![close-up image of a flower growing out of a fenced garden on University Square, beside Queen's University Belfast](/sites/media/Media,1920839,smxx.jpg)
24 June 2024
A video message from President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer to the Queen's University Belfast community, including the announcement of the appointment of the new Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Miles.
![young male volunteer canvassing or surveying a man on his front doorstep](/sites/media/canvassing.jpg)
With a General Election coming up, there will be opportunities to address the issue of investment in Higher Education with candidates vying to become your next MP.
With this in mind the Public Engagement Office has produced a handy infographic summarising key messages.
- Staff can save the attached images (in landscape and portrait options below);
- or follow this link and download a portrait version to your phone.
If a canvasser calls, you can use the infographic to ask them what their party plans to do to retain talented young people and open up opportunities for students from all walks of life.
!['We are a Living Wage employer' logo](/sites/media/living-wage-employer-logo-no-background-800-533.png)
Queen's University Belfast has become an accredited Living Wage Employer, receiving Living Wage Employer accreditation on Thursday 20 June at the launch of Advice NI’s Living Wage NI initiative in Parliament Buildings.
Queen’s has already been paying its employees the Real Living Wage since 2022, and the recent accreditation officially recognises the University’s commitment to ensure employees and any regularly contracted workers are paid the living wage hourly rate.
The Living Wage accreditation is one of a number of initiatives the University has undertaken during the Cost of Living Crisis to support and invest in their people.
![aerial view of top of Lanyon Building with shadow cast onto front lawns](/sites/media/Media,1034477,smxx.jpg)
Graduation Week 2024 takes place from Thursday 27 June – Thursday 4 July.
Please expect delays when leaving the Main Site car Park from after 4.00pm on Graduation days and plan accordingly.
We ask for your cooperation and understanding as members of our Security Team work to facilitate and support the safe movement of vehicles and people through our site in the context large numbers of guests between ceremonies.
![Lanyon July2018 front view](/sites/media/Media,828294,en.jpg)
The University is currently advertising for the following positions internally:
- 24/112036 – Employer Engagement Consultant, Education and Student Services
- 24/112038 – Head of Operations and Administration, Central Administration Unit – The Chancellery
Staff can view internal and external vacancies through iTrent Employee Self-Service (via the 'Useful Links' noted under the staff profile 'Utility menu' dropdown).
For career updates, staff can also follow the Recruitment team on Twitter: @QUBWorkHere
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The Summer schedule of Round Up editions begins from today, Monday 24 June. The next edition will therefore be issued on Monday 8 July, followed by:
- Monday 22 July
- Monday 5 August
- Monday 19 August
The Round Up will resume its weekly schedule from Monday 2 September.
![Still E02](/sites/media/Media,636062,en.jpg)
To facilitate the year end process, please note the following arrangements for raising sales invoices to customers for activities carried out prior to 31 July 2024:
Qfis Sales order invoices
- Up to 31 July 2024: All sales orders relating to activities completed prior to 31 July 2024 should be fully approved and posted to QFIS by 4pm on Monday 31 July 2024. Invoices in progress but not fully approved by 31 July 2024, will be posted to the new year.
- 1 August 2024 – 8 August 2024: Sales order function will be available on QFIS but during this period there will be a delay in the email and posting of invoices. Invoices raised during this period will be emailed to initiators and posted to QFIS in the August 2024 period (202401) from 9 August 2024.
- Any sales orders raised from 1 August 2024 relating to activities carried out in the period prior to 31 July 2024 should be clearly identified as relating to financial year 2023-24 using the GL reference field and the invoice text. By exception and where material, manual adjustments will be made by the Accounting Services section of Finance to the 2023-24 accounts.
- Post 9 August 2024: Sales order invoicing will operate as normal. All fully approved sales orders will be posted in financial year 2024-25.
If you have any queries, please contact the Accounting Services section of Finance by emailing sorequests@qub.ac.uk.
![PFC_Peter Froggatt Centre_Administration Building_quadrangle](/sites/media/Media,762674,en.jpg)
July Holiday – 12 and 15 July 2024
Please note the following Accounts Payable arrangements over the July holiday period for paying authorised Supplier Invoices, Request for Payments and Staff Expenses Claims:
- Requests for Payment, and Staff Expenses Claims, received on or before 12.00pm on Thursday 4 July 2024, and Supplier Invoices received before 5.00pm on Wednesday 3 July, and which have been authorised on or before Friday 5 July 2024, will be paid week-ending 12 July 2024.
- Authorised Supplier Invoices, which have been GRNd, Requests for Payment, and Staff Expenses Claims, received on or before 12.00pm on Wednesday 10 July 2024, will be paid week-ending 19 July 2024.
- Authorised Supplier Invoices, which have been GRNd, Requests for Payment, and Staff Expenses Claims, received after 12.00pm on Wednesday 10 July 2024, but before 5.00pm on Friday 12 July will be paid week-ending 26 July 2024.
- Normal payment arrangements will apply for all payment requests received from 15 July 2024.
University Financial Year End – 31 July 2024
It is important that the University's accounts record all the financial activity incurred during the period ended on 31 July 2024.
To ensure that expenditure is recorded correctly, all transactions relating to July 2024 and earlier periods should be sent to the Accounts Payable for payment by the cut-off dates listed below:
- Request for Payments: 9 August 2024
- Staff Expenses: 9 August 2024. All relevant Staff Expenses Claims, including follow-up queries in Workflow, must be authorised and cleared by this date.
- P2P Invoices: It is important that all Goods and Services received prior to the 31 July 2024, relating to P2P orders beginning '58', be GRNd immediately on delivery in order that the related invoices, that are sent directly by suppliers to Accounts Payable, may be matched and processed for payment on receipt.
Further clarification of these arrangements, if required, may be obtained by contacting the Accounts Payable: accounts.payable@qub.ac.uk.
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Staff are invited to join the South Belfast and Mid Down General Election candidates for a Hustings event on Thursday 27 June at 12.30pm in The Cube, One Elmwood. This joint Civic Engagement and Students' Union event is your chance to engage with and question those vying to become the next MP for the University area.
The panel will be hosted by David McCann from Slugger O'Toole, and refreshments will be available.
Places are still available. Please register here: General Election Hustings
![study in n.ireland 800x533](/sites/media/Media,810290,en.jpg)
Pre-election period
The pre-election period (formerly known as purdah) is the period of time between the time an election is announced and the date the election is held when specific restrictions on the activity of civil servants are in place.
While broadly universities are beyond the scope of these restrictions, there are instances where specific care should be taken with regards the use of public resources and the communication activities of public bodies, civil servants, and local government officials. If you have any questions, please get in touch with publicengagement@qub.ac.uk.
Key considerations for staff in Queen’s University Belfast
The University is impartial towards all candidates and political parties. It is important to ensure the University institutionally is acting, and being seen to act, impartially towards all candidates and political parties, and not seen to be influencing the election and its outcomes, whether inadvertently or intentionally.
Queen’s staff are obviously free to undertake political activism in a personal capacity and any activity should not involve the University brand or resources or inadvertently create the impression of Queen’s involvement or endorsement for any party or candidate.
Particular care should be taken over official support, and the use of public or University resources, including publicity, for government announcements that could have a bearing on matters relevant to the elections. The University can institutionally continue to speak and support issues that it has consistently highlighted and that are relevant to the University’s purposes but must do so in an independent and politically neutral way.
Special care should be taken in respect of paid publicity campaigns and to ensure that publicity is not open to the criticism that it is being undertaken for party political purposes.
Care should also be taken in relation to proposed visits. The same approach must be applied to all visit requests from candidates (as opposed to Ministers) to avoid any question of bias and this activity should be coordinated through the Public Engagement team.
Please fill in this form if you would like to invite politicians to your event.
There should also be even-handedness in meeting information requests from the different political parties and campaigning groups.
Remember to be careful and not use official Queen’s social media accounts if posting or sharing information about the General Election in a personal capacity. Please get in touch with publicengagement@qub.ac.uk if you have any questions or would like advice on activities during the General Election period.
![Lanyon building façade with blue sky and cloud, April 2021](/sites/media/lanyon-qub-290421-4-800-533.jpg)
Under Article 55 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (NI) 1998, the University is required to review its employment composition and practices at least once every three years and submit an Article 55 review to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
This was completed in September 2023 by the Diversity, Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing unit and the resulting affirmative action plan has now been approved by University Management Board and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Some of the actions require a University wide approach and therefore we would ask all Faculty/School/Department leads to familiarise yourself with the action plan and discuss with your leadership teams. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Diversity, Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing unit by emailing eqdiv@qub.ac.uk.
![Three Queen's staff (two male and one female) smiling to camera](/sites/media/inclusive-employment-event.jpg)
The Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Unit are holding an informal showcase of Queen's as an inclusive employer and one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland.
'Behind the Scenes at Queen’s' will take place on Thursday 27 June from 10.00am to 1.30pm in Screen 1, Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT). The event aims to demonstrate the variation and extent of working roles available across our campus to those who may not have thought of Queen’s as a potential employer. The event is open to external organisations and individuals.
Staff are encouraged to share this event with anyone they know who may be interested in coming to work at Queen’s in a Professional Support role.
This event will give a platform to the numerous employment opportunities that exist within Queen's professional support, technical and operational services, with speakers discussing a wide variety of roles and positions that exist from clerical/administrative to gardening and hospitality.
![Group of Queen's University Belfast Technicians at the 2024 Technician Showcase](/sites/media/qub-technicians-2024-showcase.jpg)
Technicians in Higher Education provide essential technical expertise, enabling the delivery of cutting-edge research and high-quality education.
Queen's University became one of 36 founding signatories of the Technician Commitment when it was established in 2017. The vision of the Technician Commitment is to create visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability to enhance technical careers.
View this brochure celebrating Queen's seven years as a Technician Commitment signatory.
This initiative helps to further develop our highly skilled technical workforce, essential for meeting the demands of evolving needs across research and teaching in Higher Education.
![Queen's staff and students with banner at Belfast Pride Parade 2023](/sites/media/Media,1971585,smxx-800x533.jpg)
Queen’s is proud to confirm that we will be taking part in the Belfast Pride Parade this year on Saturday 27 July. All Queen’s staff and students, and their friends and families, are welcome to join us as we celebrate LGBTQIA+ people in Belfast and beyond.
There will be light breakfast refreshments, coffee and an opportunity to meet, chat and get ready for the parade on the morning.
Register here to take part in the Queen’s group at Belfast Pride Parade.
Location and time to follow. The parade will leave at 1.00pm sharp and further information on the route and parade can be found on the Belfast Pride Parade website.
All participants will be provided with branded wristbands allocated by the festival and only those with wristbands can participate.
Queen's has a limited number of wristbands, so please only register if you can join the Queen's group.
More information
Belfast Pride Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Belfast and this year the festival will run from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July, with Pride Day and the centrepiece Pride Parade on Saturday 27 July. The Belfast Pride Parade is the main event in the LGBTQIA+ calendar, a major city event and the biggest cross community parade in Belfast.
![graphic promoting QUB Pride Picnic, showing the Lanyon Building with a rainbow background and a celebrating crowd at the front waving rainbow flags](/sites/media/Media,1438085,smxx.jpg)
All staff and students are invited to the third annual Queen’s Pride Picnic on Wednesday 24 July from 12.00pm to 3.00pm. Pride on campus will be celebrated with music, entertainment, food trucks, drinks, and an ice-cream cart for all staff and students to enjoy.
This event is free. Please note: the first 200 registrations will receive a free meal and ice-cream ticket, but there will be the opportunity to purchase from the food trucks and ice-cream cart on the day.
![promo graphic for Active Campus's Summer 2024 Couch to 5k programme, Queen's University Belfast](/sites/media/summer-2024-couch-to-5k.png)
Active Campus's Summer Couch to 5k programme begins on Wednesday 26 June at 1.15pm, meeting outside the Lanyon Building. Taking place every Wednesday up to and including 28 August, Summer Couch to 5k is perfect for everyone; whether you are a complete beginner or just looking to get more active, Active Campus's group of volunteers will support you every step of the way, whether you prefer to walk, jog, or run.
Register to take part here: Summer Couch to 5k | Queen's Sport
![Postdoc Showcase 2023 - awards and prizewinners gathered at front of stage in the Whitla Hall](/sites/media/Media,2147275,smxx-800x532.jpg)
Nominations for this year's Postdoc Awards will close on Sunday 30 June.
All staff are encouraged to nominate postdoctoral researchers who have excelled in one of the award categories this academic year.
Find out more and nominate here: Postdoc Awards 2024
![detail from cover of Queen's University Belfast's inaugural Annual Sustainability Report (2022-23), showing report title and the Lanyon Building tower against a blue sky](/sites/media/sustainability-report-2022-23-cover-round-up.jpg)
Queen's first Annual Sustainability Report has now launched.
Covering the academic year 2022-23, the report captures a wide range of important initiatives delivered across our campus and beyond – addressing sustainability issues in research, operations, teaching and learning, and outreach delivered in collaboration with our key stakeholders and civic partners.
Everyone is encouraged to take a few moments to read it and learn more about all that we are doing to drive forward this work. We will produce this report on an annual basis.
Upcoming sustainability initiatives
Highlighted below are a number of important initiatives which will be rolled out to support our sustainability commitments on campus over the next few months:
- Introduction of a new secure cycling stand on the Main Site which will hold 48 bicycles – accessible to staff, students and the wider community;
- Introduction of e-bike charging on the Main Site;
- Installation of photovoltaic panels (Whitla Hall and School of Mathematics and Physics Teaching Centre) – increasing our on-site renewable energy generation;
- Upgrade and extension of Electric Vehicle Charging points across the campus;
- And the launch of new Sustainable Travel Business Guidance and decision tool to individuals to best manage their carbon footprint associated with travel on University business.
![Image of hands with pink nail polish holding a green feedback smiley face](/sites/media/2.jpg)
To support continuous improvement, we would be grateful if you could let us know how we've been doing on sustainability communication this academic year (2023-2024).
- Please take one to two minutes to share your feedback here.
We would really appreciate your feedback by Friday 28 June on how we communicate on sustainability and what we can do better.
Last year many of you fed into our Sustainability Communication Preferences Review survey and focus groups to help us better understand how you would like to receive information on sustainability.
- 65% of students and 63% of staff surveyed responded that they received the information they needed to help them to make sustainable choices and decisions at Queen's in 2022-2023. This is a great start as we roll out our new Net Zero Plan, and the feedback has helped identify opportunities to extend and enhance our communication approach.
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Staff are reminded that you can view your Total Reward Statement within iTrent Employee Self-Service. This personalised statement provides an overview of your:
- pay
- pension
- other non-monetary benefits
The Total Reward Statement is a convenient tool that helps you understand the full value of your compensation and benefits package here at Queen’s. Once in iTrent, staff will need to enter the 'My pay' section, click on the tab 'Benefits' and then check the 'Show values' box to access their personalised information.
For more information, please visit the People and Culture Intranet.
![Student and Staff in the One Elmwood Students Union building](/sites/media/Media,2085316,smxx.jpg)
The Education Committee: Student Experience approved a revised Procedure on Support to Continue in Study on the Grounds of Health and/or Safety (previously known as 'Fitness to Continue in Study') for implementation in the 2023-24 academic year. The Student Disability and Wellbeing Service has updated how referrals to Occupational Health are managed where, as part of the process, a student needs to have an independent review of their fitness to study.
The last of these sessions will be held on Tuesday 25 June from 3.30pm to 4.30pm online via MS Teams.
Register here: Support to Continue in Study
Staff can come along and hear about the updates to the procedure and ask any questions they may have.
![Queen's Students' Union Volunteer body - 'Declutter and Donate' drive](/sites/media/declutter-donate.jpg)
Staff are invited to get involved in SU Volunteer's 'Declutter and Donate' campaign, helping to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation's lifesaving research. This is an opportunity to spring clean your space while supporting good causes.
Donations to the campaign will be accepted at the sites detailed below until Sunday 7 July.
Household Items
Items such as clothes, kitchenware, accessories and books can be donated. Everything apart from food, duvets, pillows, knives, hangers, bikes, helmets, and broken/dirty items can be accepted.
Drop your donations into British Heart Foundation collection boxes from 15 April to 7 July at the following locations across campus:
- David Keir Building
- Law Building (Main Site Tower)
- Medical Biology Centre
- One Elmwood
- Queen's Accommodation (BT1, BT2, BT9)
- Queen's Sport (PEC and Upper Malone)
Bikes
If you have an unwanted bike you wish to donate, Big Loop Bikes will refurbish and resell it from their shop on campus, saving it from going to landfill and providing a student with a low-cost bike.
Big Loop Bikes Hub
Level 1, Administration Building
Drop off: Tuesday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Tel: 028 9027 8088
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Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):
- Professor Ciaran O’Neill: Beyond hospital waiting lists: the need for accountability and reform in our health system
- Dr Ronagh McQuigg: The New EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence
- Dr Stefan Andreasson: Why the US oil majors may end up doing more for the green transition than their (slightly) more progressive European rivals
- Event: Launch 'Paradise Lost: A Report on the Emotional and Personal Impacts of the Crisis of Lough Neagh', Monday 24 June, 5.00pm, Peter Froggatt Centre, room 02/018. Register here.
To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.
![The Conversation icon](/sites/media/Media,756881,en.jpg)
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:
- Dr Jonny Hanson: Farmers told me what they really think about reintroducing lynx and wolves to Britain and Ireland
- Dr Jamie Pow: Northern Ireland: the three electoral threats keeping the DUP awake at night
- Dr M. Satish Kumar: Why India didn't have the 'climate election' it needed, even amid a lethal heatwave
- Dr Stefan Andreasson: Why the US oil majors may end up doing more for the green transition than their (slightly) more progressive European rivals
- Dr Emma Soye: 'It’s between us and gangs': teachers are on the front line against youth violence
![Dermot Leonard and his daughter, Flora, outside Queen's University Belfast](/sites/media/dermot-flora-leonard.jpg)
Queen's Staff Blog provides a space for staff to share our reflections, knowledge and experiences and build a connected University community. Our latest blogs focus on the launch of Queen's Civic Mission in May 2024, as well as the experiences of some of our staff carers:
- BLOG: Our Civic Mission, by Dr Federica Ferrieri.
- BLOG: Being a Staff Carer at Queen's: My Experience, by Duncan Berryman
- BLOG: Being a Parent Carer at Queen's: My Experience, by Dermot Leonard
- BLOG: Being a Staff Carer at Queen's - My Experience, by Tom Dore
About the authors
Civic Engagement Officer in the Directorate of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility at Queen's, Dr Federica Ferrieri is also an Italian tutor in Queen's Open Learning at Queen's, Italian Honorary Consul in Northern Ireland and Vice-President of the Consular Association NI.
Dr Duncan Berryman is Student Surveys Officer in the Careers, Employability and Skills department, Directorate of Education and Student Services.
Dermot Leonard is Head of Business Alliance, Research and Enterprise Directorate.
Tom Dore is a Digital Learning Officer in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Faculty Office.
If you are interested in writing a staff blog piece, please contact internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk.
![Staff Gateway - News site screengrab as at 4 October 2021](/sites/media/Media,910458,smxx.jpg)
Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff News and Community Gateway:
- In Pictures: Showcase of Queen's Innovation Centres
- Queen’s becomes Accredited Living Wage Employer
- New senior appointments, including appointment of new Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- End of semester message and senior leadership appointments
- New chapter for the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s as it opens landmark building
- Queen's colleagues recognised in King's Birthday Honours 2024
- Queen’s ranks in top 200 Universities across the world for global sustainability impact
- Queen's University Teaching Awards 2024
- Queen’s University launches its Civic Mission: A commitment to collaboration and inclusivity
- Treble of awards for outstanding achievement in pharmaceutical sciences for Queen’s Professor
- In Pictures: Athena Swan Gold celebration event
- Festivities in the air as Queen's celebrates historic Athena Swan Gold Award
- Queen's University's Communications Team is best in class
- Joint announcement: Conclusion of local pay negotiations
- New pay deal agreed between Queen’s and trade unions
- In Pictures: Queen's Technician Showcase 2024
- There for You: Free Period Products Available in Bathrooms across Campus
![Internal Communication Drop-In Sessions](/sites/media/Internal Communication Drop-in Sessions (1).jpg)
The Internal Communications Team in the Strategic Communications Directorate will hold the following Drop-in Sessions during Summer 2024:
- Tuesday 25 June 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 30 July 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 20 August 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 27 August 2024, 12.00pm to 2.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
Colleagues across the University are welcome to drop in individually or in groups of up to four colleagues for guidance on approaches to help promote information or initiatives to internal audiences, or for advice on internal communication challenges.
Tea and coffee will be provided.
If you are not able to make it to one of the sessions and would like to arrange a separate time to speak with the team, please email internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk to arrange.
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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:
- Research News
- Leading Researchers Programme
- Funding Information
- Training and development Highlights
- Research to Reality
- Research Policy Update
- and much more
![800x533 Lanyon July 2018](/sites/media/Media,943479,smxx.jpg)
Read this week's summary of funding opportunities and news from the Research Development team.
Researchers wishing to continue receiving this weekly update are asked to resubscribe here.
![facade of Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at night time](/sites/media/Media,1425839,smxx.jpg)
The latest issue of the WWIEM newsletter, The investigator, (Issue 14, June 2024) is now available.
View 'The investigator' newsletter here.
Past editions are available on the WWIEM website.
![aerial view of top of Lanyon Building with shadow cast onto front lawns](/sites/media/Media,1034477,smxx.jpg)
Details of ongoing works being carried out across the University campus can be found on the Estates Directorate webpage.
More information: Campus Development: The week ahead.
This week’s new and returning films at Queen's Film Theatre, your cinema on campus.
SHOWING THIS WEEK:
- Belfast Photo Festival: The World is Out of Focus
- Green Border
- Kinds of Kindness
- May-17-74 Anatomy of A Massacre
- Preview: Crossing
- Piano Dreams
- Pride
- Sideways
- Star Nhà Ease: Vietnamese Cinema: Finding Phong
- Stop Making Sense
- That They May Face the Rising Sun
- The Bikeriders
- Waitress: The Musical
- Wilding
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.
![photo exhibit by American photographer Andrew White, showing young woman standing in a fairground booth selling soft toys and balloons](/sites/media/naughton-gallery-echo-4-800-533.jpg)
As part of the 2024 Belfast Photo Festival, the Naughton Gallery presents Outside the Echo Chamber, the first UK solo exhibition by Berlin-based American photographer Andrew White.
The exhibition continues until Thursday 11 July. The Naughton Gallery is open 11.00am to 4.00pm, Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free and all are welcome.
About the exhibition
Shot in 2017 as part of Huck magazine’s Pivot Points: Stories of Change from Huck Photographers, the images in the exhibition were shot entirely on the Kodak Ektra smartphone. For this project, White chose to document his annual Summer tradition of travelling outside of Brooklyn (his home at the time) with a group of friends in tow, in search of swimming holes off the beaten path. Notably, 2017 was Donald Trump’s first year in office as President of the United States, and White found himself stumbling upon moments of pure Americana beyond the comfort of his liberal bubble. Outside the Echo Chamber simultaneously documents community, friendship, and togetherness whilst capturing a glimpse into a nation on the brink of significant change and discord.
About the artist
Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, Andrew White is an editorial and documentary photographer. Since graduating in 2012, White has photographed for such clients as The New York Times, Apple, WIRED, GQ, and more. Since 2016, White has worked for Beyoncé as one of her personal photographers, chronicling her world tours and photographing her private life. In late 2020, White relocated to Europe and is now living in Berlin, Germany.
Belfast Photo Festival
Described as one of the "best photography festivals in the world" (Capture magazine), Belfast Photo Festival is the UK and Ireland's largest annual festival of photography, attracting upwards of 100,000 physical visitors a year. It celebrates the finest national and international contemporary photography across Northern Ireland’s museums, galleries, and public spaces.
![Smiling woman seated in a bright, glass-framed office talking to colleagues](/sites/media/coaching-pandc.jpg)
Offering a recognised coaching qualification, the Coaching Connections programme – aimed at both Professional Services and Academic staff – is a comprehensive development programme designed to develop coaching skills. On completion of the programme, participants will be part of the Queen’s team of internal coaches. The application and selection process will open later this year.
A short information session on Coaching Connections will be held on Tuesday 2 July from 10.00am to 11.00am (venue confirmed following registration).
Find out more and register here.
More information
Coaching Connections is designed to develop coaching skills such as building rapport, listening and asking questions, so that staff may, through a coaching conversation, support individuals to explore options and develop insights around work-based challenges. This programme is for Professional Services staff at Grade AR7 and above and Academic staff at Grade AC2 and above.
Coaching Connections delivers the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring and on completion of the programme, participants will be equipped to offer coaching to Queen’s staff around work-based issues.
![two people with writing pens, notebook and sticky notes reading books at a table](/sites/media/studying.png)
People and Culture's Learning and Development programmes offer training and development opportunities that are suitable for all staff, from Learning for All, Leading and Managing at Queen’s and LinkedIn Learning to Nature Masterclasses and Recruitment and Selection Training. The July 2024 highlighted courses come from LinkedIn Learning:
- Top tips for personalising your public relations strategy
- Excel: PivotTables for Beginners
- Share a Google doc with a non Google user
View the full July programme of events here.
![Advisor Exchange Podcast logo](/sites/media/advisor-exchange-podcast.jpg)
The Centre for Educational Development has launched a new Podcast, 'Advisor Exchange', created to support individuals in the Advisor of Studies role.
This podcast aims to demystify processes, share best practices, and provide valuable insights into the intricacies of support department nuances.
Listen here and join the conversation.
![](/sites/media/postdoc-showcase-2024.jpg)
The Postdoc Society are pleased to announce the return of the Queen's Postdoc Showcase, taking place in celebration of Postdocs and Research Staff, on Monday 16 September in The Malone Hotel, 60 Eglantine Avenue, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6DY.
Find out more and register here: Postdoc Showcase 2024
The theme of this year's event is 'Helping to Shape a Better World'. This event is an opportunity for all research staff at Queen's to showcase their research, learn about others' research, and network with other postdocs.
This is an event organised 'by postdocs, for postdocs'. The programme will feature talks by invited speakers, an expert panel discussion, an update from the Postdoctoral Development Centre, a research poster/display exhibition, oral presentations by selected postdocs and the winners of the PDC Postdoc Awards will be announced. There will be prizes for the best talks and posters.
Together, let's help to shape a better world and advance sustainable development.
![group of people listening to a presenter speaking in a large conference room](/sites/media/seminar-ced-leadership.jpg)
The 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.
This award recognises the importance of Academic and Professional Services Leaders who have a pivotal role at Queen's. 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.
Register for the programme via iTrent self-service.
More information
This programme will run from October to May (25 October 2024 to 7 May 2025; 9.30am to 11.30am, offering monthly workshops that will be delivered either in person or online. Both internal and external guest speakers will share their knowledge and insights on leadership. As part of the assessment process, participants must complete reflective activities, a strategic presentation, and a personal development plan.
Participants will:
- Identify their own professional development goals, directions or priorities;
- Plan for their initial and/or continuing professional development;
- Undertake appropriate development activities;
- Review their development and their practice, and the relations between them.
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SEDA Programme Leaders is a blended learning course for new, aspiring, and experienced Programme Leaders, running from 2 September 2024 to 5 January 2025.
The course aims are:
- To support you in your professional development as an educational leader;
- To support and recognise your individual progress, practice & professional achievement;
- To enhance curriculum development and, hence, the student learning experience;
- To promote the development of professionals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively lead, nurture and guide educational change and development in the sector.
Find out more and secure your place via iTrent.
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The following learning events are now open for application. Full information and registration can be found via the iTrent links below.
- Introduction to Teaching: 2 to 6 September, 10.00am to 4.00pm – week of supported preparation for staff that have not previously been responsible for delivering a module.
- HEA fellowship claims – online programmes where participants will complete their claim for Fellowship/Associate Fellowship/Senior Fellowship HEA:
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- Associate Fellowship HEA (AFHEA): 14 to 18 October, 10.00am to 11.00am OR 18 to 22 November, 10.00am to 11.00am
- Fellowship HEA (FHEA): 28 October to 8 November, 10.00am to 11.00am OR 2 to 13 December, 10.00am to 11.00am
- Senior Fellowship HEA (SFHEA): 16 to 27 September, 10.00am to 11.00am
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The latest updates on AI at Queen's. Contact the 2030 Digital Education Team at AI-Hub@qub.ac.uk with any questions.
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.
AI Detection
While the launch of ChatGPT has ignited a surge of interest in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools and excitement in what they can do, there is an equal level of concern regarding the possibility of an epidemic of AI-based cheating. Professor Phil Hanna (Dean of Education, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences) provides Queen's guidance on the use of AI detection tools, highlighting concerns regarding the reliability and accuracy of AI detection tools.
Queen’s AI Hub
As part of the AI Team's ongoing commitment to helping staff and students navigate the ever-evolving AI landscape, the AI Hub has moved to a new location and is now housed within the Queen's DigiHub. While the setting is new, and now accessible to the general public, you can still access the same comprehensive AI resources.
Visit the AI Hub here: go.qub.ac.uk/AI-hub
AI Guidance
You can keep abreast of the latest Queen's Guidance on the use of AI in Assessment here. Also, don’t forget that Copilot (formerly Microsoft Bing Chat Enterprise) is available to all Queen’s University staff. This AI-driven web chat operates within the secure Queen's environment, safeguarding your data. Watch our Quick Start video to learn how to access Copilot using your Queen's email address. For more details, visit the Queen’s AI Hub.
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Digital and Information Services' IT Training programme has completed for this academic year, but 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.
Additional training materials can be found here on the IT Training Unit SharePoint site.
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.