RUSSELL GROUP PRESTIGE
Queen’s University Belfast was established in 1845 and is one of the oldest and most esteemed universities in the UK and Ireland. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group, comprising 24 research-intensive universities, Queen’s is well-regarded for its academic excellence and reputation, often drawing comparisons to Ivy League institutions in the United States.
Queen’s University has a deep and enduring relationship with North America, grounded in shared history, academic collaboration, and the significant contributions of its alumni and supporters. The strong links between the Irish and Ulster Scots are well documented. However, it is less well-known that many landmarks across the US and Canada owe their origins to Ireland.
A LONG HISTORY
President Woodrow Wilson, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a founding father of the League of Nations, took great pride in his Irish heritage. His family emigrated to America from near Strabane in County Tyrone in 1807. He was not alone.
The New York subway may not have come to fruition without another man from Strabane. Alexander Ector Orr left his hometown at 19 in the 1850s. He became a successful businessman in his adopted home of America, playing a key role in the foundation of the subway line in 1904.
A man known for establishing Canada’s most prominent shopping centres hailed from Ballymena, Co Antrim. Timothy Eaton, who emigrated from Ireland to Ontario at age 20, also has a town named in his honour.
COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL COLLABORATION
For decades, the University has welcomed students from the United States to Belfast, with hundreds enrolling each year in undergraduate, graduate, and short-term study abroad programmes. This dynamic exchange enriches Queen’s University and its North American partners, fostering a shared commitment to education and cultural collaboration.
Prominent figures have helped to strengthen this bond. Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, the current Chancellor of Queen's University, enhances its global profile and fosters connections with North America.
Senator George Mitchell, a former Chancellor and a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, exemplifies the University’s commitment to reconciliation and partnership. Additionally, notable alumni and honorary graduates such as Liam Neeson, President Clinton, Deborah L Wince-Smith and John Finley have made significant contributions across North America.