A reminder to please take a few moments to complete the Pulse Survey before it closes tomorrow, Tuesday 9 December. All staff received an email from survey-invite@peopleinsight.co.uk on Tuesday 18 November inviting them to take part.

The survey is brief, taking no longer than a few minutes to complete. The feedback you provide is strictly confidential and cannot be traced back to you individually.

• Further details and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the People and Culture Intranet.

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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. 

On 30 December 1845, Queen's University Belfast was formally brought into existence, alongside its sister Colleges in Cork and Galway, by charters of incorporation.

We will be celebrating our Foundation Day on Tuesday 30 December via our social media channels.

Follow along and join in the conversation using the hashtag #LoveQUB180.

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.

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 University is currently recruiting for a number of positions internally.

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

Please note that the last Staff Round Up for this semester will issue next week (Monday 15 December). 

The Round Up will then resume on Monday 12 January 2026.

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As we approach the holiday season, please ensure that all costing requests are submitted via RAS by 12.00pm on Friday 12 December 2025.

Timely submission is essential to support accurate reporting and ensure smooth processing around this busy time of year. Any requests received after the deadline will be processed after the Research Finance Team returns from the Christmas leave period in January 2026.

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The Flexible Retirement Scheme for 2026 is now open for applications. This scheme is designed to support staff in planning a smooth and personalised transition into retirement. It offers a valuable way to adjust your work-life balance while allowing the University community to continue benefiting from your knowledge and expertise.

• Should you wish to apply for flexible retirement, please complete the application form and pass to your Head of School/Director by Friday 9 January 2026.
• The Retirement Policy and application form can be accessed on the People and Culture website.

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iRise – Queen's BAME and International Staff Network – is refreshing its committee for the new year and is looking for proactive individuals to step into the following key roles:

• Communications Officer: to manage iRise's social presence and website.
• Secretary: to drive the committee’s strategy and organisation.
• Event Organisers: to curate and host impactful events.
• Read more information on each role here.

To apply, please complete this Expression of Interest form and an iRise member will get back to you. If you would like to have an informal chat before applying, please contact the current Co-Chairs: Bee-Yen Toh, or Eyad Abu-Khiran at irise@qub.ac.uk.

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Our 180th is a landmark moment for Queen’s and we have a marathon-sized plan to celebrate: we are inviting staff, students and alumni from across the Queen’s community to join one of the University relay teams in the 2026 Belfast Marathon and to support our students and research.

The University has secured 180 participant places for next May’s event; all you need to do is gather your team of five, plan your training and lace up your favourite trainers. We will also have other opportunities for people to support the event if running is not for you.

You will have all the details in the New Year but, for now:

• Register your interest by dropping us an email to marathon180@qub.ac.uk.

Liftshare is Queen's car-sharing portal which allows staff and students to find car-sharing matches based on location. To be in with a chance of winning the £200 shopping voucher, all you have to do is:

1. Download the Mobilityways app (for free) if you haven't already.
2. Join the Queen's Liftshare Community.
3. Send or accept a request to share a lift between 1 and 12 December.

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Queen's Sport is now offering seasonal gift vouchers which can be redeemed for membership packages, personal training sessions, various courses and private swimming lessons.

• More information: Move into Christmas Gift Vouchers

For further details, please contact the PEC reception at: sport@qub.ac.uk.  

• Queen's Sport's Winter courses 2026 are now available to book, with a variety of adult and children’s courses designed to support confidence, movement, and wellbeing. Courses commence from Monday 5 January 2026.
• Queen's Sport are offering a flexible one-month membership over December for just £40. Find out more here.

• AI for Educators Course: The self-paced AI for Educators course on Canvas helps student-facing staff to build confidence using AI in education. Explore four modules (Basics, Teaching & Learning, Assessment & Feedback, and Research), with practical AI Skills Build activities and discussion. Complete what’s most relevant to you, or finish all four to earn a Digital Certificate of Completion, signed by Professor Judy Williams (PVC Education and Students).

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

• ‘I went to that EOTAS and it changed me’ – Three Reasons to Support Alternative Education, by Kate Moscato, Dr Montserrat Fargas and Dr Siobhán McAlister
• Heritage, Creativity and Belonging: A Participatory Approach to Policy Innovation, by Dr Emma Reisz and guest contributor Lisa Rea Currie

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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 23.8 million people internationally. Read the latest:

• Should lynx and wolves be reintroduced to Britain and Ireland? Young people have mixed feelings, Dr Jonny Hanson
• Wicked: what lies beneath correcting the way people speak?, by Dr Emma Humphries

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

• End of Semester Message from the Vice-Chancellor (December 2025)
• Queen's marks European Week for Waste Reduction 2025
• Queen's achieves Platinum status for environmental leadership
• Terrance Hayes appointed Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s

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Our latest 'Spotlight on our Staff' profile features Ju Yoon, Student Registry Services Lead in the Directorate of Academic Services.

From issuing education verification documentation to supporting students at their graduations, discover how Ju Yoon's work as the Student Registry Services Lead is making a meaningful difference to students across our campus.

• Read Ju's profile.

Queen's Staff Blog provides a space for staff to share their reflections, knowledge and experiences, and build a connected University community. 

Our latest Staff Blog:

• BLOG: Smarter Ways to Travel: Tips from Nathan Booth, Assistant Estates Manager (Sustainable Travel) – Nathan offers some of his top travel tips to make your journey smoother, cheaper and greener.

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The Centre for Biomedical Sciences Education invites staff to the Vincent Ewing Public Lecture, 2025, taking place on Tuesday 16 December at 2.00pm in the Basement Lecture Theatre, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute, Health Sciences campus.

The guest speaker is Dr Ourania Varsou (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow) who will speak on 'GenAI Past, Present and Future: A Human-Centred Lens on Technology, Education and Society'.

All are welcome.

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The December edition of the Mitchell Institute Newsletter is now available.

Staff are invited to the following events. Find out more and register at the links below:

• Seminar: Judaizing Christianity and Christian Zionism in Northern Ireland. For God, Israel and Ulster. Monday 19 January, 4.30pm to 6.00pm, Irish Studies Seminar Room (room 01/003), 27 University Square
• Research Workshop: The Cost of Flying the Flag. Thursday 22 January, 12.30pm to 2.00pm, Fellows Room, Mitchell Institute, 18 University Square
• Seminar: Gaza: The Dream and The Nightmare. Thursday 29 January, 4.00pm to 5.30pm, Senate Room, Lanyon Building

The Vision and Language (V&L) Cluster, School of EEECS, are pleased to announce the 3rd annual Symposium, 'One World, Many Modalities', taking place on Tuesday 16 December from 9.30am to 5.00pm in the Computer Science Building (room 02.027). This symposium will bring together students, researchers, academics, and local industry to explore a range of timely topics.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. All are welcome.

• Please register here to attend.

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Taking place online on Thursday 11 December from 5.00pm to 6.00pm, this brand new training course is aimed at academic staff, including career researchers and postdocs, seeking to develop their understanding of which persistent identifiers they need to use for their research and how to go about setting up these identifiers.

• Please register here.*

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There are two weeks left to apply for the WE Innovate Programme, Queen’s initiative designed to support and empower female-led ventures to develop, grow, and realise their potential.

• For full programme details and application information, please visit the WE Innovate webpage.
• Applications close on Tuesday 16 December at 12.00pm, and outcomes will be announced on 7 January 2026.

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Applications are now open for the FameLab UK competition, which searches for the next generation of science communicators and STEM enthusiasts – people who can share big ideas in just three minutes, with passion, clarity and spark.

Staff interested in applying are invited to a Science Communication training session on Friday 30 January 2026 from 9.30am to 1.00pm in the Senate Room, Lanyon Building.

• For more information, please contact d.rogers@qub.ac.uk.
• Find out more and apply: FameLab UK

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• Postdocs Spotlight @ QUB – Scales of Research: National, Digital, Planetary: Thursday 18 December, 11.45am to 2.00pm, Canada Room/Council Chamber, Lanyon Building
• Employer Engagement Event: Connecting Computing Researchers with Industry: Wednesday 14 January, 9.30am to 1.30pm, Ulster University (Belfast Campus)

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The Diversity and Inclusion team will host a Domestic Abuse Awareness session, delivered by Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland, on Tuesday 9 December from 10.00am to 12.00pm, online. This session is designed to raise awareness, build understanding, and equip attendees with the knowledge to make a difference.

• Register via iTrent to attend.

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This week’s new and returning films at Queen’s Film Theatre, your cinema on campus.

• Blue Moon
• It Was Just an Accident
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

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• One-to-One Consultations: Staff can book a 30-minute virtual session with a Digital Learning Developer from your Faculty, School or VLE Pedagogy Support Team (subject to availability).

SEDA is currently inviting applications for Research and Evaluation Small Grants. This year there are five grants available, each of up to £2,000.

These small grants are to support research and evaluation in staff and educational development with the goal of continued improvement in the quality and understanding of educational development practices. SEDA individual members or those working in an institution holding institutional SEDA membership are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 12.00pm (noon) on Monday 23 February 2026.

• More information – Research and Evaluation Small Grants.

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Academic staff are invited to participate in this blended learning course, which has been designed to support the embedding entrepreneurial education within the curriculum, meeting the requirements of the QAA and professional accrediting bodies.

The course will run from 5 January 2025 to 20 February 2026, with a commitment of attending two workshops during that period.

• Register via iTrent.

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Join us for a half-day workshop on 16 January 2025 from 9.00am to 1.00pm (location TBC) where we will focus on equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support and guide our students.

• Register via iTrent.

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This year's Safety Training programme is available on the University Safety Service Training webpage. The full range of courses can be booked via iTrent Employee Self-Service.

Training sessions for January 2026 are given below. All sessions are in person.

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Details of ongoing works being carried out across the University campus can be found on the Estates Directorate webpage.