The University of Ulster’s Magee campus today plays host to the 2013 Summit of the British Irish Council, at which Ministers from all around Britain and Ireland will discuss areas of mutual interest, including energy policy, the UK City of Culture experience, and the creative industries.

Today’s event is the 20th Summit meeting, and only the second to be held in Northern Ireland.

Professor Deirdre Heenan, PVC Communication and Provost of Magee, said: “ It is a great honour for the University to host the British Irish Council Summit, and we are delighted to welcome such a distinguished array of political leaders to our Magee campus.

“The Summit focus on the creative industries is especially relevant to the University of Ulster. We are at the heart of Northern Ireland’s burgeoning creative industries, nurturing the artists and creative talents it needs to flourish.

"From fine art to architecture, fashion to photography, music, dance and drama, our graduates are leaders in their fields, passionate about innovation, enterprise and creativity.”

The British-Irish Council Summit will be attended by leaders and Ministers from the eight BIC Member Administrations: the UK and Irish Governments, the devolved administrations of the Scottish and Welsh Governments and Northern Ireland Executive, the Isle of Man Government and the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey.

It will be chaired by Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson MLA, and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

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Notes to editors:

Magee Campus:

Named after its founder Victorian philanthropist Martha Magee, the Magee campus of the University of Ulster is home to over 4,500 students. A former Presbyterian theological college it is one of four campuses of the University, which was formed in 1984.

The campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in design, law, creative arts, dance, drama, music, engineering, nursing, psychology, computer science and more. It is also home to the University’s International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE), a joint project with the United Nations University.

Nobel Laureate John Hume currently holds the Tip O’Neill Chair in Peace Studies at the campus.

British Irish Council:

Under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, it was agreed to establish a British – Irish Council which would “promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands”.

At the BIC Summit in February 2008, the Council agreed to the establishment of a standing secretariat. The Secretariat is funded by contributions from all eight Member Administrations.

It is headed jointly by a UK and an Irish official and has full-time policy officials on assignment from the Northern Ireland Executive, Welsh Government and Scottish Government and in due course from Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey.

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For further information contact: David Young, Press Office, University of Ulster, 07808911343