As the countdown begins to one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events – The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush – Ulster University students stepped into key roles as part of The Open Epic Journey, a series of high-profile public events delivered in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland to celebrate Northern Ireland’s global reputation as a world-class golf destination.
From Belfast City Hall to Portrush and finally Derry~Londonderry, The Open Epic Journey brought fans, school groups and communities together in anticipation of the return of The Open to Royal Portrush this July. At the heart of these three major events were Ulster University students, gaining real-world experience while proudly representing the university and the region.
Spanning three key locations – Belfast on 28 April, Portrush on 2 May, and Ebrington Square in Derry~Londonderry on 7 May – the Epic Journey was an opportunity to welcome the famous Claret Jug back to Northern Ireland and celebrate the legacy of The 148th Open in 2019, which generated over £100 million in economic benefit and captivated over 100 million viewers around the globe.
Ulster University students from the BSc Event Management, BSc Hospitality Management, BSc International Travel and Tourism Management and the newly launched MSc Golf Management programmes played a vital role in the delivery of these events. They were involved in all aspects – from event logistics and media support to VIP liaison and community engagement – working alongside Tourism NI and event partners to ensure a seamless and memorable visitor experience.
Dr Peter Bolan, Course Director for the Masters in Golf Management at Ulster University Business School’s Department of Hospitality Tourism and Events Management and Senior Lecturer in International Tourism Management, said:
“These events provided an invaluable hands-on learning experience for our students while also giving them a platform to showcase their professionalism, passion, and readiness to contribute to Northern Ireland’s thriving tourism and hospitality industries. Their work on the Epic Journey was not only a credit to their future careers but also a wonderful representation of Ulster University’s commitment to applied learning and civic engagement.”
The students’ participation forms part of the University’s wider support for Northern Ireland’s tourism and events sector. As the Championship returns to Royal Portrush this summer, Ulster University is proud to continue fostering talent and provide practical student-led opportunities that contribute to the success of major national and international events.
Congratulations to all students involved for being enthusiastic and capable ambassadors for the University and for Northern Ireland.
