Queen’s University Belfast's 2023-24 Annual Report reflects the University’s success in continuing our work towards our Strategy 2030 ambitions, including expanding global partnerships, driving innovation, and contributing significantly to Northern Ireland’s social and economic development. 

The report includes a number of key highlights celebrating a year of transformative achievements in education, research, and civic engagement.  

Read the 2023-24 Annual Report.  

A video message to staff and students from President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer as we approach the holiday period. 

A transcript is available here. 

Staff can now send Queen's University Belfast electronic greeting cards.

To create a card for colleagues and friends, both within Queen's and outside the University, visit the Christmas Card intranet site here.

The Staff Wellbeing Physical Activity Winter Programme returns on 13 January 2025!

The Programme has an exciting line-up of activities designed to keep staff active, healthy, and energised during the winter months, suitable for all fitness levels. 

Click here to book and make a payment.

The University is currently advertising the following positions internally:

• 24/112315 – Outreach Assistant, Step Up, Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
• 24/112329 – Research Fellow, Wave Power, School of Natural and Built Environment

Staff can view internal and external vacancies through iTrent Employee Self-Service.

Please note that this is the last Staff Round Up edition of Semester 1. 

The Round Up will resume on Monday 13 January 2024.

Staff are invited to audition for the chance to showcase their unique talents at the 2023-24 Staff Excellence Awards, which celebrate the exceptional achievements and contributions of Queen's staff throughout the academic year. Selected performers will have the chance to share their talents with colleagues and the wider campus community at the awards ceremony.

Whether you’re a singer, musician, comedian or have another special skill to share, staff are encouraged to audition for Queen’s Got Talent. 

Queen’s has officially been globally recognised for its commitment to climate action, climbing to the top 4% of universities worldwide in the esteemed QS Sustainability Rankings 2025.

As the end of Semester 1 approaches, international students and international staff who currently hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) staff are reminded to follow the important immigration advice below to avoid problems during your travels or when you return to the UK. 

All staff at Queen's can avail of our Staff Discounts Scheme, which offers you discounts at hundreds of outlets – including supermarkets, high street stores and restaurants, as well as vouchers, reloadable top-up cards and access to discounts specifically for Queen’s staff.

Find out more about the Staff Discounts Scheme.

The Sustainability Team is pleased to announce that Cyclescheme will host the following live events, open to the public, on Thursdays from 11.30am on January 2025:

• 16 January 2025
• 30 January 2025

To register,* navigate to 'Join a Cyclescheme Webinar' on the Cyclescheme Webinars webpage and select your preferred date (the registration link is the same for each event).

Queen's is partnered with Cyclescheme to offer our staff savings on the cost of a bike and equipment for commuting to work.

The costs are spread over monthly instalments taken from your payslip pre-tax. The scheme can save you between 32% – 42% on the cost of a bike and accessories. Cycling to work enables you to save on fuel costs while travelling sustainably.

Find out more.

Our on-campus Bike Hub in partnership with Freedom Cycles offers convenient bike sales, servicing and repairs to staff, students and the general public.

*Please note that the Turnitin LTI 1.1 integration will be disabled on Friday, 20 December 2024. After this date, staff and students will no longer be able to use this integration for assignments in Canvas. However, similarity reports will still be accessible via the Turnitin website.

At Queen's, we recognise the importance of making people feel welcome and supported to breastfeed wherever they go.

The University is a member of the Public Health Agency's 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' scheme, supporting breastfeeding staff, students and visitors to campus. Provision includes nursing mothers and parents' rooms and the University creche.

Find out more.

Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):

• Prof Mark Lawler: Delivering solutions to the cancer crisis – acting on the evidence
• Dr Jonny Hanson: Home sweet home: achieving a Just Transition in Northern Ireland 
  

Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff News and Community Gateway:

• Queen’s ranked in the top 4% worldwide for Sustainability in esteemed QS Sustainability Rankings 
• Research explores path to a Just Transition for Northern Ireland 
• Midwifery graduate honours late mother’s memory with academic success
• Graduate creates first of its kind ulcer prevention resource for people with learning disabilities 

Winter Graduation 2024 took place from Monday 9 December to Friday 13 December.

The ceremonies, set in the Whitla Hall and followed by celebrations in the beautiful and historic Quadrangle of the Lanyon Building, required the support of a large number of colleagues working together across all Schools and Directorates, and are an important demonstration of how much we care about our students.

View Winter Graduation 2024 in Pictures.

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 and make a real difference for all who work here.

• Profile: Research and Enterprise Directorate: Kevin Fearon

The Mitchell Institute invites staff to the following events. More information and registration can be found at the links below:

The Postdoctoral Development Centre will be holding an information session for postdocs and research staff to learn about Queen’s Institutional Responsible Research Assessment Policy on Tuesday 21 January from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm.

Find out more and register here. 

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: 

• Christmas 2024
• Conclave 

The Reboot Café, located at 92 Lisburn Road and opened by Queen's in summer 2024, has officially launched its Christmas menu!

Get into the festive spirit with Christmas lunch options like paninis, loaded fries, pizza, and delicious desserts—all starting from just £6.

• QMA Reaccreditation: Queen’s University’s Fellowship Scheme, the QMA, has been awarded reaccreditation from Advance HE, effective from January 2025. The updated scheme will offer the opportunity to apply for Principal Fellow, in addition to the existing categories of Associate Fellow, Fellow, and Senior Fellow. Further details will be shared soon.
  
  
• Advisor of Studies Workshop: Staff are invited to take part in an engaging half-day workshop on Friday 10 January, from 9.15am to 2.30pm.

Academic staff are invited to take part in a blended learning course, designed to support the integration of entrepreneurial education. 

This course helps staff meet the requirements of the QAA and professional accrediting bodies by supporting the integration of entrepreneurial education into teaching. Modules that involve students generating ideas to solve problems can benefit from adopting this approach.

As the Semester 1 assessment period approaches, staff are encouraged to follow best practices for setting up assessments on Canvas. 

Start by watching our short, step-by-step videos and consult the Canvas Assignment Setup Checklist to ensure a smooth experience for both you and your students. For detailed guidance on creating clear and effective assignment instructions, check out Providing Clear Assignment Guidance on Queen’s DigiHub.  

ONLINE COURSE: ‘AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching’  

Want to incorporate more AI into your teaching practices? This self-paced course by Ethan Mollick explores key AI concepts and strategies for integrating AI in teaching and assessment. 

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 January are as follows. All sessions are in person.