The University of Ulster has joined forces with Danske Bank in a new partnership founded on their mutual commitment to youth and education in Northern Ireland.

Danske Bank is the parent company of Northern Bank, which will rebrand as Danske Bank in November.

Firm in the belief that one of the most important paths to our prosperity is through educational opportunities for young people, this partnership between academia and commerce creates a special combination of expertise with a measured ‘can-do’ approach.

The partnership will set to work across a number of areas. These include a more focussed and targeted approach to engagement with schools and colleges across Ireland and Great Britain, enabling Ulster to meet the needs of future students.

It also includes financial advice for new students across the campuses during their early days as a student and as part of their introduction to university life. In addition to this, Danske Bank will put its weight behind one of Ulster’s most successful activities called Life Stories, a series of ‘in conversation’ events with distinguished Ulster graduates such as Paul Brady,Baroness Shirley Williams and Moya Doherty.

Welcoming the University partnership with Danske,Ulster Vice-ChancellorProfessor Richard Barnett, said: “The support from Danske Bank will allow Ulster to develop a range of activities with future, current and past students. We are very excited that the connection with Danske Bank will initiate and enhance a range of major activities at the University.”

Tony Wilcox, Managing Director, Retail & Private Banking (pictured), said: “We are very proud to embark on this exciting new partnership with the University of Ulster. Our future will be determined by today’s young people, which is why over many years we have developed youth sponsorships and programmes like our financial capability programmes for young people.

"A large part of this new partnership revolves around outreach to schools – guiding parents and students on future career paths and the academic routes and associated funding required. This is an extremely important stage in young people’s lives and we are committed to assisting and supporting where possible.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The University of Ulster

Ulster is a university with a national and international reputation for excellence, innovation and regional engagement. We make a major contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of Northern Ireland and play a key role in attracting inward investment. Our core business activities are teaching and learning, widening access to education, research and innovation and technology and knowledge transfer. With four campuses, over 25,000 students, 3,000 staff and an annual turnover of over £200m, Ulster is amajorcontributorto the economic, social and cultural life of Northern Ireland.

www.ulster.ac.uk

Danske Bank:

From November 15, Northern Bank will change its trading name to Danske Bank and the Danske Bank name will begin to appear on all branches and correspondence.

Danske Bank A/S is the largest bank in Denmark and is a leading player in the Scandinavian financial markets.

The Danske Bank Group serves personal and business customers with nationwide networks in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Republic of Ireland and here in Northern Ireland.

In total, the Danske Bank Group serves 4.9 million personal and business customers and a significant number of public sector and institutional organisations.

Further Information

For Danske Bank:

Alison Falls

Media Relations Advisor
Northern Bank
Direct dial: 028 9004 9470
Mob: 07713 652 836
alison.falls@northernbank.co.uk