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Over two hundred Italian students are sampling the sights and sounds of Northern Ireland this summer during an intensive English language educational and cultural programme at Queen's University. Following the success of the inaugural programme in July last year, the students are visiting Queen's under the scheme organized by ATC Language and Travel, in conjunction with the University's Student Plus Directorate. The students are travelling as part of an Italian Government Contract (Inpdap) for the teenage children of Italian Government Officials. The group was welcomed by Queen's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac, who said: "This is an excellent initiative which encourages international students to see the best that Queen's and Northern Ireland have to offer as a centre of learning and culture, and as an exciting and welcoming tourist destination. "We wish all our visitors a memorable and stimulating visit to Northern Ireland and hope they enjoy the excellent teaching, accommodation, social and cultural facilities at Queen's." Pia Greevy, Managing Director of ATC Language and Travel, said: "When Queen's University and ATC joined forces to offer this programme last year, I was very excited that we were able to offer Northern Ireland as a study trip location for the first time. The programme was hugely successful and has proved extremely popular this year. It gives us the chance to showcase the best of Northern Ireland and to offer our language students a high-quality learning experience at Queen's." In addition to English language classes, the students will also take part in a range of cultural events and trips to Northern Ireland's favourite visitor attractions, such as the Giants Causeway, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Armagh City and the Antrim Coast Road. The NITB hosted a presentation of visitor attractions which the students were to experience as part of the official welcome and dinner in the Great Hall at Queen's. |
