Belfast an International City
Belfast as a port city has always had an international feel and has thrived on building links with the world. Today Belfast City Council are deeply involved in building these partnerships and we believe that local international communities should be at the heart of that outreach.
From long established communities like the Jewish, Italian and Chinese to the more recent Eastern European communities we all have a role to play helping our new home country build bridges to others.
Belfast City Council has been a great partner and we hope that that work will continue. Thet=y are currently involved in:
EU and International relations
We’re building international relationships across Europe, USA and China in order to attract investment, encourage trade and develop our tourism, cultural and educational links.
We also collaborate with a number of key institutions in the city including universities and colleges, international consulates, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, the British Council, government departments including The Executive Office, Invest Northern Ireland, Visit Belfast, the NI Executive Office in Brussels, the Special European Programmes Body and potential investors.
Links to our key stakeholders are provided below.
All of these partnerships enable the European and International Relations unit to provide connectivity and service within the city and internationally.
Europe
Belfast's membership of EUROCITIES and strong links with the European Union (EU) help us to secure funding, promote Belfast across Europe, and influence EU policy development.
We're working with Dublin City Council to explore the potential of the 100 mile Belfast-Dublin economic corridor to improve transport connections and boost trade.
International
Belfast is a Sister City of Boston, Nashville (USA) and Shenyang (China) which allows us to strengthen trade, investment, tourism, cultural and educational links.
Organisation | Website (link opens in new window) | Contact |
---|---|---|
All Consulates in Belfast and NI | https://www.ca-ni.org (Consulate Association NI)
http://ca-ni.org/documents/diplomatic-list.pdf (List of all Consulates in NI with contact details) |
028 9187 4697 |
Belfast Chamber of Commerce | https://belfastchamber.com | 028 9033 1399 |
Belfast Metropolitan College (International) | https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/support-for-business/international-programmes | 028 9026 5025 |
Eurocities | www.eurocities.eu | +3225520888 |
International Relations Queen’s University | https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/MRCI/InternationalOffice/ | 028 9097 5088 |
International Relations Ulster University | https://www.ulster.ac.uk/departments/global-engagement | 028 9036 8220 |
Invest Northern Ireland | https://www.investni.com | 0800 181 4422 |
NI Bureau Washington | https://www.nibureau.com | +1 (202) 674 3874 |
NI Connections | https://www.niconnections.com | 0800 181 4422 |
NI Executive Office Brussels | https://brusselsni.com | +32 2 290 13 30 |
SEUPB Belfast | https://www.seupb.eu/seupb-home | 028 9026 6660 |
St Mary’s University College (International) | https://www.stmarys-belfast.ac.uk/academic/departments/default.asp?nq=1&mode=detail&departmentid=36&cid=110786176978 | 028 9032 7678 |
Stranmillis College (International) | https://www.stran.ac.uk/international-students/international-team | 028 9038 4255 |
The British Council Belfast | https://nireland.britishcouncil.org | +44 (0)161 957 7755 |
The Northern Ireland Executive Office | https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk | 028 9037 8151 |
Tourism Ireland | www.tourismireland.com | 028 7035 9200 |
Tourism NI | www.tourismni.com | 028 9023 1221 |
Visit Belfast | https://meetbelfast.com | 028 9023 9026 |
Attractions and Events
Plan Your Itinerary
Belfast is an easy city to find your way around with streets steeped in history and great food and live music around every corner. So plan to stay a while and see as many of the famous sites and sounds as you can.
Music and Events
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Maps and Tours
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Buildings and Sights
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07/10/2021
Chinese Resource Centre
Explore Belfast Chinese resource Centre as part of your visit here.
We are Good To Go
Northern Ireland is getting back to business and as we welcome tourists for the first time in over a year everyone is excited. At CWA we have worked alongside our community and Public Health agencies following government guidelines to ensure we can open safely. The Centre has started to host events and welcome users and visitors again. Our new blended Virtual and Physical approach allows more visitors than ever to enjoy the Centre and all we have to offer.
We have been following the guidelines and are happy to announce we are 'Good To Go'.
When you see a business is “Good to Go”, you know that the tourism and hospitality business is committed to operating safely so you can enjoy a visit with total confidence. They're implementing social distancing, following the recommended cleaning processes, and agreeing to undergo spot checks.
Developed with the national tourism bodies of England, Scotland and Wales, the standard provides peace of mind to visitors as they explore Northern Ireland. Once a business shows that they meet all the recommended safety guidelines, they can display the “We’re Good to Go” safety mark on their premises and in their communications.
Participants in the scheme across the UK can be found on a map showcasing all tourism and hospitality businesses which have the mark, so consumers can plan their trip with confidence. You can view the map here and you'll find a list of businesses that are good to go below.
Always follow current COVID-19 travel advice and guidelines before planning and while visiting. Visit nidirect.gov.uk for more information and check ahead with providers before visiting. Book in advance where possible.
We are Recruiting
We are looking for a committed, enthusiastic and skilled project manager for an exciting new heritage project. You will lead the ‘I in NI’ Project which will help the Chinese and other Ethnic Minority Communities better understand the history and legacy of Northern Ireland in this its Centenary Year. The project is a first for the organisation and marks success for our recent adoption of heritage work as a priority area. Funded by the Shared History Fund the project aims to produce educational resources, study Partition in its international context and join in the current debates around the Centenary of Northern Ireland. The project which we hope to see continued beyond the present round of funding will be a foundational piece of work and is an opportunity for a motivated candidate to make their mark and make sure that it continues well beyond March 2022 when the present funding comes to an end.
We see the project as the first step with many of the outputs such as educational material needing to be taken forward and actually into schools. Part of the project management post will be to look at how the project can be built upon and made not only successful in its present form but sustainable into the future. The Candidate Information Booklet will outline the job and its wider context in greater detail.
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Key responsibilities
To manage and implement the CWA NI Centenary Project Action Plan in line with the application submitted and the input and overall project coordination provided by CWA;
To manage the delivery of the specified outputs such as development of ‘Know Norn Iron’ Programme other education and community engagement work.
To Manage the delivery of the Partition Solutions Programme while working with relevant historians, experts and others to develop an international context.
Manage and monitor any tendering or third-party work to ensure successful completion of the project on schedule.
Oversee the engagement and ongoing management of a number of consultants, experts or contractors ensuring ongoing contact, progress monitoring and output as well as quality control of work especially training provision and digital development.
To work with above consultants and contractors to ensure they receive information, instruction and in the case of the website and app development content and imagery.
To oversee the development of the “I in NI” Programme, this will involve ensuring the digital platform is fit for purpose and a structure given to participants as well as editing and monitoring content.
Establishment, development and management of Chinese Community and wider BEM engagement with and knowledge of the wider NI Centenary events and the Shared History context.
Essential Criteria:
By the closing date for applications, candidates must be able to demonstrate:
A relevant degree, or equivalent qualification plus 1 year’s experience in a paid or voluntary capacity in community based heritage or cultural tourism.
Or
5 years’ experience in a paid or voluntary capacity in community based heritage or cultural tourism.
And
- Experience of project or programme management in the community and voluntary sector.
- Background in heritage or history with awareness of the events, issues, and
- sensitivities around the centenary of Northern Ireland.
- The ability to plan and project manage, work effectively and work on his/her own initiative, taking the lead where necessary.
- Excellent communication skills – oral and written.
- IT skills to use common productivity software such as Microsoft Word, Excel PowerPoint and Apple equivalents, as well as video conferencing and other virtual platforms such as Zoom.
Desirable Criteria:
- Post graduate level experience in Twentieth Century Irish History or Politics
- Experience of producing publicity materials and an ability to produce and/or oversee the development of a newsletter using appropriate software;
- Experience of the heritage and cultural tourism sector
- Have knowledge of basic website maintenance and content management;
- Ability to create use social media accounts and other forms of social media marketing.
- Ability to relate and communicate with the diverse range of organisations
- Experience of organising conferences, or other front facing events
- Working with heritage and cultural tourism;
- A demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Chinese and BME heritage and culture as well as experience of working with such groups
- Previous experience of completing funding applications.
- Hold a full license valid in the UK with access to a car. This criterion will be waived in the case of an applicant whose disability prohibits driving but who is able to make alternative arrangements
Full details of the Project, Post and Applicant Information as well as application and monitoring forms can be downloaded from Community NI - https://www.communityni.org/job/project-manager-53
Forms can be viewed and dowloaded as PDFs below
Application Form
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Download Word Version of Application Form
Monitoring Form
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Download Monitoring Form In Word
Privacy Notice
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Download Word Version of Privacy Notice
Reference ID: I in NI
Contract length: 9 months
Application deadline: 25/06/2021
Expected start date: 01/07/2021
Job Types: Part-time, Temporary
Pay: £35,000.00-£39,960.00 per year
COVID-19 considerations:
Yes
Belfast's New Chinese Consulate-General inauguration ceremony.
On June 8, 2015, CWA was privileged to be part of the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Consulate-General in Belfast. This opening heralded a new era of China-United Kingdom relations and cemented the good relations between Northern Ireland and China. It was welcomed by the Chinese Community here and will bring prosperity and better relations between our two great nations.
Over 200 people from all circles in China and Northern Ireland as well as the UK at large were present, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who was paying an official visit to the UK, H.E. Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland, Finance and Personnel Minister Arlene Foster, representing First Minister Peter Robinson, other Executive Ministers, Lord Chief Justice Declan Morgan, Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council Arder Carson, MPs, MLAs, mayors of other councils, councillors etc.
Wang Yi said in his speech that China's establishment of the Consulate-General in Belfast is a vivid portrayal of the ever-developing China-UK relations, highlighting this important year in the China-UK relations. Despite of my short visit to Northern Ireland, I have a keen sense of Northern Ireland's urgent desire to develop friendly relations with China. China's establishment of the Consulate-General in Belfast is to send a clear signal that China is committed to developing long-term, stable, friendly and cooperative relations with Northern Ireland. China is willing to work with Northern Ireland to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry, and import more high-quality agricultural products from Northern Ireland; give play to their respective advantages, promote two-way investment and expand cooperation in areas such as innovation, environmental protection and electronic communications; jointly make the Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms a success to let more young people in Northern Ireland know about the Chinese culture and master the Chinese language to broaden employment channels; and promote tourism cooperation to give more Chinese tourists the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northern Ireland and feel the friendly affection of people in Northern Ireland. We will take the inauguration of the Consulate-General as a starting point to open up a new chapter of friendly cooperation between China and Northern Ireland.
Wang Yi said that the overseas Chinese in Northern Ireland have made positive contributions to the development and prosperity of the region. The newly-established Consulate-General will provide better and more convenient consular service for the overseas Chinese in Northern Ireland. He hoped the Consulate-General will become a window for Northern Ireland to learn more about China, a bridge to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides and a bond to connect the hearts of the two peoples.
Liu Xiaoming said that the new member of Chinese diplomatic agencies in the UK will contribute to more comprehensive China-UK cooperation covering all regions. In recent years, China and Northern Ireland have deepened exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, culture, education, science and technology. The establishment of the Consulate-General in Belfast meets the practical needs of the two sides to expand cooperation, and shows China's full confidence in Northern Ireland's peace and stability and China's high expectations for the prospect of cooperation with Northern Ireland.