The programme is spearheaded by Dr Gary Mitchell MBE, Director of Postgraduate Taught Education at the School, and Mr Kieran McCormick, Honorary Lecturer, and is held in collaboration with Balmoral Healthcare.

Ambition to Success marked a significant milestone in the professional development of 25 outstanding students.

Over the course of nine months, participants engaged in a series of eight bespoke evening workshops, held at Queen’s Medical Biology Centre.

Through collaborative group projects, these interactive sessions provided students with the opportunity to explore leadership, advocacy, innovation, and social impact culmination of their work was a celebration expo, held this month to coincide with International Nurses Day and International Midwives Day.

Dr Gary Mitchell commented: “Ambition to Success is not just about developing leaders, it’s about enabling our students to define and pursue their own vision of success, underpinned by compassion, courage, and creativity in care.”

To ensure personalised learning and mentorship, places on the programme were limited to 30 students, with 25 ultimately completing the full course.

Participants had the chance to learn from some of the most senior and influential voices in health and care, including Professor Kenda Crozier (Head of School), Professor Maria McIlgorm (Chief Nursing Officer, NI), Professor Linda Kelly (Chief Executive, NIPEC), and Professor Rita Devlin (RCN NI), among others.

The heart of the programme was the group campaign projects, which demonstrated the power of student-led innovation. Each group was coached by academic or professional mentors, with their work showcased at the final expo, judged by a panel of healthcare leaders and voted on by attendees.

The Ambition to Success programme will return in September 2025. Nursing and midwifery students entering their second or third year at Queen’s University Belfast are encouraged to apply by 30 June 2025.

Click here to apply: https://forms.office.com/e/1JNbPgLsY1

 

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