them to temporary or permanent positions with client companies locally, nationally and internationally. Over the past 18 years, I have grown my company, Riada Resourcing, into an award-winning business which – along with many others in the area – is part of the backbone of the local economy.

I am passionate about people, especially our young people, and how we can support and develop them to achieve their career ambitions here at home. We have a wealth of talent in Northern Ireland and I have a lot of respect for the highly-talented graduates of the Ulster University (I employ seven of them)! I want to continue to work and encourage these ambitious graduates, help them secure the perfect job and in turn be ambassadors for our indigenous businesses.

For me, the contribution of Ulster University to the local economy is significant. Through the education of skilled, career-ready graduates, through research and knowledge exchange, the theatre and leisure facilities, the University has made a real difference to this area over the past 50 years – improving opportunities for our young people, which has helped me and many other companies in the local area grow our businesses. Socially too, this region has changed, with many international students from all over the globe settling in the Triangle area and making this a beautiful cosmopolitan part of the world.

In my career, I‘ve had the chance to travel and work in London and Sydney. I’ve been back in Coleraine for over 25 years now and I just adore what I have on my doorstep – you really have to leave Northern Ireland to appreciate what we have here! During the coming 18 months, I look forward to building my connections with the University, developing the local talent pool and engaging with business and industry to ensure that together we develop our local economy for future generations.
Frances Lundy - Founder and Managing Director - Riada Resourcing

Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher

Community/alumni ambassador

Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher
Community/alumni ambassador

Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher OBE has long-standing connections with the University. She graduated from Ulster with a BSc Hons Economics with Accounting and in 1984 qualified as a chartered accountant, having trained with the predecessor of Moore Stephens (NI) LLP. She took up a post as a senior accountant within the University’s finance department in 1984, returning to Moore Stephens in 1986 and has been a partner in the practice since 1987.

Read Rosemary's quote

Rosemary is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a member of the Institute of Directors. She has served as a non-executive director of Invest NI, NHSSB and the Cabinet Office Audit & Risk Committee. Rosemary served on the University’s governing body from 2000 to 2016 and latterly held the positions of Honorary Treasurer and Deputy Chair of Council. She has also been active in charity work and is a Church of Ireland Trustee. She was awarded an OBE in the 2007 New Year’s Honours for services to business and the community in Northern Ireland.

In 2016 Rosemary received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Ulster University and to the business community in Northern Ireland.

As an alumna and local resident, I think that the Coleraine campus of Ulster University has made a significant contribution to the wider community. Not only does the University provide an important seat of learning for those from the local area and further afield, it is also a major employer in an area which has seen a marked decline in both the public and manufacturing sectors over recent years. Most of the students, academic and other staff live locally and make a huge contribution to community, civic, cultural and business life.

During my long association with the University, I have observed its unceasing expansion both locally and internationally. This campus has forged a strong reputation for delivering high-impact research that changes lives and through innovative teaching, produces work-ready graduates. On a personal level, I have benefitted enormously from my time at Ulster. My degree in economics with accounting provided a firm foundation for my future career within the accounting profession and beyond.

In marking this important milestone and taking the opportunity to recognise the University’s contribution to our community and acknowledge its vision for the future, I look forward to sharing the upcoming celebrations with staff, students, alumni and the wider public in the Coleraine area.
Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher - Community/alumni ambassador

David Jackson MBE

Civic Society Ambassador

David Jackson MBE
Civic Society Ambassador

David was appointed as the first Chief Executive of the recently constituted Causeway Coast and Glens District Council, overseeing the creation of a new local authority area in 2015 comprising the former Coleraine, Limavady, Ballymoney and Moyle Councils. He was previously the Head of Support Services at Coleraine Borough Council, prior to which he was a senior manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Read David's quote

In 2006, David was awarded an MBE for his successful delivery of a major transformational change programme. In 2016 he was given the Freedom of the City of London, strengthening the historic links between the City of London and Coleraine as well as helping to encourage new links in terms of economic opportunities for the Borough.

For 50 years now Ulster University has been deeply bonded to Coleraine and has contributed much to the economic, social and cultural regeneration of the town and wider region. As a global centre for academic excellence and innovation, the University is at the heart of our local community – sharing talent and resources to provide tangible benefits for residents and visitors.

The campus is critically important to the Causeway Coast and Glens district, establishing Coleraine as a university town and stimulating a supporting socioeconomic ecosystem throughout the Borough. The relationship between town and gown complements the existing strong industrial and retail core, and has helped a wide range of local partners to raise the national and international profile of this region as a great place to visit, live, study and do business.

As Northern Ireland’s civic university, Ulster‘s impact contributes to the wellbeing and economic prosperity of society. At a local level, the Riverside Theatre – a joint initiative of the former Coleraine Borough Council and the University – is a great example of that civic engagement, an outward and visible sign of the University’s close partnership with the Council and our shared commitment to supporting the arts for the public good.

As the civic ambassador for the Coleraine at 50 celebrations, I look forward to working with the University to build on our shared successes and develop new projects which will drive sustainable development in this region.
David Jackson MBE - Civic Society Ambassador

Katy Chilvers

Student Ambassador

Katy Chilvers
Student Ambassador

Katy Chilvers has taken up the post of student ambassador for the Coleraine at 50 celebrations, replacing Lauren Wilson who graduated in December 2018.

Katy commenced a psychology degree at Coleraine in September 2016 and is now in her third year, currently on placement in the Psychology Department at the University. She has held a wide variety of roles within Ulster University over the past 2 years, including course representative, Ulster Edge ambassador, PASS leader, resident assistant, and society chairperson. In her time on campus she has worked with the School of Psychology, Career department, the Mind Your Mood initiative, Residential Services, and the Students’ Union as the Chairperson of the Choral Society.

Read Katy's quote

Ulster University celebrates
Coleraine at 50

Celebrating 50 years

Coleraine at 50 Updates

Ulster University unveils ‘Towards Tomorrow’- a public art project to mark its 50th anniversary in Coleraine

Events celebrating Coleraine at 50

Tell us your story

Alumni & Supporters

Coleraine through the decades

Our people and ambassadors

Dr Karise Hutchinson

Dr Karise Hutchinson
Provost of the Coleraine campus - Ulster University

Frances Lundy

Frances Lundy
Business Ambassador

Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher

Dr Rosemary Peters-Gallagher
Community/alumni ambassador

David Jackson MBE

David Jackson MBE
Civic Society Ambassador

Katy Chilvers

Katy Chilvers
Student Ambassador

Join the celebrations

Coleraine campus in the news

English Literature graduate realises his potential at Ulster University

'Refugee camp' in Coleraine forest used to train journalists on threat of war

North Coast agencies complete student letter drop to support and protect local community

Ulster University welcomes announcement of walk-in COVID-19 mobile testing unit on the Coleraine and Magee campuses

Coleraine at 50 Archive

Coleraine Historical Society illustrated talk by Ken Ward

Ulster University celebrates Coleraine at 50

Celebrating 50 years

Coleraine at 50 Updates

Ulster University unveils ‘Towards Tomorrow’- a public art project to mark its 50th anniversary in Coleraine

Events celebrating Coleraine at 50

Ulster University celebrates
Coleraine at 50