An appreciative audience of students, staff and partners from beyond the University heard how the Social Charter, launched in November 2017, commits the University to making a positive impact on society, and celebrates the great contributions made by Queen’s students and staff, both locally and globally.

Representatives of Queen’s Students’ Union related how volunteers are helping young people from disadvantaged areas to improve their studying skills and build self-confidence through Homework Clubs across Belfast.

Professor Mike Shields of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, spoke of the development of new, rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests for meningitis and other serious infections in children. These tests reduce the waiting time for results from three days to just twenty minutes – not only reducing anxiety, but also reducing the over-treatment of children. Moreover, a version of the equipment is being prepared for potentially life-saving use in Develping Countries like Malawi.

The world-leading research into tidal and wave power being carried out through another Signature Project, the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE), was discussed by Mrs Sam McCloskey. 

Mr Stephen McGowan, Strategic Programmes Manager at Urban Villages spoke warmly of the value of the Social Charter in relation to the NI Executive’s Together Building a United Community (TBUC) strategy.

Other signature projects address cancer treatment, shared education, early childhood development, food safety, equipping future entrepreneurs, providing medical assistance to partners in developing countries – and a range of other pressing contemporary issues.

And beyond the signature projects, there are many other ways in which, through the Social Charter, Queen’s has been living up to its commitments to engage with society.

Watch the video on the first year of the Social Charter on our YouTube channel here.