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Ulster University recently partnered with Derry City and Strabane District Council and North West Regional College to achieve designation for the city as a member of the UNESCO'S Global Network of Learning Cities.

To celebrate this, Derry City and Strabane Learning City and Region will host the world’s first Virtual Learning City Festival, celebrating lifelong learning experiences across the city and district.

Funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Ulster University and North West Regional College, the Virtual Learning City Festival takes place online 1 and 2 July 2020 and features Ulster University academics and students. There will be something for everyone in the festival with themes spanning: Health & Well-being, Science and Technology, Jobs & Skills and Art & Culture.

Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Provost at Ulster University’s Magee campus said:

“As Northern Ireland’s civic university we are delighted to have been instrumental in achieving UNESCO Learning City status for the Derry City and Strabane District. We are proud to contribute to the first ever Virtual Learning Festival in areas relating to medicine and pharmaceuticals and language and cultural identity.

We are thrilled that our students are contributing while learning too; with new original short films by our talented Cinematic Arts students and lessons in self-care for all ages, by students from Mental Health Nursing. Ulster University’s contribution to the Virtual Learning Festival reflects our strengths and subject offerings at the Magee campus and we hope it will inspire local citizens and students of the future alike”.

Ulster University will host a variety of online events, from an interactive session on robotics with Dr Emmett Kerr, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Ulster University’s Magee campus to a discussion around language and identity from Dr Neil Comer, Lecturer in Irish at the School of Arts and Humanities, and Dr Frank Ferguson, Research Director - English Language and Literature.

At a time when health is top of the global agenda, Professor Louise Dubras, Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine planned for the Magee Campus will join Professor Tony Bjourson, Professor of Genomics at Ulster University discuss: “Transforming healthcare by transforming ourselves through a pandemic” while Professor Iain Jack, Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy at Ulster University will present a Guide to the Medicines in your Cabinet.

Ulster University students feature in the line-up too with six short films by Cinematic Arts students and contributions about self-care and the importance of community by Mental Health Nursing students.