Stranmillis University College is a

university college In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...

Queen's University Belfast , mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back? , top_free_label = , top_free = , top_free_label1 = , top_free1 = , top_free_label2 = , top_free2 = , established = , closed = , type = Public research university , parent = ...

. The institution is located on the Stranmillis Road in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

. It had students in . The school offers the

BEd A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax. Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many beds ...

, PGCE and TESOL, as well as other courses.

History

Stranmillis University College, Belfast, May 2010 (02)

The college was established in 1922 to provide state-funded teacher training by the then newly created

Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

to ensure that there would be a

non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...

teacher training college within Northern Ireland's boundaries after the

partition of Ireland The partition of Ireland ( ga, críochdheighilt na hÉireann) was the process by which the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland divided Ireland into two self-governing polities: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. I ...

. This status was undermined early in its existence, after a statement by

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

bishops to the effect that a graduate of the institution would not be allowed to teach in a

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

soon ensured that the institution became identified as a

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

-only institution.

Architecture

The main building of the college is attributed to Roland Ingleby Smith, chief architect of the Northern Ireland Ministry of Finance at the time of its construction in 1928-1930. The design, however, may have been partly or even wholly the work of an architect in the Government of Northern Ireland Works Division,

T. F. O. Rippingham Thomas Francis Ord Rippingham (29 January 1896 – 17 December 1964) was an English-born architect who spent most of his professional life in Northern Ireland, mainly working for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). "Rip", as he was affe ...

. T. F. O. Rippingham is directly credited with the design of other college buildings, especially the Henry Garrett Building (1944).

Association with Queen's University Belfast

The university college has been associated with Queen's University since 1968 when it became a college of the university and commenced offering the university's degrees. In 1999 this status was upgraded to the current university college status. The university college is financially and organisationally independent of the university.

Students' Union

Stranmillis Students' Union is the SU for Stranmillis University College Belfast, a College of Queen's University, Belfast. The union is a democratic organisation which aims to ensure that every student has the highest quality of education and the most enjoyable student experience during their time at University. They offer academic representation, advice and a range of clubs and societies, as well as opportunities for volunteering and fundraising for charities. Every student that attends Stranmillis is a member of the Students' Union. The Students' Union is ran by a body of ten students (as of 2022) known as the Students' Union Executive (SU Exec) and consists of the President, Deputy President, Secretary, International Secretary, Welfare Secretary, Entertainment Secretary, Clubs & Societies Secretary, Academic Secretary, Services Secretary and Publicity Secretary. The President is the leader of the Executive and is responsible for the life of all students on campus. The Executive are all elected into their roles by an anonymous vote from the student body. The President is an annually-changing role, where they are elected in their last year of study, completing their year in office as a Graduate student. The President is the only member of the Executive who is an 'employee' of the Union, with the other nine members in part-time, voluntary roles which they complete alongside their academic studies.

Students' Union Presidents

Notable alumni

* Willie Anderson; former Ireland rugby union international * Jonny Bell; former Ireland rugby union international * Ronnie Hakin; former Ireland rugby international * Billy Johnston; former Northern Ireland football (soccer) international *

Ronnie Lamont Ronald Arthur Lamont, MBE (18 November 1941 – 22 December 2022) was an international rugby union player. Lamont was born on 18 November 1941. Lamont was capped thirteen times for Ireland between 1965 and 1970, winning seven caps as a number ...

MBE; former Ireland rugby international and British & Irish Lion 1966 *

Ken Maginnis Kenneth Wiggins Maginnis, Baron Maginnis of Drumglass (born 21 January 1938), is a Northern Irish politician and life peer. Since December 2020, he has been suspended from the House of Lords, where he formerly sat for the Ulster Unionist Party ( ...

; former MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone * Ian McIlrath; former Ireland rugby union international; President of the Irish Rugby Football Union 2018-19 *

Bridget McKeever Bridget McKeever (born 2 February 1983), also known as Bridget Cleland, is a former Ireland women's field hockey international. Between 2003 and 2010 she made 150 senior appearances for Ireland. She also captained Ireland. Early years and e ...

; former Ireland women's field hockey international * Stewart McKinney; former Ireland rugby union international and British & Irish Lion 1974 * Stephen O'Neill; former Tyrone Gaelic footballer * Graham Reid; playwright *Jennifer Small; Belfast Telegrap
Woman of the Year in Education 2016
* Sammy Wilson; MP for East Antrim

References

External links

Official site
{{authority control Queen's University Belfast Educational institutions established in 1922 Grade A listed buildings 1922 establishments in Northern Ireland Education schools in Ireland