An historic peace deal and the long-awaited go-ahead for a new campus promise exciting times for Ulster's higher and futher education.
Ulster's chancellor, Julia Neuberger, has called on government to help boost the province's prospects by staunching the exodus of students, many of whom leave unwillingly because of the shortage of local university places.
The Dearing report recommended lifting the Maximum Aggregate Student cap, but the government says it will consider this in light of the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
"In Northern Ireland, 40 per cent of our qualified young people leave to study elsewhere, and 85 per cent do not come back," Rabbi Neuberger said.
"That represents an outflowing of the lifeblood of our talent and skill which is lost to economic regeneration and the process of social reconciliation."