A video message from President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer to the Queen's staff community. 

• A transcript is available here.

Queen's has officially been identified as a world-leading institution across three major international and domestic university rankings, reflecting the University’s wide-reaching impact in research, education, sustainability, and student satisfaction.

• Read more here.

A summary of key topics and themes raised across the four All Staff Sessions, held by the Vice-Chancellor and members of the University Management Board across May and June, is now available.

• View the summary on the Chancellery SharePoint site.

The final Academic Council meeting of the year was held on Monday 16 June, and was chaired by Professor Judy Williams. The Council considered and approved several key reports and updates relating to the University’s academic governance and strategic priorities.

The following items were approved:

• Report from the Education Committee on Quality and Standards
• Report on Student Experience
• Report of the Research and Innovation Committee
• Report of the Honorary Awards Committee

These papers will now progress to the University Management Board for final approval.

The meeting also included a valuable workshop on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, led by Professor Peter Robertson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Conor Curran, Head of Diversity and Inclusion. The session provided thoughtful insights and generated constructive discussion around how the University can further embed EDI across all areas of academic life and institutional practice.

The next Academic Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, 5 November 2025 at 2.30pm.

Senate, the governing body of Queen’s University Belfast, is seeking to appoint two new independent members to University Pro-Chancellor roles, as well as one Lay Member, while also creating a reserve list for future lay member appointments, from 1 August 2025.

Applications are invited from individuals with a record of successful leadership within a public, private or third sector organisation, who are passionate about supporting an internationally competitive, research-intensive and diverse University.

• Further information, including how to apply, is available here.

The University is currently advertising the following positions internally:

• • 25/112677 - Head of Faculty and Subject Support, Directorate of Academic Services
  • 25/112641 - Clerical Officer Grade 5 (Undergraduate Office Manager), School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • 25/112670 - Senior Library Assistant, Directorate of Academic Services
  • 25/112644 - Health and Safety Officer, School of Biological Sciences
  • 25/112612 - Collaborative Doctoral Programme Manager, Student and Campus Experience
  • 25/112672 - International Partnerships Officer (Governance), Queen's Global
  • 25/112669 - Bibliographic Services Manager, Directorate of Academic Services
  • 25/112616 - Neighbourhood Engagement Support Officer, Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
  • 25/112653 - Domestic Student Recruitment Officer (Maternity Cover), Faculty Office MHLS
  • 25/112646 – Research Fellow, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

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For planning, the Staff Round Up Summer schedule will begin from Monday 7 July. Summer editions will issue fortnightly as follows:

• Monday 7 July
• Monday 21 July
• Monday 4 August
• Monday 18 August

The Staff Round Up will resume its weekly schedule from Monday 1 September.

As part of Queen’s continued commitment to empowering managers to lead effectively through change, we’re pleased to announce the launch of the Leading Change Toolkit.

Designed to support the critical implementation phase of change, the toolkit offers managers practical resources, structured action plans, and adaptable templates to help managers navigate challenges, engage their teams, and ensure a smooth and successful transition. 

• Access the readily available resources and templates here.

Queen's Pride Picnic

All Queen's staff and students are invited to the annual Queen’s Pride Picnic on Wednesday 23 July from 12 noon to 2pm. Celebrations will include music, entertainment, food trucks, drinks and an ice-cream cart. 

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.

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• Queen’s Sport Summer Programme: Enrolment opens on 25 June
• Queen’s Sport Going Cashless: Starting 1 August 2025
• Flexible Membership Options: Enjoy All-Inclusive Access with no direct debits and no hassle

• Every Wednesday at 1:15pm for a 20-minute walk
• Meet at the front of the Lanyon Building

The following courses are available to support staff wellbeing within Queen’s. Please register via iTrent Self-Service, unless otherwise indicated. 

• Financial Advice 1-to-1 Sessions: 24 June, 29 July and 30 July (In Person) & 10 June, 11 June and 25 June (Online). Book directly via the provider here. 
• Understanding Alcohol: 9 July (Online)
• Substance Misuse Awareness: 20 August (Online) 
• Communicating with Empathy and Understanding Through Change: 28 August (Online) 
• Working through Change and Building Resilience: 17 September, 22 October, 20 November and 17 December (Online)

• Applications close on 2 July and are available on the Aurora Information Page via the online platform.

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Applications are invited for the Queen’s University Teaching Awards 2025. The closing date for receipt of applications is 4.00pm on Thursday 31 July 2025. Queries can be directed to Liz McDowell on e.mcdowell@qub.ac.uk.

• Full details are available on the Centre for Educational Development (CED) website.

A reminder that staff leaving the University must return all university-issued IT equipment prior to their employment end date. This includes, but is not limited to: 

• Laptops, desktops, and monitors 
• Mobile devices, such as phones or tablets 
• Peripheral hardware, including monitors, headphones, keyboards, mice, docking stations and power supply 
• Storage devices such as external hard drives or USB drives 

The equipment should be returned to the IT Helpdesk or to a designated IT Officer.

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Queen’s staff can now access up to 20 per cent savings on a wide range of Dell products through Dell’s Exclusive Discount Scheme.

This Dell Advantage offer is available to all staff with a Queen’s work email address until August 2025. After this date, staff will need to request new vouchers, limited to two requests per year.

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

• The new African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, by Dr Ronagh McQuigg
• The Serendipity of Science: COVID's Silver Lining, by Professor Mark Lawler
• New policy paper - Non-recent Institutional Abuses – what might ‘justice’ look like?, by Professor Anne-Marie McAlinden
• How does where we live impact our health and how we age?, by Dr Niamh O’Kane and Professor Ruth Hunter
• Saving the National Cancer Plan: The triumph of evidence over opinion by Professor Mark Lawler
• Exploited Children Need Help, Not Handcuffs by Megan Phair from Invisible Traffick

 

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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 12.5 million people internationally.

Read the latest:

• Iran air strikes: Republicans split over support for Trump and another 'foreign war', by Richard Hargy
• Another public inquiry into institutional abuses – why they so often fail to deliver justice for victims, by Anne Marie McAlinden 
• Russia is facing fresh sanctions, but Putin is used to dealing with a struggling economy, by Dr Yerzhan Tokbolat and Dr Moldir Mukan
• Quantum computers could crack the security codes used by satellites – they need future-proofing, by Panagiotis (Panos) Vlachos

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The Communications Office is hosting a female-only, virtual training session with The Conversation UK on Wednesday 25 June from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Open to all female academics/researchers across the three faculty areas, this interactive session will be led by one of the editors who will take you through what The Conversation is, its origins and aims, what it does, and why.

• Please register here.*
• Join the session here.

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

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

Recent Staff Blogs:

• BLOG: Carers Week Reflections: My Experience as a Staff Carer at Queen's
• BLOG: Carers Week Reflections: My Experience as a Staff Carer at Queen's
• BLOG: Going to greater heights for Friends of the Cancer Centre

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• Profile: School of Nursing and Midwifery Staff Forum Representative, Lynne Marsh. 

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Watch the AI Hub's AI Case Studies of Queen's staff.

• View and use AI Self-Help Guides on the AI Hub;
• Find recordings of the AI Hub's AI Building Blocks sessions;
• Listen to Jisc's Beyond the Technology Podcast, featuring Queen's.

 

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Following the success of the inaugural QUB Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Forum in March 2025, the upcoming event will take place on Tuesday 24 June 2025 from 1.00 - 3.30pm in the Auditorium, McClay Library.

• Register here.

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This is your final opportunity to nominate a deserving Postdoc for the PDC Postdoc Awards 2025. These awards aim to recognise postdoctoral contributions to research, citizenship and outreach, and support.

All staff are encouraged to nominate Queen's postdoctoral researchers who have excelled in their contributions to each of these categories. Nominations close on Monday 30 June at 11.59pm.

• Find out more on the PDC Postdoc Awards webpage, including award categories, eligibility and the nomination process.

The Postdoc Society is delighted to announce the return of the Postdoc Showcase 2025 in celebration of Postdocs and Research Staff on 26 September from 9.30am to 6pm in The Canada Room/Council Chamber. 

The theme of this year's event is 'Voices of the Future: Postdocs Shaping Tomorrow'. 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.

• Find out more and register here. 

Applications for the 2026 Collaborative Students Competition are now open. The University has committed to a number of studentships (funded by the Department for the Economy NI and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council Doctoral Training Programme), commencing in October 2026, for projects across the institution that will involve significant work with a non-academic partner. 

• Please click here for more information and to apply.

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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.

• 28 Years Later 
• Cal
• Belfast Photo Festival: Sowing the seeds of the Wild+ Q&A

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The Naughton Gallery invites staff to its new sports exhibition, 'CRYIN' AT THE GYM'. All are welcome. Admission is free.

The Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11.00am to 4.00pm.

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• Lighthouse by Donovan Wylie Launch & Exhibition: 19 June to 14 September: The Seamus Heaney Centre, Wolfson Lecture Theatre
• Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize: 23 June, Crescent Art Centre, 7pm 
• Fellows at the Homeplace: 25 June, Seamus Heaney Homeplace, 7.30pm

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Queen's School of Law, in collaboration with the Wellbeing Economy Ireland Alliance and the International Academy of Irish Music and Dance, invites staff to 'Listening for the Orán Mór' on Tuesday 24 June, 2025 from 10am to 6pm.

This deep dive gathering calls together musicians, artists, activists, and academics to explore the deeper cultural resonances of music, story, and performance in reawakening our ecological awareness and re-enchanting our relationship with nature.

• Find out more and register here.

 

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