Arnold Schwarzenegger received an honorary doctorate from Ulster University. The event took place yesterday. He spoke about his first public speaking experience at a 1966 bodybuilding contest in Northern Ireland.

Schwarzenegger said that experience built his confidence for future speaking. After the ceremony, he toured Studio Ulster, a £72 million virtual production facility developed by Ulster University.

The facility received part-funding from the Belfast Region City Deal, with support from the UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive, Belfast Harbour, and Northern Ireland Screen. It features an LED volume stage for real-time visual effects.

During the tour, Schwarzenegger met Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn. He described the facility as advanced and said it allows actors to perform in digital environments instantly.

Schwarzenegger noted the technology removes location limits for filming and lets creators switch between settings quickly. Studio Ulster supports productions in film, television, gaming, and animation.

The project creates skilled jobs and training for local graduates. It builds on initiatives like the CoSTAR Screen Lab and Ulster Screen Academy. Partners at the event included Dr Theresa Donaldson of Belfast Harbour, Professor Anthony Lilley of Studio Ulster, Professor Declan Keeney of Studio Ulster, Professor Paul Bartholomew of Ulster University, and Fiona Kane of Ulster University.