• Join award-winning environmental artist, Sue Bamford, at the Queen’s Repair Cafe for advice on how to repair or revamp your clothing and champion sustainable fashion.
• Discover how you can turn your extra or leftover food into tasty dishes, avoiding food waste and saving money at our student cookery class.
• Come along to Swanston House and browse a variety of preloved items in conjunction with CSB Streetwear. Save the environment and stay stylish on a budget.
• Embrace sustainable fashion and exchange clothes at our new Student Swap Shop.
• Join Freedom Cycles for a free pop-up bike check.
• Start your day the right way with a Zero Waste Vegan Breakfast.
• Take some time away from your desk or laptop, meet friends and colleagues, and enjoy the outdoors, all while tidying up your local community at the Big Autumn Clean Up.
• Visit us to find out how you can look after your health and your environment by staying hydrated at our Hydration Stations.
• Join our accommodation team for some advice on winter prep gardening in the Elms BT9 Community Garden and Allotment.

2. Invoices received after 5.00pm on Tuesday 10 December and Requests for Payment or Staff Expenses Claims received after 12.00pm Wednesday 11 December 2024 and before 12.00pm on Thursday 2 January 2025 will be paid by Friday 10 January 2025.
3. Normal payment arrangements will apply for all payment requests received week commencing Monday 6 January 2025.

Whilst Accounts Payable will make every effort to comply with this timetable, due to the volumes of payment requests received at this time of the year, and to ensure payment before the holiday, staff are requested to process all such transactions well in advance of these deadlines.

Further clarification of these arrangements, if required, may be obtained from Accounts Payable by emailing: accounts.payable@qub.ac.uk.

More information

The survey is completely anonymous, and your valuable feedback will help us to identify what we are doing well, and crucially, where we can do better in making the university a more diverse, equal, and inclusive place. It will also inform our application to the Race Equality Charter in 2025.

For further questions, please refer to the FAQs or email REC@qub.ac.uk.

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.

More information

In these sessions, you can listen to a presentation, ask questions and take some useful information material. The Queen's University Belfast Sanctuary Team will welcome you and ask for your feedback about the information you would like to receive in the future, so they can plan some more sessions from January 2025 onwards that are relevant to you. Children are welcome (but need to be supervised by parents) – some toys will be available in the room for them to play with.

Sessions

• The School System in Northern Ireland: Wednesday 20 November, 10.00am to 12.30pm. With Bríd from the Education Authority.
• Getting into University, Wednesday 27 November, 10.00am to 12.30pm. Emma from Queen’s Recruitment will explain how Queen’s University works and how you can study here.
• Winter Traditions and Festivals: Wednesday 4 December, 10.00am to 12.30pm. With Suyi from Queen’s Students' Union let’s talk about the winter/December/end of the year traditions in our countries. This event will be part of the Holyland Winter Festival.
• Queen's University Library Scheme and McClay Library Tour: Wednesday 11 December, 10.00am to 12.30pm. Richard from Queen’s Library will explain how to access the free Queen’s University library membership scheme; attendees will visit the McClay Library, and there will be some gifts for the children.

* The Seminar Room is the first door on the right when you enter the building. Please note: an interpreter of Arabic will be at these coffee mornings. When registering please say if you would like an interpreter for a different language.

QR codes are available below for anyone who would like to share via WhatsApp or similar messenger service.

* Please note: anyone who wishes to attend will need to register their own interest so we can share the link individually and are able to gather attendance details.

More information

These 30-45-minute events will provide a run-through of the benefits of Cyclescheme, Cycling to Work, how much money you can save through the scheme, where you can get a bike, how to apply, additional Cyclescheme offerings, and will host a live Q&A session at the end where the organisers will answer as many questions as possible.

This is a fantastic period for staff to consider purchasing a new commuting bike following on from the recent opening of the university’s new ebike facility and PEC shelter, encompassing 80 new secure bike parking spaces.

A new bespoke Personal Development Review (PDR) form and associated guidance was rolled out for all research staff in summer 2024, following a pilot in summer 2023. To gather feedback on the new PDR process, the Postdoctoral Development Centre (PDC) have prepared this short survey targeted at postdocs and other research staff.

* 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.

More information

Communities of Practice aim to bring together colleagues from across the university who share similar roles to exchange knowledge, discuss best practices, and build valuable professional connections. Participating in a CoP is an excellent opportunity to expand your network, gain fresh insights, and enhance your professional skills.

This session will highlight how Communities of Practice can support your professional growth and provide guidance on how to get involved, aligning with the university’s commitment to enhancing staff learning and career development.

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. 

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 can provide to support your claims, to allow the internal selection panel to make an informed decision. The Expression of Interest should also include a brief opening paragraph setting out what you do that is new or different to the discipline/University.

More information

In 2025, for the NTFS 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 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.

Further information is available on the CED website. Queries can be directed to e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk.

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

• US election: how does the electoral college voting system work?, by Dr Richard Hargy
• US election: what time do the polls close and when will the results be known? An expert explains, by Dr Richard Hargy
• 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

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.

View Queen’s academics’ articles on The Conversation here.

• Workshop: Roman History: Late Republican History in Strange Places, Friday 22 November, 12.00pm to 5.00pm, Mitchell Institute Fellows’ Room, 18 University Square
• Lecture: Resurgent Authoritarianism’s Challenge to Democracy’s Status as an International Norm, Wednesday 27 November, 4.30pm to 6.00pm, Senate Room
• Research Workshop: Does Counter-Terrorism Work?, Wednesday 11 December, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Mitchell Institute Fellows’ Room, 18 University Square

* 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.

Professor Victoria Simms, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Ulster University, will provide insight into her career journey in academia. Ways to navigate career aspirations and life priorities to create a healthy work-life balance will also be discussed.

This event will include a wide range of engaging subject talks and an opportunity to chat informally with academic staff and students. Attendees will also be able to chat to employers, and hear about student placement and travel experiences.

The Crowdhelix platform contains over 50 thematic 'Helixes' across different scientific disciplines. A Helix is a curated international community specifically designed to generate meaningful connections between engaged researchers, innovators, business leaders and investors. Staff can find a demo on Queen's Horizon Europe SharePoint site.

The WE Innovate Programme is a supportive community dedicated to helping women rise and elevate their businesses with expert guidance, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

Programme Structure:

• Phase 1: 25 participants will attend eight masterclasses covering key topics like Customer Discovery, Personal Branding, IP, Pitch Performance, and Fundraising.
• Phase 2: 10 participants will attend a retreat and receive six weeks of coaching and mentoring.
• Phase 3: A select group can apply for £30,000 in funding to help grow their business.

• Outburst Queer Arts Festival
• Small Things Like These
• Blitz
• Art of Action: Everything Everywhere All at Once
• No Other Land
• NT Live: Prima Facie
• Members' Preview: Conclave
• BIAF: The Good Thief (35mm)
• Art of Action: The Raid + Live Combat Performance
• Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers
• Art of Action: The Batwoman

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.

Film Summary

Wayne and Garth are the most excellent hosts of a rockin' public access TV show they record in Wayne's parents' basement. When their show catches the attention of sleazy TV executive Benjamin Kane the pair are offered a fat contract to tape their show at his commercial network. But soon they find themselves battling to save their show and win the affections of rock goddess Cassandra.

About SCREEN/PRINT

SCREEN/PRINT is a film project developed by the Naughton Gallery in collaboration with UsFolk illustration agency and Queen's Film Theatre, through which illustrators are commissioned to design new posters for films which have inspired or influenced their practices to coincide with a special screening of the film.

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.

Naughton Gallery online: Explore the Gallery's exhibitions and collections here.

• Get Ready for Management and Leadership
• Understanding the Gen Z Perspective as a Manager
• Introduction to Fintech
• Sustainable project management strategies to boost social economic and environmental impact

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.

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).

• AI in Music Education and Research – Professor Franziska Schroeder explores AI's impact on music education and her own research.
• Queen's McClay Library – Norma Menabney and Dr Kath Stevenson reveal how AI is revolutionising library services.
• Careers, Employability and Skills – Eimear Gallagher explains how AI is transforming the careers support at Queen’s.

AI Self-help Guides

The AI Self-Help Guides are here to support your journey into AI.

• Using AI to Save Time is designed to help both staff and students use AI to become more efficient in everyday tasks such as writing emails, generating ideas, revision and tutoring, data analysis, visualisation, and more.
• Understanding the impact of AI on my assessment has been developed to offer academic staff a practical and efficient way to assess the potential impact of AI on their assessments.

Find more AI guides and resources on the AI Hub.

EVENT: Embedding AI in Higher Education: Innovation, integration, and impact at Queen’s

Jisc and Queen’s are hosting an event on 5 February 2025 as part of Jisc’s ‘Demonstrating Digital Transformation’ series. This event will highlight Queen’s role in piloting Jisc’s digital transformation framework and will feature lectures, workshops, interactive demos, and discussions. Join the event to explore the latest AI innovations at Queen’s.

Please register here.

Upcoming Training

Remaining 'AI Lunchtime Bytes' sessions for 2024:

• Thursday 28 November, 1.00pm to 2.00pm – AI Foundations: Getting Started with your AI Journey
• Thursday 12 December, 1.00pm to 2.00pm – AI Foundations: Getting Started with your AI Journey