National Postdoc Appreciation Week celebrates postdoc achievements, raises awareness of their vital role in research, and recognises the incredible contributions they make to the research community.

More on this year's events:

• Postdoc Wellbeing Morning: A Successful MYND: A chance to pause to reflect on your progress and reset your mindset to boost focus, motivation, and resilience for the year ahead. Free pastries and coffee will be served.
• Postdoc Showcase: Talks, posters, panels, a postdoc 'drop in' session, the announcement of the PDC Postdoc Awards, and networking with fellow postdocs - finishing with a drinks reception.
• A video series spotlighting some of our amazing postdocs.

Queen's Sustainability Team is looking for innovative and original projects that promote environmental awareness amongst staff and students, impacting the wider Queen’s community.

As part of our Strategy 2030 commitment to embracing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are encouraging Green Fund applicants to incorporate the SDGs into their projects.

The deadline for applications is Friday 7 November.

If you have any questions that are not covered in the guide, or if you need help with practical matters such as employment references for banks, GP registration, or school applications, please contact the International Staff Support team who are here to support you throughout your time at Queen’s and look forward to being part of your journey.

More information

SharePoint resource for Personal Tutors

This resource will bring together key guidance, tools, and updates in one easily accessible space, making it easier to stay informed and supported throughout the year.

This SharePoint resource for Personal Tutors has five main sections:

• Personal Tutor Scheme at Queen’s – Homepage
• Welcome and Belonging 2025/2026
• Transition Skills for University
• Personal Tutor Guide
• Community of Practice for Lead Personal Tutors (Coming soon)

Updated Transition Skills content on Canvas

This updated content includes a new, seventh, unit, Professional Placement. 

* If you would like the LDS teaching team to provide embedded academic skills support to an undergraduate module in 2025-26, please contact lds@qub.ac.uk to discuss the options available.

The Always On VPN is used to access Queen's services when working from home or any remote site, including but not limited to Q:\ Drive and QFIS.

This is a great opportunity for students to connect with the wider Queen's community and begin to develop a sense of belonging from day one.

More information

The Student Engagement team (One Elmwood) is working with colleagues across campus to create a vibrant and supportive start to the academic year – an important part of delivering a transformative student experience and fostering a strong sense of student belonging.

Monday 15 September will be a full day of welcome activities, including Cool FM broadcasting live, games with Queen's Sport, food trucks and furniture on the lawn, and a few surprises.

This activity is part of wider efforts to enhance the student experience and comes ahead of next year's academic year restructure, which will introduce a three-day welcome period designed to support students as they settle in and begin their journey at Queen's.

This year’s programme features a broad range of short, part-time, day and evening courses – from personal finance to visual arts – each providing an opportunity for personal development as well as the discovery of new interests.

These courses at Queen's offer everyone over the age of 18 the chance to try something new and enjoy learning in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Staff are invited to share this programme with family and friends.

For more information, please contact: openlearning.education@qub.ac.uk 

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Campus football: A friendly, mixed-gender soccer league. Dedicated to social football, the programme allows players to switch teams and have a fun match with new friends.

Campus Badminton: A social program, open to all skill levels – whether you're an experienced player or trying badminton for the first time, everyone is welcome to participate and enjoy the game.

Couch to 5K Programme: The Couch to 5K programme is designed to gradually build your running stamina from beginner level to confidently completing a 5K. As part of a weekly social running group, you'll receive support from student volunteers and a detailed weekly session plan to follow at home. This programme is open to staff, students, and the wider community, offering a supportive and encouraging environment to help you reach your running goals.

Campus Basketball: Whether you're picking up a basketball for the first time or have years of experience, this inclusive, fun-focused programme is for you. Each session features casual 3 v 3 social games — a great way to stay active, build connections, and enjoy the game in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

These activities are designed to boost staff and student wellbeing. Contact activecampus@qub.ac.uk for more information.

* By registering for the first date, you are committing to all five sessions.

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Projects must align with one of the university’s Social Charter themes; addressing inequalities and promoting equity, civic culture and intercultural dialogue or education with a social purpose, and should support at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For 2025/26, the CiviContribution Fund assessment panel would particularly welcome applications that:

• demonstrate innovation in their approach;
• include meaningful involvement from students;
• involve individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds, including asylum seekers and refugees;
• focus on addressing need in economically deprived areas;
• have a clear impact within the local area;
• are submitted by first-time applicants.

These short breakfast events are a valuable opportunity to share good practice, exchange insights, and learn from peers in a supportive community of practice. Whether you're navigating challenges or exploring new leadership approaches, Leading Live offers a space to spark ideas, build networks, and strengthen leadership across our institution.

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This year’s theme, 'Hope and History', celebrates Queen’s University’s 180th anniversary – an inspiring moment to share your perspective with a curious and engaged audience.

Whether it’s a fresh insight, a personal story, or a bold vision for the future, we want to hear from you.

Let’s make this year’s TEDx event truly representative of the diverse voices across Queen’s.

• NB: You must be available on Wednesday 3 December and take part in the preparation dates for the event – these will be shared with you if selected.
• Queries: contact tedx@qub.ac.uk. 

Changes to the fund have been introduced to:

• strengthen alignment with Queen’s R&I and internationalisation priorities;
• ensure limited funding is directed where it is most needed and where there is significant potential for publication and reputational impact; and
• bring practical considerations such as travel and expenses into line with institutional policies.

While the application process remains broadly the same, applicants will now be asked to provide:

• details of the prestige and international reach of the conference;
an outline of publication plans for the research presented; and a brief explanation of how the research aligns with institutional research themes.

In addition, successful applicants will be asked to complete a short post-conference report, helping Research and Enterprise to maximise the visibility of your participation and capture new and emerging partnerships.

More information

When a recording is taking place in a teaching space the indicator light at the teaching bench will be illuminated red.

* Lecturers have the option to leave recordings fully automated, opt out of one or more lectures if needed, or change your preferences up to one hour before class using the Panopto Automated Scheduling Tool on Queen’s Online.

• Step-by-step instructions on using the Panopto Scheduling Tool

Support Available

• Video-Enhanced Learning Toolkit (short Canvas course)
• Panopto Training – book via the Training Events calendar
• Panopto SharePoint – guides, training and support
• Contact panopto-support@qub.ac.uk with any queries.

More information

The quota will be based on your current usage and will still allow for growth in users' storage needs while ensuring resources are managed efficiently.

Staff who require more storage can request an increase in storage if required. Please see the QUB Policy on Staff OneDrive Storage for more information. Students who require more storage may request this via the IT Service Desk. Please note this may require approval from the Head of School or Director.

There is also an option for staff or students to make a report on behalf of another student and anonymous reports can be made too.

• Find out more on the Report and Support website.
• Advice and Guidance for staff on supporting disclosures is available from the Safe and Healthy Relationships website.

Support and information:

• AI Case Studies of Queen's staff.
• AI self-help guide: AI on assessment.
• AI self-help guides: Saving time.
• AI student support page.
• Explore the AI Hub.

To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.

If you are interested in writing a staff blog piece, please contact internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk.

Queen's Staff Forum was established in June 2018. Made up of representatives from each School, Directorate and GRI across Queen's, this group represents all of our people and provides an opportunity for staff to share their views on all aspects of working at Queen's, help shape the employee experience, and make a real difference for all who work here.

Queen's Staff Forum ensures that all staff have a voice – providing a space to raise workplace issues, offer meaningful feedback and influence positive change across the University.

This is a great opportunity to represent your School or Directorate and make a real impact on the staff experience at Queen's.

More information

Professor Barbara Casadei is Head of Department at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) at Imperial College London. She joined Imperial from the University of Oxford where she was a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, an Honorary Consultant in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Lead of the Cardiovascular Theme of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.

Professor Casadei was the first female President of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), where she established the European Cardiovascular Patient Forum, Women in the ESC (WinESC), and EuroHeart – an international collaboration that aims to advance the standard of care and build a European-wide infrastructure for pragmatic clinical trials. She has had a global impact on cardiovascular medicine, spearheading an internationally leading bench-to-bedside research programme on atrial fibrillation, spanning investigations from human tissue and cells to clinical trials.

The Barcroft Lecture was established by the Wellcome Trust after the passing of Professor Henry Barcroft to honour his contribution to medical research. The lecture is awarded by the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast for major contributions to research in the fields of physiology or medicine.

These short collaborative sessions offer a unique opportunity to translate your research into practical solutions, while allowing you to gain fresh perspectives on industry needs and build professional networks.

Feedback from former ‘Access the Expert’ hosts:

"The seminar provided a really useful platform for discussing my research with industry experts, exchanging thoughts and sharing ideas." – Dr Beatrice Smyth, Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

"The Access the Expert seminars are brilliant for connecting academics with senior business leaders. Learning about the real-world challenges involved in different business sectors really helps us to understand the pathways to real-world impact of our research." – Professor Iain Styles, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

This hybrid programme will bring together researchers, industry and policymakers to co-develop innovative, impact-driven projects aimed at strengthening the UK’s critical mineral supply chains.

Key details

• Deadline for EoIs: 30 September 2025
• Funding: Up to £15,000 per project (impact-focused)
• Format: Hybrid programme, 8–22 October 2025
• Key sessions:
  • Online Intro – 8 October
  • In-person (Queen’s University Belfast) – 13 October
  • Online Pitch – 22 October

More information

* The Reimagining Supply Chains Network Plus (RiSC+) is a UKRI-funded initiative led by Queen’s University Belfast, working with partners across academia, industry and government to strengthen supply chain resilience in three key sectors: food, fashion and critical minerals.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Queen's colleagues to engage with an interdisciplinary community, explore new collaborations, and generate impact-focused projects.

For more information, contact the RiSC+ team directly at riscplus@qub.ac.uk.

• Deaf
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle
• Cinema Rediscovered on Tour 2025
• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• Christy
• David Gilmour Live at The Circus Maximus, Rome
• From Ground Zero
• NT Live: Inter Alia
• Jaws
• Girls & Boys
• Steve
• LUMI Presents: Kamikaze Girls
• Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
• The Sound of Music 60th Anniversary

Staff tickets are priced at £8.50. Staff and students aged 26 and under can join LUMI to get tickets for £6.00 every day, all year round.

More information

In a time when images can be generated in an instant, Hand Drawn Lines stands as a quiet act of resistance and a celebration, showcasing the richness, depth, and individuality that can only come from the human hand. These are not machine-made images, but expressions of imagination, lived experience, and artistic intent. They are the result of collaboration, trust, and the messy, joyful process of making something from nothing.

The Naughton Gallery is open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

More information

• Reading Seamus Heaney: Human Chain. A public talks and group discussion on Heaney's last poetry collection, Human Chain (2010), with Stephen Connolly. No specialist knowledge of poetry is required.
• Heaney at Queens: Collection Highlights for Culture Night Belfast. The Seamus Heaney Centre Collections welcome a portrait of Seamus Heaney by Colin Davidson for a limited period. On Culture Night we are honoured to display this deeply personal piece in public for the first time.
• 'But Dancing is for Girls!': An Afternoon with Gyasi Sheppy. Join Gyasi Sheppy, CBeebies presenter and author, for an afternoon celebrating his debut children's book, hosted by Shirley-Anne McMillan.

This online platform provides a single end-to-end system for the creation, submission, review and approval of research ethics applications.

• Guidance documents and instructional materials.
• Sign up for one or more training sessions here.

More information

All queries regarding OREM should be submitted to: worktribeethics@qub.ac.uk.

The toolkit includes:

• Short, engaging, and informative videos, providing practical guidance to support managers at every phase of the change process;
• Practical guides, ready-to-use templates, and resources offering step-by-step advice on managing change effectively;
• Communication guidance and advice, including tips and tools to engage teams and support open dialogue throughout the change journey;
• Curated training and development opportunities to support managers and staff experiencing change.

If you require further information or support, please contact your local HR Business Partner, or email: hrhub@qub.ac.uk.

From Learning for all, LinkedIn Learning, Nature Masterclasses and Recruitment and Selection Training, the Learning and Development programme of events includes courses to suit everyone.

• Rapid access to assessment policies, guidance on procedures, and answers to student-related queries
• Information drawn from trusted sources such as:
  • Queen’s policies and websites
  • Assessment Handbook 2024-25
  • Assessment Support Hub
  • QAA UK Quality Code
  • QUB Staff Guidance on Generative AI, and more
• 24/7 availability – it’s ready to support you anytime, anywhere.

What’s new in this version:

• Enhanced accuracy and responsiveness, aiming to reduce friction in accessing essential assessment resources.
• More intuitive interactions for frequent queries—perfect for both new and experienced users.

* Note: Ask Ava remains in a pilot/prototype phase, meaning performance may vary depending on the question. Your feedback is vital! Please use the built-in feedback and support form to report any issues or suggest improvements.

New Workshop: Introduction to the Role of Programme Lead: A workshop offering the opportunity for staff to explore the core responsibilities of the role, leadership strategies, and practical tools to support your transition. Includes peer discussion, reflective activities and a guest speaker.

Developing Leadership in Educational Practice: A programme of study, running from September 2025 to March 2026, designed to bring together staff who work within the same environment to share good practice and discuss issues to enhance their personal development and wider professional practice. Colleagues in professional services or academic roles, as well as those in leadership roles in the Students’ Union are welcome to join.

Advisor of Studies Training Day: A half-day workshop equipping attendeees with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support and guide our students.

Stepping into Series pilot: The Role of Programme Lead: This four-session programme supports aspiring and newly appointed Programme Leads at Queen’s University Belfast by offering practical strategies for transitioning into the role, insights into leadership and team influence, and tools for navigating university systems and enhancing curriculum delivery.

Leading Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Curriculum: A programme of study designed to bring together staff in an environment which encourages reflection on their past and current teaching and assessment practices, with a view to enhancing their skills as educators in an ESD-informed manner. Running from September to December 2025, this programme is open to Module Co-ordinators or Programme Directors, or members of staff who have significant influence over the curriculum development and design of credit-bearing courses.

Please feel free to contact the University Safety Service at safety@qub.ac.uk or 028 9097 4613 should you have any queries or training requirements.

Timeline for the call:

• Competition opens: 16 June 2025
• Competition closes: 11.59pm on 22 September 2025
• Decision to Applicants: week ending 7 November 2025

For assistance in any aspect of this competition please contact:

• Agri-food and Nutrition – Dr Andrew Baxter: a.baxter@qub.ac.uk 
• AHSS – Mr Kevin Fearon: k.fearon@qub.ac.uk 
• EPS – Dr Alistair Quinn: aquinn@qub.ac.uk 
• Medicine and Health – Dr Maeve Murphy: maeve.murphy@qub.ac.uk 
• Overall call – Mrs Clare McAuley: c.mcauley@qub.ac.uk 

* These studentships are funded by the Department for the Economy NI and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council Doctoral Training Programme.