28 October 2024
Staff are invited to participate in a brief but important survey that explores how Queen’s reputation compares to other UK and global universities. The survey takes about five minutes to complete, and the feedback provided will be invaluable in identifying areas for improvement and shaping the university's strategic approach.
Participants are encouraged to complete the survey by Friday 29 November at 12.00pm (noon).
About the W100 Survey
This survey is coordinated by The World 100 Reputation Network, a group of leading global universities, of which Queen's University is a member. The survey is managed by Times Higher Education, who ensure that all responses remain anonymous and confidential in accordance with the UK’s Market Research Society Code of Conduct.
For any questions, staff can contact Rowen Elliott at rowen.elliott@timeshighereducation.com.
The Conference and Events team are seeking staff volunteers to help out at Winter Graduation, taking place from Monday 9 to Friday 13 December.
Staff are required to assist with ushering guests to their seats in the Whitla Hall. Volunteers can offer to help at one or more ceremonies. All help is gratefully received.
Please email events@qub.ac.uk with any further queries.
The Strategic Communications Directorate has put in place a contract for provision of photography across the University, which has resulted in some changes that will apply to everyone in securing photography needs.
What you need to know:
There are now three options to appoint a provider – you can either:
- directly appoint the provider in ranked order as available;
- adjust the award criteria weightings in accordance with the job requirement using the desktop calculator provided to appoint most suitable photographer from the list; or
- seek specific rates from all three appointed providers for bigger or bespoke pieces of work for further competition.
- The ranked list is:
- PressEye Photography
- Parkway Photography
- Pacemaker Photography
- If appointing directly from the list via option 1, you must appoint PressEye in the first instance, and work through the list according to availability.
- If appointing using option 2, you must complete a short desktop evaluation to evidence how you have selected a particular photographer.
- If appointing using option 3, you must contact all providers with your specific requirement for specific pricing to carry out a further competition.
To ensure you appoint a provider compliantly, please refer to the guidance on Photography Services.
Under the new framework arrangement, all providers will supply photographs at no additional cost.
Should you have any questions or need further clarification on this framework, please contact comms.office@qub.ac.uk or procurement@qub.ac.uk.
The Student Experience Team (One Elmwood) International Student Guides, together with colleagues in Staff Diversity and Inclusion, invite staff and students to a Festival of Lights Drop-in event on Monday 28 October from 2.00pm to 5.00pm in One Elmwood foyer.
Please register here to enable catering.
This free event takes place ahead of the main Diwali Celebration, hosted by the South Asian Students' Society (SASS) on Tuesday 29 October (6.00pm 10.00pm) in the Whitla Hall. Tickets for this event can be purchased here.
For the Drop-in event, staff and students are invited to join in Diwali themed crafts, such as rangoli making, diya decorating, as well as some delicious traditional snacks from Namaste Belfast. Traditional dress is encouraged for those who have this.
The Diwali Celebration promises to be a wonderful evening of performances, and the students would very much value staff support and attendance.
Queen’s Employee Discounts Scheme, mylifestyle, will be upgraded on Monday 4 November, offering staff an enhanced user experience and higher discounts on 62 gift card brands, including:
- Sainsbury’s: 4% (up from 3.5%)
- Lego: 8% (up from 6.5%)
- IKEA: 4% (up from 2%)
- M&S: 7% (up from 5.5%)
And many more.
As part of the upgrade, Queen’s staff will gain access to a new mobile app called SmartSpending™, offering instant access to discounts with the convenience of Apple and Google Pay integration for easy use on the go.
Prior to the upgrade, staff can continue using the Edenred Savings app as usual. However, after the platform upgrade on 4 November, staff will need to switch to the new app.
What’s next?
Staff will receive an email on 4 November from support@txn.mail.rewardgateway.net with details on how to access the new platform. All staff will need to create a new account using their email address as the username.
The activation link in the launch email will expire after 21 days, so the team will send a follow-up email to those who haven’t registered yet, 15 days after the launch date.
Further information and guidance will be available on the People and Culture SharePoint site from 4 November to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform.
More details in relation to the upgrade will be shared in next week's Round-Up.
Please email reward@qub.ac.uk with any additional queries.
Queen's University is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2024. A vibrant line-up of events has taken place throughout October, with the final events taking place this week.
- Black History Expo 2024, Tuesday 29 October, 11.00am to 5.00pm, 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast
- Black History Month Closing Event, Thursday 31 October, 1.00pm to 3.00pm, One Elmwood
All are welcome.
The Black History Month events at Queen's showcase the contributions of the African Scholars Research Network, iRISE, the REC Network, Queen's Diversity and Inclusion Team, and the Students' Union, offering an engaging and insightful exploration of Black history and culture.
The Staff Excellence Awards are open for nominations.
This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of colleagues across the university during the 2023-24 academic year.
Staff and students can submit nominations until Friday 15 November at 4.00pm.
Staff and students are encouraged to nominate individuals from all areas, including researchers, operational staff, teaching academics, administrative personnel, technicians, and professional services colleagues who embody the core values of Excellence, Connectivity, Ambition, Respect, and Integrity as outlined in our Staff Charter.
Nominations are open for the following categories:
- Making an Impact
- Celebrating Innovation
- Best Collaboration
- Delivering Excellence
- Outstanding Leadership
- Exceptional Contribution
- Student Choice Award
All staff and students, families and friends are invited to attend the University’s Remembrance Day Ceremony on Sunday 10 November at 11.00am at the cenotaph, Lanyon Building.
A procession led by Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor, will leave the Black and White Hall and proceed to the War Memorial where two minutes silence will be observed to commemorate all those who lost their lives in war-time. Representatives from a number of University organisations will lay wreaths at the War Memorial, before the procession is led back to the Black and White Hall.
Refreshments will be served after the event in the Great Hall for all those attending.
A free Information Event for Migrant and Minority Ethnic Communities will take place on Wednesday 6 November from 4.00pm to 7.00pm in the South Dining Hall, Queen's University Belfast. All migrant and minority ethnic communities are welcome. Attendees can join at any time.
Staff are invited to share this opportunity within their networks.
Find out more and register here. Attendees can book an interpreter if needed.
What to Expect
This event will provide information and support to migrant and minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland, including refugees and asylum seekers.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers (including one-on-one support) on many topics from a wide range of bodies including:
- Advice NI
- NI Housing Executive
- Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
- Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSP)
- Victim Support
- Migrant Centre NI
- Housing Rights
- Education Authority NI
- Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA)
This event is organised by Consular Corps NI, Advice NI, and NI Housing Executive, supported by Queen's University Belfast Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Directorate.
The Executive Office (Racial Equality Division for TEO) will be in attendance.
The Diversity, Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing team is offering the following drop-in sessions to provide support and resources to staff impacted by the recent protests and disturbances that took place in Belfast and across the UK, offering a listening ear, guidance and information on available support services.
- Wednesday 6 November, 10.00am to 11.30am, MBC 01/406
- Wednesday 20 November, 10.00am to 11.30am, DKB 02/525
Colleagues are invited to join in a safe and confidential space to discuss your experiences and receive the support you need.
The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status called an eVisa. As part of the move to eVisas, anyone who uses a physical immigration document and who does not already have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account will need to:
- take action; and
- create an account at www.gov.uk/evisa.*
International staff and their family members who need to create an eVisa account should do this as soon as possible, so that there is time to resolve any issues should they be encountered.
* These include individuals with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) or legacy paper documents such as a passport containing an ink-stamp or visa vignette sticker. Individuals who currently prove their immigration status with one of these documents, need to visit www.gov.uk/evisa to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. This move to eVisas does not impact any individuals’ underlying immigration status.
Important note
If you do not create a UKVI eVisa account, you will have no way of proving your lawful right to be in the UK after 31 December 2024. You need evidence of this for a wide range of activities, including:
- travelling into the UK;
- carrying out a right to work check;
- opening a bank account;
- accessing state benefits (if this is permitted on your visa);
- registration with a GP;
- obtaining a driving license.
Creating, accessing and using a UKVI account
Creating a UKVI account is free. Videos explaining the process are available here on GOV.UK.
Once accessed, eVisas can be used to generate a share code to prove immigration status and associated rights such as the right to work and the right to rent using the view and prove service at www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.
More information and support
Further information, support and guidance is available at www.gov.uk/evisa.
The International Staff Support team are available to provide support and assistance at: internationalstaff@qub.ac.uk.
This year’s Performance Awards scheme opens for nominations today (28 October 2024).
These monetary awards recognise and reward exceptional individual and team contributions from the past academic year (1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024) and are based on manager nominations informed by the annual PDR and ongoing performance.
Nominations will close on 29 November 2024, with awards given in early 2025.
Plans for a revised approach to the Performance Awards scheme
After careful consideration, the decision has been made not to proceed with the Annual Performance Awards Scheme next year (2024-25). A revised approach is currently being developed, in collaboration with the trade union representatives, as a component of the Workforce Planning priority strand of Operational Excellence.
Our aim is to develop a scheme that better supports individual, team, and institutional success.
Queen's University's Annual Sustainability Lecture 2024 takes place in person on Tuesday 12 November from 5.30pm to 7.00pm in the Great Hall, Lanyon Building. This year's lecture, titled 'Sustainability at the Crossroads', will be delivered by globally recognised sustainable finance expert Desiree Fixler.
Find out more and register here.
In this lecture Desiree Fixler will touch on her personal journey into sustainable finance, and the issues of greenwashing and whistleblowing, whilst also highlighting the importance of accountability, transparency and impact when addressing Environment, Social, Governance (ESG).
Applications to Queen’s Green Fund are now open, and the Sustainability Team invite staff to share their green ideas via the application form.
The deadline for completed applications is Friday 8 November at 5.00pm.
More information, including Green Fund terms and conditions, guidelines and the application process, can be found on the Green Fund website.
The Queen’s Green Fund empowers staff and students to create and deliver projects within their area that benefit the environment, Queen’s and our local community.
A brand new funding limit of up to £2,000 is available for each team that provides the best proposals.
Childcare Services still have limited availability for full daycare and also in their Out of School Club for Academic Year 2024-2025. The Out of School Club is available for children attending Primary School (Primary 1 to Primary 7) and operates between 2.00pm and 5.45pm, hosting a maximum of 18 children from various local schools. Childcare Services is conveniently situated on campus at 11 College Gardens, Belfast.
Places fill up quickly so please contact childcareservices@qub.ac.uk to register your interest.
All staff are invited to the Great Hall Annual Christmas Lunch 2024 on Tuesday 17 December.
Download the Christmas Lunch menu here.*
Contact the Great Hall at hospitality@qub.ac.uk to book and for more details. Please note all payments must be made at least two weeks in advance of the event.
Staff are welcome to join a group of colleagues or bring in family and friends to celebrate.
* Lunch is £35.00 person and includes a glass of mulled wine on arrival and will be served from 12.30pm. Following feedback from previous years the main course will be served buffet style with starters and desserts served to guests at their tables.
Entertainment will be provided by Queen’s music graduate Finbarr Keaveney, who will be singing Christmas classics, swing and music from shows and movies.
Term Two of Queen's Sport's Autumn Course Programme is now open for enrolment. All staff are welcome to register.
Find out more and book via Queen's Sport.
Monster Mash-Up returns to Queen's Sport on Friday 1 November from 7.00am to 7.45am. This is a high-energy, fun-filled workout combining Spin, Core, Kettlebells, and more.
Monster Mash-Up is open to members and non-members who are welcome to bring a friend or family member along. Prizes will be available for all those in fancy dress.
- Queen's Sport members can book on the app
- Non members can book here
Tea, coffee and treats will be provided.
An information session to update staff on the revised Support to Participate Fully in Studies and/or University Life Procedure (formerly 'Support to Continue in Study') will take place on Thursday 7 November from 2.00pm to 3.30pm, online via MS Teams.
This session will be particularly valuable for Advisors of Studies, Personal Tutors, Student Support Officers, and other school-based staff involved in student support. There will also be a Q&A section to address any questions about the procedure and toolkit.
For further information please contact Angela Murphy (Wellbeing Assessment Manager, Student Wellbeing and Accessible Learning) at Angela.Murphy@qub.ac.uk.
About the revised procedure
The revised Support to Participate Fully in Studies and/or University Life Procedure focuses on students' ability to fully engage in their academic studies and University life, particularly in cases where health, wellbeing, or behaviour impact their own or others' experiences. The recent updates aim to ensure that students receive early support, reducing escalation to higher intervention levels. A new toolkit has also been developed to help staff navigate the process.
A range of social change organisations will be in the Mandela Hall on Wednesday 6 November from 1.00pm to 3.30pm to talk about their exciting volunteering opportunities. Staff and students are welcome to attend. Staff members are also encouraged to promote this event amongst their students.
Book your free place on the Students’ Union website.
This event will provide attendees with the opportunity to take part in activities like crafting, micro-volunteering and mindfulness to de-stress and boost their mood. The fair will also include prize draws and a free lunch.
Queen's Postdoc Society has organised a wellbeing walk for postdocs and research staff in Botanic Gardens on Thursday 31 October from 12.00pm to 1.00pm, meeting outside the main entrance of the Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens.
Find out more and register here if you plan to attend.
This event aims to provide a supportive opportunity for postdocs and research staff to socialise with peers and prioritise their wellbeing when working on research activities.
Attendees are welcome to invite their friends, family or children to join. Any attendee who brings their children must be responsible for their safety during the walk. In case of inclement weather, each attendee is expected to dress appropriately.
Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):
- Dr Michele Crepaz: Does negative election campaigning work in Ireland?
- Dr Michele Crepaz, Dr Ben Worthy: How damaging is ‘giftgate’?
- Dr Ali FitzGibbon: “Care-full” cities: a vision for culture and human connection
To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.
The Conversation is a news website featuring articles by academics, often republished to global media outlets. Articles by Queen's academics published in The Conversation have been read by 12.5 million people internationally. Read the latest:
- There's a crisis in special educational needs provision: here's the situation across the UK and Ireland, by Prof Noel Purdy (Stranmillis University College), Dr Cathryn Knight (University of Bristol), Dr Joanne Banks (Trinity College Dublin):
- Many important 20th-century philosophers investigated ghosts – here's how they explained them, by Dr Matyáš Moravec
- AI is just one of the thorny issues facing photography – here's how the industry can prioritise ethics, by Dr Savannah Dodd
Queen's Staff Blog provides a space for staff to share our reflections, knowledge and experiences and build a connected University community. Our latest blog highlights the newly branded Accessible Learning Support service (formerly Disability Services) at Queen's:
- BLOG: A New Chapter for Student Support at Queen’s: Welcome to Accessible Learning Support. Will Plunkett, Disability Services Manager, Accessible Learning Support, outlines the reasoning for and positive steps made in rebranding to Accessible Learning Support.
If you are interested in writing a staff blog piece, please contact internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk.
For Black History Month at Queen's 2024, the University's Special Collections department has published a special guest blog in conjunction with an exhibition.
- Read the blog: 'Commemorating Black Histories: Reflections on discovery within Queen's University Belfast Library, Special Collections and Archives by members of the African Scholars Research Network', Guest blog by Dr Gift Sotonye-Frank and Prof Dina Zoe Belluigi.
- Visit the exhibition in the McClay Library, Ground Floor.
This blog and exhibition are available throughout October.
Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff News and Community Gateway:
- Queen’s to strengthen role in global policymaking with new research centre
- Queen’s Finance Directorate launches new Financial Operating Framework
- Celebrating Success: 212 Staff Members Progress in 2024 Academic Progression
- New outcomes agreement between Queen’s and Department for Economy seeks to improve education impact
- Ten graduates secure Grade 3 roles at Queen's through Administration Academy
- New senior appointment: Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Record-breaking year for Queen’s as research results reach an all-time high
- Queen’s Professor appointed to Ireland’s Health Research Board
- Queen's and Ulster University launch Collaborative Research Culture Initiative in Northern Ireland
- Lord Mayor and Infrastructure Minister get wheels turning on all-inclusive cycle parking facilities
- New senior appointment: General Counsel and Director of Legal Services
The Strategic Communications Directorate is hosting an online training session with The Conversation UK on Thursday 21 November from 10.30am to 12.30pm for academics and researchers in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
During this training session the editor will discuss The Conversation’s unique, collaborative editorial process, give tips on style, tone and structure (with examples), look at how to pitch (with examples) and look at different approaches and article types. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss their research with the editor and pitch potential story ideas.
* There are a limited number of places for this session. Colleagues who sign up and then are no longer able to attend are asked to please cancel their registration so that their place can be re-allocated to to the waiting list.
For more information on the AHSS session, please email Zara McBrearty in Queen's Strategic Communications Office: z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk.
About The Conversation
The Conversation is a news analysis and opinion website with content written by academics working with professional journalists. It is an open access, independent media charity funded by more than 80 UK and European universities.
The John Bell Day Lecture 2024 will take place on Monday 4 November from 3.00pm to 4.05pm online via Zoom.
This year’s event is entitled ‘From Bell non-locality to Quantum Communications & back to Network non-locality' and will be delivered by guest speaker Professor Nicolas Gisin, University of Geneva. There is the opportunity to submit a question in advance or throughout the event.
Find out more and register here.*
* Please note the Zoom link will be present on your confirmation email and ticket and we will be circulated again the day before the event.
This event is organised in association with the School of Mathematics and Physics and the Chief Executives' Club at Queen’s University Belfast.
The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute's Barcroft Lecture 2024 will take place on Wednesday 20 November at 3.00pm in MBC Lecture Theatre 1.*
This year’s medal recipient and guest speaker is Professor Botond Roska (Institute for Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), and Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Switzerland). Professor Roska will deliver a lecture entitled 'Restoring vision with optogenetics therapy'.
A reception will follow this event. All are welcome to attend.
* This meeting is in-person, however, a link for Teams can be obtained by emailing Deborah Mitchell d.mitchell@qub.ac.uk.
About the guest speaker
Professor Roska is founding Director and Senior Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and at the Faculty of Science at the University of Basel, Switzerland. He earned his MD in 1995 at the Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, and his PhD from the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002.
Roska's laboratory aims to find ways to repair visual dysfunction by investigating the function of the retina, thalamus, and cortex at the level of cell types and circuits, and using this knowledge to understand disease mechanisms and to develop treatments. Roska's work has led to robust technology for cell-type targeted gene therapy and vision restoration in retinas. In a breakthrough study published in Nature Medicine in May 2021, Roska and colleagues reported the first blind patient who partially regained vision. They demonstrated the feasibility of partial vision restoration using optogenetic therapy and engineered goggles. His experimental approach is interdisciplinary, combining physiological, molecular, viral and computational approaches to reveal the structure and function of retinal circuits.
The Barcroft Lecture
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.
The Mitchell Institute invites staff to the following events. More information and registration can be found at the links below:
- Information Session: The Leverhulme Interdisciplinary Network on Algorithmic Solutions (LINAS) Doctoral Training Programme, 30 October, 1.00pm, online via MS Teams
- Research Workshop: The Legality and Limits of the Anti-Amnesty Norm, Tuesday 5 November, 1.00pm to 2.30pm, Mitchell Institute Fellows’ Room, 18 University Square
- Seminar: LINAS Seminar Series, Wednesday 13 November, 3.00pm to 4.00pm, Room 02/011, Peter Froggatt Centre
- Lecture: Anti-Imperial Epistemic Justice and Rights Politics in Most of the World, Wednesday 20 November, 5.00pm to 6.30pm, Canada Room and Council Chamber
The QUB Human Rights Centre invites staff to the next event in its Seminar Series, "Shooting Crows: Mass Murder, State Collusion and Press Freedom", presented by author, producer and director Trevor Birney. This event takes place on Wednesday 30 October at 4.30pm in The Moot Court (MST.02.006), School of Law, Main Site Tower. All are welcome.
Find out more and register here.
The 2024 Fraser Symposium will take place on Thursday 7 November from 9.00am in the Basement Seminar Room, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine (WWIEM). This event will feature talks from renowned international speakers working in infection biology and showcase the ongoing research at WWIEM, with internal talks and posters from students and postdocs. All are welcome. Catering will be provided (morning coffee, sandwich lunch, afternoon coffee).
- Register as a member of the audience (for catering purposes)
- Register to present a poster over lunch (no abstract necessary)
- View the symposium programme
For enquiries, please contact Dr Andrea Puhar: a.puhar@qub.ac.uk
Guest speakers
Professor Andreas J Bäumler is a Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, California. He is one of the leading researchers in the field of Salmonella infections, with focus on the molecular mechanisms of Salmonella interaction with the intestinal mucosa and the gut microbiota. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Prof Bäumler has received numerous prizes, including the Tissier's Medal from the Japan Bifidus Foundation and the Robert Koch Award.
Associate Professor Santiago Castillo Ramirez is a researcher at the Centre for Genomic Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Campus Morelos, Mexico. His work aims at understanding the phylogeography, genomic epidemiology, and microevolution of the highly antibiotic-resistant nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Prof Castillo Ramirez performs editorial activities in several journals of the American Association for Microbiology (ASM), the Microbiology Society, the Royal Society, and PLoS.
Professor Dr Bärbel Stecher is a W2-Professor at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany. She uses minimal bacterial consortia and gnotobiotic mouse models to study how inflammation, antibiotics, or phages shape the gut microbiota as well as the course of infections with Gram-negative enteric pathogens. Prof Stecher holds an ERC Consolidator Grant. She coordinates the special research area of the German Research Foundation (DFG) "Microbiome Signatures" and the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) area "Gastrointestinal Infections".
Staff, students and members of the public are invited to the Precision Medicine Centre's open, public event on AI in cancer diagnostics, with patients, researchers, families and clinical practitioners, on Thursday 21 November from 5.00m to 7.00pm in Riddel Hall.
This year’s Autumn All-Ireland RNA Club meeting, including an early-career-oriented meeting, will be held on Friday 6 December in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine. Everyone interested in RNA Biology and based in Northern Ireland/Ireland is welcome to attend.
This is a free event. Please register here.
Staff are invited to share these details with their departments, as well as institutions and collaborators who are not yet part of the club.
A one-day Writing Retreat for Postdocs and Research Staff will take place on Monday 4 November from 9.30am to 4.30pm in the Boardroom, Biological Sciences Building.
There is a limit of 15 spaces available.
Find out more and register here.
For postdocs and research staff, finding the time to write a research article, book or funding bid can be difficult. This event, organised by the Postdoc Society, will provide attendees with the space to focus on a piece of writing, working with a facilitator and the support of their peers.
FameLab is a competition which encourages and enables science-related researchers to communicate their work to the public in an engaging and exciting way. Staff interested in applying can find out more and apply here.
A Science Communication training session for those interested in applying will be hosted in the Great Hall on Thursday 30 January 2025 at 9.30am.
For more information, please contact d.rogers@qub.ac.uk.
Applications to take part in FameLab UK opened on 1 October. The regional winner from NI will go on to compete at a FameLab UK Final, hosted live at Cheltenham Science Festival. The live FameLab NI Final will be on Tuesday 18 February in the Black Box in Belfast.
The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (FMHLS) Faculty Engagement team is delighted to support the NI Science Festival as the NI National Hub for FameLab UK.
A training workshop for researchers in Policy Engagement will take place on Thursday 30 January 2025 from 1.00pm to 4.00pm in the People and Culture Training Room (behind Junction cafe, Main Site Tower).
This workshop will be facilitated by award-winning facilitator Dr Jamie Gallagher and Queen’s Public Affairs Manager Dr Matthew Jackson.
Through this interactive workshop, you will explore the legislative process and how you can work to influence both policy and policy makers. You will discover how to engage with the parliamentary processes from contributing to a committee meeting to preparing briefing notes for MPs.
Please contact d.rogers@qub.ac.uk with any queries.
Queen's Proof of Principle (PoP) funding programme is now open for applications from projects with significant potential to deliver economic impact via either licensing or creation of a spin-out. This is an open call across all Queen's faculties, but for this call Research and Enterprise are looking for projects falling under the themes 'Digital Technologies' and 'Net Zero & Circular Economy Technologies'.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 6 November at 5.00pm.
One of the key challenges in commercialising University research is access to the early stage funding necessary to take a novel idea to an early stage of proof – thereby validating the commercial potential in order to attract additional investment. To overcome this funding challenge, the University has developed a ‘Proof-of-Principle’ (PoP) programme to support projects with significant potential to deliver economic impact via either licensing or creation of a spin-out.
The award of up to £12,500 is intended to move the projects to the next stage of proof.
Staff are invited to view the latest edition of the new Research and Innovation Newsletter.
This newsletter provides the entire research community at Queen’s with information on the latest news, announcements and events related to their researcher journey and on Research and Innovation activities at Queen’s.
In this month’s edition:
- R&I Strand of Strategy 2030 – Progress Report
- Queen’s and Ulster Launch Research Culture NI
- Queen's Hosts EPSRC and UKRI: Showcasing Northern Ireland's Innovation and Collaborative Power
- QUBIS turns 40: Reflections and FUTURE Vision with CEO Brian McCaul
- Leading Researcher Programme – Ideas Summit 31ST Oct 2024
Read this week's summary of funding opportunities and news from the Research Development team.
Details of ongoing works being carried out across the University campus can be found on the Estates Directorate webpage.
This week’s new and returning films at Queen's Film Theatre, your cinema on campus.
SHOWING THIS WEEK:
- The Apprentice
- The Room Next Door
- After the Credits: Film Discussion Group
- Endurance
- Art of Action: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
- Art of Action: The General
- LUMI Presents: Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Belfast Film Festival
- Small Things Like These
- Anora
Staff tickets are priced at £6.50 (standard ticket price £8.90). If you are 26 and under join LUMI to get tickets for £5.00 everyday, all year round.
The Naughton Gallery is delighted to present 'Joyful Resistance', the first UK and Ireland solo exhibition by American cartoonist Bianca Xunise.
Open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm, admission is free, and all are welcome. This exhibition continues until Sunday 1 December.
About JOYFUL RESISTANCE
What does it mean to be punk and how has it played a role in the transformative and restorative justice across the globe? In this bold and innovative new body of work, Xunise explores the thread that weaves together punk rock, DIY, and community change, inviting visitors on a thrilling journey through the intersecting realms of politics, activism, and music. With haunting parallels of resistance from Belfast to Chicago, Xunise utilises humour and illustration to advocate for the beauty of the underground – where grassroots resistance can be a catalyst for global revolution.
The Reboot Café at 92 Lisburn Road, opened by Queen's in summer 2024, is now serving a new £5 lunch menu, for anyone looking for a quick bite for lunch or wanting to indulge in a gaming session.
Lunch options include Smash Burgers, paninis, pizza, and loaded fries, with the option to add fries for just £1.50.
Find out more about Reboot here.
The Finance Directorate has launched its 24/25 Finance Training Programme, designed to enhance financial skills across the institution. This comprehensive programme is available to all university staff, offering a valuable opportunity to build and strengthen financial knowledge and expertise.
Find out more and explore the range of courses offered on the Finance website.
The informative training programme provides a hybrid learning experience, combining both in-person and online sessions, to ensure flexibility and accessibility for all participants.
The following new training events, offered to Postgraduate Research students and Postdoc researchers (early career researchers and staff), will take place in-person on Thursday 31 October in the Auditorium, McClay Library. These events are only being offered once in semester two. Places are limited. Early booking is advised.
- Finding research archives (AHSS), 11.00am to 12.00pm.
PGR students register here. Postdoc researchers register here. - Finding research data (STEM). Where to go?, 2.00pm to 3.00pm.
PGR students register here. Postdoc researchers register here.
Finding research archives (AHSS)
This training is for all PGR and Post-doc researchers who would like to develop their understanding of how to be able to find research data/archives in the AHSS research area.
Finding research data (STEM)
This training is for all PGR and Post-doc researchers who would like to develop their understanding of how to be able to find research data in the STEM research area (Faculties of MHLS and/or EPS).
The following dates are available for PDR workshops for staff. These workshops are designed to develop skills for PDR conversations. Booking is via the iTrent links provided:
- PDR: Skills for Reviewees, Tuesday 26 November, 9.30am to 1.00pm, Main Site Tower (0G/010)
- PDR: Skills for Reviewers, Wednesday 27 November, 9.30am to 1.00pm, Main Site Tower (0G/010)
Information and support regarding PDR can be found here.
Please contact stafflearning@qub.ac.uk if you have any difficulty booking a place.
The Safety Training programme for this academic year is available on the University Safety Service Training webpage. The full range of courses can be booked via iTrent Employee Self-Service.
Please feel free to contact the University Safety Service at safety@qub.ac.uk should you have any queries or training requirements.
Available training sessions for the remainder of October, November and December are as follows. All sessions are in person.
Training course | Date | Time | Safety Officer |
---|---|---|---|
Accident-Investigation Training | 30 October | 9.30am to 11.00am | Julie McConkey |
AED - Defibrillator Training | 30 October | 11.00am to 12.00pm | David Norwood |
Health and Safety Coordinator Training | 5 November | 9.30am to 12.00pm | Julie McConkey |
Health and Safety Induction Training | 5 November | 9.30am to 10.30am | Lindsey Smith |
Laboratory Chemical Safety | 13 November | 10.00am to 12.00pm | Dean Cross |
Noise Awareness for Line Managers | 14 November | 10.00am to 12.00pm | Jo McDonagh |
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) | 19 November | 10.00am to 12.30pm | Andrew McGookin |
Safety in Student Placement | 19 November | 9.30am to 11.30am | Julie McConkey |
Manual Handling | 28 November | 10.00am to 12.30pm | Jo McDonagh |
Health and Safety Induction Training | 04 December | 9.30am to 10.30am | Lindsey Smith |
DSE Assessors Training | 10 December | 9.30am to 12.00pm | Julie McConkey |
AED Defibrillator Training | 11 December | 11.00am to 12.00pm | David Norwood |
Event Safety Training | 13 December | 10.00am to 3.00pm | Jo McDonagh |
The Centre of Educational Development will run a half-day workshop on Friday 10 January 2025, from 9.15am to 2.30pm, in person (room TBC). This workshop will focus on equipping attendees with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support and guide our students.
Register via iTrent self service.
More information
Through interactive sessions and collaborative discussions, you will gain valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your advising practice. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow advisors, share experiences, and learn from experts in the field, enabling the creation of a supportive network that fosters student success and enriches our academic community.
The following learning programmes are now open for application. Full information and registration can be found via the iTrent links below.
- Developing Leadership in Educational Practice – 25 October 2024 to 7 May 2025, in-person and online
- Associate Fellowship HEA (AFHEA) claim – 18 to 22 November, 10.00am to 11.00am, online
Developing Leadership in Educational Practice is a programme of study 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. It is intended that you will transfer new-found knowledge to adapt or change the way you work to improve the student experience. You may join this programme whether you are from a professional service or academic role. Those in leadership roles in the Students’ Union would also be eligible for this programme.
HEA Fellowship claims are online programmes where participants will complete their claim for Fellowship/Associate Fellowship/Senior Fellowship HEA.
The latest updates on AI at Queen's. Contact the 2030 Digital Education Team at AI-Hub@qub.ac.uk with any questions.
Get AI-Ready: Essential Resources for the New Academic Year
Keep up-to-date by taking a moment to familiarise yourself with Queen’s position on AI. Queen's AI Hub provides valuable guidance and tutorials tailored for both staff and students on the effective use of generative AI.
Key resources include the newly released Trailblazers Guide: AI as Your Partner, along with self-paced, step-by-step tutorials to help you get started with AI.
Additionally, use the AI Assessment Self-Help Guide to evaluate how AI may influence your assessments, and discover much more to support your journey into AI.
Student Perspectives on AI
As students increasingly turn to AI to enhance their learning and research, it is crucial to establish a shared understanding of its appropriate use in education. Below is a selection of student insights on how AI is transforming their approach to learning and shaping their futures:
Student Blogs:
- A Slice of Gen AI: Student Perspectives @ QUB
- Embracing Artificial Intelligence in my Law and Technology Assignment
- Top 10 AI Tools to Work Smarter
Podcasts:
GPT-4o Release
OpenAI has recently announced the release of GPT-4o. This advanced model accepts as input any combination of text, audio, image, and video, and generates outputs in text, audio, and images. It's much faster and responds to questions at human-like speeds. OpenAI has also provided a series of demo videos to showcase these capabilities. These advancements are available for ChatGPT users with a free account. Discover how you can access GPT-4o and get started with ChatGPT by watching our Quick Start Video.
Advance HE has opened this year’s National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), with a submission deadline of 5 March 2025 for both Schemes.
To apply to go forward as a Queen's nominee to either scheme in 2025, colleagues are invited to submit an expression of interest by email to Liz McDowell (e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk), per the procedure below, by Monday 9 December 2024.
To register your interest
Staff submitting an expression of interest should include detailed bullet points indicating how they would meet the criteria outlined in the Award guidelines. These should be sufficiently detailed and include information on the type of evidence you have to support your claims, to allow the internal selection panel to make an informed decision.
About the NTFS and CATE
The NTFS recognises, rewards and celebrates individuals working in UK higher education who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.
In 2025, the University can nominate up to three individual members of staff who teach and/or support learning in higher education. The NTFS 2025 Guidance document provides details about the Scheme and the criteria.
The CATE recognises and celebrates collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. The Scheme highlights the key role that teamwork plays in higher education. Each award will recognise a team which has enabled a change in practice for colleagues and/or students at an institutional or discipline level.
The University can nominate one team that can clearly demonstrate its impact on teaching and learning through collaboration. The CATE 2025 Guidance provides details about the Scheme and the criteria.
More information
Further information is available on the CED website. Queries can be directed to e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk.
An online session outlining the key criteria for making a successful claim to the NTF/CATE schemes will be held on Friday 1 November at 2.00pm. This session will be led by Dr Rachel Scudamore, PFHEA.
For more information and to register, please email Liz McDowell: e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk.
More information
Dr Rachel Scudamore, Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University, is an independent HE consultant who has experience in reviewing NTF and CATE submissions, and in tutoring successful candidates in identifying and evidencing their achievements to demonstrate how their work aligns with the criteria.
Dr Scudamore will outline the key criteria for making successful claims to the NTFS and CATE. The session will help participants to identify which of their achievements are relevant to the schemes, and explore how they might evidence the reach of their work, its benefits to students and/or colleagues, and the transformative impact that is expected of nominees.
Participants will examine the types of evidence the Advance HE reviewers will expect to see, to help prepare for the initial submission to the University for consideration, or future years' nominations.
This is a one hour briefing, with additional time for those who wish to stay to examine sample extracts and their own work in more depth.
There will also be contributions from Dr Emma McKenna, Science Shop, and Dr Paul Hamilton, Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, who each achieved a National Teaching Fellowship in 2024. Dr McKenna was also part of The Queen’s University Science Shop team, which won a CATE in 2023.
Further details about both the NTFS and CATE Schemes, as well as information on applying to be an institutional nominee is provided on the CED website.
New Training Video Catalogue
A new Canvas training video catalogue has been created for staff to access on a self-service basis. Whether you need a refresher or want to learn something new, explore our range of short, on-demand training videos covering Canvas Fundamentals, assignment setup, Turnitin, and more. View the Training Catalogue here.
One-to-one Consultations
Book a 30-minute virtual session with a Digital Learning Developer from your Faculty, School or VLE Pedagogy Support Team (subject to availability).
To find out more about using Panopto in Queen's teaching spaces, staff are invited to register via iTrent for Panopto – Using in QUB Teaching Spaces, held on Wednesday 30 October from 10.00am to 11.00am.
Panopto – An Introduction
Panopto is a video content management system that will underpin the University’s lecture capture programmes, as well as complement the multimedia approach to supporting learning and teaching. It integrates seamlessly with Canvas VLE and aligns with the University's Microsoft authentication credentials for intuitive access. Panopto supports multi-feed video through its proprietary media player, as well as being able to host a multitude of file extension types, including audio-only content (for interviews, podcasts, etc.). The platform provides capabilities to record, upload, edit and livestream video content all in the one place.
More training
The IT Training Unit's full programme of courses is available to book on iTrent. Additional training materials can be found on the IT Training Unit SharePoint site.
If your School or Directorate requires IT training for staff, geared towards a specific area or set of tasks, email itcourses@qub.ac.uk and the team will arrange a consultation.
To submit an item for Round Up, please email details to roundup@qub.ac.uk by 1.00pm on the Thursday before the Monday edition in which they are to appear.