University 'driving growth in NI'

Queen's University is publishing its annual review

Queen's University has a key role in creating a thriving economy in Northern Ireland, its vice-chancellor has said.

Professor Peter Gregson said the university aimed to build "on strong foundations to establish itself as a global force in research and teaching".

He said Queen's was "fuelling the knowledge-based economy".

This would help the province "realise its ambitions to develop a strong and dynamic social, political and cultural life for all its people," he added.

Professor Gregson was speaking ahead of the launch of the university's annual review on Tuesday.

Queen's will reinforce Northern Ireland's international profile and underpin sustainable economic development Peter Gregson Queen's University vice-chancellor

He said the university was focusing on the development of a research and education portfolio which was "competitive with the best in the world".

He said they wanted to create "powerful international connections" and to strengthen the university's "leadership role in Northern Ireland and beyond".

"Queen's will reinforce Northern Ireland's international profile and underpin sustainable economic development," he said.

Professor Gregson said this would be underpinned by a £200m building programme which would "make Queen's campus the envy of its peers nationally and internationally".

Before beginning work at Queen's last September, Professor Gregson, 46, served as deputy vice-chancellor of Southampton University.