Dr Martin McAleese, husband of President Mary McAleese, was conferred with an honorary degree at a ceremony at Belfast City Hall this afternoon.
The degree of Doctor of Laws ( LLD) was conferred on Dr McAleese in recognition of his contribution to north-south relations and intercommunity reconciliation.
It was awarded at a ceremony which also marked the graduation of twelve students with MSc degrees in Innovation Management in the Public Service.
The Masters Programme in Innovation Management in the Public Service programme is delivered jointly by Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the University of Ulster, and was developed in collaboration with the Office of An Taoiseach and the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, and was designed in response to the challenges of providing better public services, focused on the needs of the citizen.
It is jointly accredited by the University and the Higher Education Training Council (HETAC).