Magee College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Established | 1865 |
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| Chancellor | Sir Richard Nichols |
| Provost | Prof Jim Allen |
| Vice-Chancellor | Prof Richard Barnett |
| Location | Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Address | Northland Road
Londonderry BT48 7JL |
| Telephone | +44 (0) 8700 400 700 |
| Affiliations | EUA, UI |
| Website | Magee College |
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The Magee College, is a higher education institution of the University of Ulster located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1865 as a presbyterian Christian arts and theological college. Today, it has no religious affiliation and conducts a broad range of liberal arts education and research within the University of Ulster.
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[edit] Academics
The College offers a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the University of Ulster's five faculties [1]
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Business and Management
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Programmes taught at Magee include business studies, drama, education, informatics, modern languages, music, nursing, psychology, and social sciences.
[edit] Research
Magee is home to the Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages (AICH) which focuses on cultural studies related to Ireland and the Irish Diasopra. [2] and the Institute of Ulster Scots Studies, founded in 2001, which looks at the history and heritage of the Ulster-Scots. [3] It also houses International Conflict Research (INCORE), a joint venture between the United Nations University and the University of Ulster. Established in 1993, it aims to address issues of the conflict in Northern Ireland and seek to promote conflict resolution internationally. [4]
[edit] History
Magee College gained its name from Martha Magee, the widow of a presbyterian minister, who, in 1845, bequeathed £20,000 to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to found a college for theology and the arts. [5] [6] [7] It opened in 1865 primarily as a theological college, but accepted students from all denominations to study a variety of subjects.[5] It was a college of the Royal University of Ireland from 1880 and later became associated with the Trinity College, Dublin when the Royal University was dissolved in 1909 and replaced by the National University of Ireland.[5][citation needed]. In 1953 Magee Theological College separated from the remainder of the college, eventually moving to Belfast in a 1978 merger that formed Union Theological College. [5] [6] [8] Also in 1953, Magee College broke its links with Dublin and became Magee University College;[5] it was hoped that this university college would become Northern Ireland's second university after Queen's University of Belfast.[citation needed] However this did not happen and instead it was incorporated into the New University of Ulster in 1969.[5]
[edit] Timeline
- 1845 — Foundation endowment from Martha Magee.[5]
- 1865 — Magee College opened.[5]
- 1880 — Magee College joined the new Royal University of Ireland.[5]
- 1909 — Royal University dissolved.[citation needed]Government funding greatly reduced.[5] Magee College became an autonomous university college, with students completing their degrees at Trinity College, Dublin.[5]
- 1953 — Magee University College received major government grant funding for the first time.[5]
- 1969 — Magee University College merged with the New University of Ulster.[5]
- 1978 — Magee Theological College closed, merging with Assembly's College to form Union Theological College in Belfast.[8]
- 1984 — New University merged with Ulster Polytechnic, Jordanstown, to form the University of Ulster.
[edit] Campus
The central feature of the campus is the original 1865 building. This is surrounded by Victorian red brick houses, and several modern buildings in red brick and glass, constructed since the formation of the University of Ulster.
The campus is used for education, but also as a convention centre. For example, Magee hosted the 2006 Tomo-Dachi convention.
[edit] Tip O’Neill Chair
Based at Magee the Tip O’Neill Chair in Peace Studies was established in commemoration of the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. a well-known supporter of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. The chair was inaugurated by the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton in 1995. Currently funded by The Ireland Funds the chair has been held by the Nobel Peace Laureate, John Hume since 2003. Under the tenure of Professor Hume Magee has hosted a series of guest lectures involving key national and international policy-makers .
- Mitchell Reiss, United States Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, 2006
- John Kerry, United States Senator, 2006
- Garret Fitzgerald, former Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, 2005
- Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Senator, 2004
- Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, 2004
- Romano Prodi, EU Commission President, 2004
- Pat Cox, MEP and President of the European Parliament, 2004
- Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland and President of the European Council, 2003
- Bill Clinton, former President of the United States, 2003
- Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France, 2003
[edit] Notable alumni
Year of matriculation is given, if known.
- Gregory Campbell (politician), 1982[9]
- Mark Durkan, Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, c.1980s[10]
- Brian Keenan (hostage), c.1985[citation needed]
- Dill Macky, 1866, founder of The Scots College school in Sydney[11]
- Robert Moore (politician), c.1912[citation needed]
[edit] Honorary degrees
Notable figures have received honorary degrees in graduations hosted by Magee.
- Rt Hon Lord Ashdown (Paddy Ashdown), former Liberal Democrat Leader and former UN High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina 2006[12]
- Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Senator, 2004[13]
- Fiona Shaw, actor 2004[14]
- Stephen Rea, actor 2004[15]
- Amanda Burton, actor, 2002[16]
- Bill Clinton, former President of the United States, 1995[5]
[edit] Trivia
- Florence Nightingale visited Magee College on 31st May, 1867 [17]
- The Magee College bequest is mentioned on the founder's graveyard memorial in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where her husband was a minister.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ UU Online Prospectus, 2006 Magee College. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
- ^ Research Institutes Recruitment website Research Institutes - Academy for Cultural Hertitages. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ Institute of Ulster Scots Studies website The Institute of Ulster Scots Studies Introduction. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ INCORE Website INCORE: About. Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n History of Magee College at UU Library website. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
- ^ a b Union Theological College website, History. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
- ^ a b Epitaph, 1845. Martha Magee's memorial at a cemetery in Lurgan reads, “The Rev Wm. Magee Minister of the Presbyterian Church Lurgan, died 9th June, 1800. At the demise of Mrs Martha Magee, about £60,000 to the Irish Presbyterian Church including £20,000 for the establishment of a college.” History from Headstones retrieved on August 31, 2006.
- ^ a b Presbyterian Church in Ireland Press Release, 2003 Presbyterian College Celebrates 150 Years. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
- ^ Northern Ireland Assembly Biography of Gregory Campbell. Retrieved on August 31, 2006.
- ^ Mark Durkan's Biography at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Retrieved on August 31, 2006.
- ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, Dill Macky, William Marcus (1849 - 1913). Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
- ^ UU Press Office, 2006. [4] 22nd March 2006. Retrieved on November 22, 2006.
- ^ UU Press Office, 2004. "UU to Confer Honorary Degree on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton" August 23, 2004. Retrieved on August 31, 2006.
- ^ UU Press Office, 2004. [5] 15th December 2004. Retrieved on November 22, 2006.
- ^ UU Press Office, 2004. [6] 15th December 2004. Retrieved on November 22, 2006.
- ^ UU Press Office, 2002. "Derry-born Actress Amanda Burton Returns for UU Honour" 9th July 2002. Retrieved on August 31, 2006.
- ^ UU website Magee Campus Guide. Retrieved on August 28, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Magee College website
- Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages website
- Institute of Ulster Scots Studies website
- International Research Conflict website
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