The latest Update from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Greer, is now available on the Vice-Chancellor's Office website.
Feedback on the update is welcome and can be sent to vc.office@qub.ac.uk.
Guidance for staff on supporting compliance with data protection is available here.
All colleagues are asked to please be aware that the data breach procedures remain in place while remote working. The University defines a personal data breach as: "A breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, alteration, loss, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed". Common breaches can include:
If you believe a data breach has occurred, please contact the Information Compliance Unit immediately at 028 9027 2576 or by emailing databreach@qub.ac.uk. More detail, including report forms, can be found on the University's dedicated 'Report a Data Breach' webpage.
Over the coming weeks, Queen's Sport, in partnership with our colleagues across the Healthy Campus Framework in Staff Wellbeing and Student Wellbeing, will be offering you the chance to 'Keep Active' with regular fitness activities, mental and wellbeing advice, sports blogs articles plus much more.
From Monday 30 March you will be able to connect with Queen's Sport via their social media channels and engage in a varied programme of workouts, fitness challenges, blogs and advice from home or university accommodation.
For more information, visit the Queen's Sport website.
Staff can view the latest internal vacancies on Queen's Online. Other vacancies are often advertised externally and are on the Career Opportunities page.
For career updates, staff can also follow the Recruitment team on Twitter @QUBWorkHere.
The University continues to closely monitor the situation in relation to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and to align our approach with guidance from the Public Health Agency and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
This is an evolving situation and staff are asked to continue to visit the University's FAQs for staff and students and regularly check the Public Health Agency website, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website and GOV.UK website for the latest updates and guidance.
To help answer some of your questions and to provide clarity as staff settle into a new working model, colleagues in People and Culture, working with Information Services and Strategic Marketing and Communications, have produced a helpful document setting out Staff Health and Wellbeing Guidance in relation to COVID-19.
All staff are asked to review the guidance, which covers the following key topics:
For details of how Canvas can support alternative assessment options, including key considerations to be aware of, please visit: go.qub.ac.uk/AlternativeAssessment
Virtual training sessions
In addition to the online guidance, a number of focused virtual training sessions will be delivered this week, including:
A comprehensive e-learning programme, with over 20 modules on finance and procurement topics, is available to suit a wide range of staff across the University, on demand. Access to all modules is free and a guide is available to signpost staff to which e-learning is most applicable to them, in their role, within the University.
Details of the e-learning programme, and how to register, are available here.
Any problems or questions can be emailed to financetraining@qub.ac.uk.
The University continues to work on measures to facilitate remote working where possible and where necessary.
Please refer to advice from Information Services to prepare for working from home.
Office 365 Teams Training
As well as a range of training videos, staff can look at 'Using Teams for Communication', which covers guidance on: participation in online Meetings; organising a webinar; recording meetings; and sharing with others via MS Stream.
Access the document here and log in with your normal username and password. Under Training, select 'Teams' – 'Using Teams for Communication' appears towards the bottom of the page.
LinkedIn Learning – an exciting new online learning resource – is now available for all Queen's staff.
Sign up here to request your individual access.
Contact stafflearning@qub.ac.uk if you have any questions about requesting access.
LinkedIn Learning top features include:
An online session on How to Improve Your Sleep will take place on Thursday 9 April at 12.00pm via Zoom.
The session will be delivered by Professor Gerry Gormley, who will provide staff and their families tips on how to manage their sleep during this uncertain time.
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Action Mental Health have developed Zoom sessions for staff to have a 40-minute information session on how to build Personal Resilience during this time.
The sessions are designed for 10 people per session and are free of charge. If you wish to register yourself or your team for one of these sessions, please contact Staff Wellbeing (wellbeing@qub.ac.uk) with a date and time. These sessions will take place from Monday 20 April onwards.
Action Mental Health have also developed toolkits for staff to assist them during this time. Please visit the Staff Wellbeing Working From Home website for more information.
What's on at Queens, Queen's central source for information on University events, has recently undergone a design and functionality refresh to improve both the internal and external user experience. The aim of the site is to showcase and promote the wide range of events that occur across the Queen's community.
As departments move to hosting webinars, web conferencing and live sessions, What's On at Queen's is an ideal platform to assist in the promotion of these virtual events.
For more information on how to get your event listed, please contact eventscalendar@qub.ac.uk or visit the What's On at Queen's website.
Business in the Community takes a whole person approach to wellbeing and staff are invited to join a series of their webinars, which aim to address financial, mental and physical wellbeing issues. The sessions will help participants take action to support themselves and their families at this time. During the seminars, Business in the Community Wellbeing and Inclusion Manager Stephanie Reid will be joined by guest speakers who will offer practical advice and support.
Sessions are free for staff to avail of and last 30 minutes.
The Environmental Team within Queen's are challenging staff to take part in Queen's GYO Competition whilst at home.
Gardening is an opportunity to gain something positive from staying at home due to COVID-19. Further, the mental health and physical wellbeing benefits of gardening will aid you in your isolation.
Staff who do decide to take part are encouraged to send the Environmental Team regular updates via Twitter, Instagram or the QUB Sustainable Champions Teams Group. This can include videos and pictures.
Prizes will be available to the most inventive, and successful, grower.
This is a blended learning 19-week programme with two face-to-face sessions (October/May) and weekly online activities with a portfolio submission date of July 2021. (Course dates: 28 October 2020 – 30 July 2021.)
The programme is targeted at new, aspiring and experienced Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes leaders.
Successful completion of this programme can contribute to one of the case studies should you wish to apply for SFHEA (Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy).
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Three major student experience surveys (NSS, SYE and FYE) opened to students on Monday 10 February. These surveys target students at key stages in their academic careers and are instrumental in giving students a voice in their education.
All staff are encouraged to publicise the surveys and encourage students to complete before the deadline on 30 April 2020.
Student feedback given in the NSS, FYE and SYE is used by Queen's to enhance the quality of courses and improve the wider student experience. The continued support of all staff is fundamental to the success of the surveys, so all help is welcome.
If you have any queries, please email Nick: n.bohill@qub.ac.uk.
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Queen's has now secured an institutional subscription through the Finance Department to the Times Higher Education (THE) – the company behind the world's most influential university ranking and a leading source of analysis and insight on higher education. This means that all staff and students with an institutional email address (ending in '@qub.ac.uk') can now enjoy FREE access to THE articles and digital editions online under the new university-wide subscription.
*Important note: if your area currently pays for a departmental subscription to THE, please contact finance.dept@qub.ac.uk.
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A dedicated website has been established to provide information and support to both staff and students and to help keep you up to date with the latest developments relating to Brexit.
Staff and students are encouraged to check these webpages regularly for updates.
Recent posts on Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol) Research Blog. To submit an article to QPol, email Kevin or Alice at qpol@qub.ac.uk.
Please see below for the latest Queen's articles published in The Conversation.
If you are interested in writing for The Conversation, please contact comms.office@qub.ac.uk to find out more.
Staff wishing to offer their students real-world community-engaged learning, support local communities through collaboration, and build their local and international network, can apply to join the new Erasmus+ funded CIRCLET international learning community.
More information / Registration.
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The schedule for the QUB Teaching Awards 2020 is being reviewed and information will be provided in due course, including a new submission date.
Colleagues who have already submitted may, if they wish, submit an updated application at that time.
The latest Postgraduate Weekly Update from The Graduate School is now available to view online. This update is sent to all postgraduate students every Tuesday to keep them up to date with the latest news from The Graduate School.
Staff who have any information of relevance to postgraduates and who would like to include it in The Graduate School's Weekly Update, please contact Anna Stewart: anna.stewart@qub.ac.uk.
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Festival organisers have extended the deadline for their call for applications for the Being Human Festival 2020. They are also encouraging applicants to think through contingency versions of their events.
The Festival is going forward as planned from 12-22 November, but with an extended deadline for funding grants. The organisers will continue to monitor the situation, but at present the new deadlines are:
If you are considering applying to the festival and would like support with your application, please contact Kevin Fearon on k.fearon@qub.ac.uk.
The March 2020 edition of the EU Funding Newsletter is now available. To access it, please follow this link.
The newsletter is produced by the Research Development EU Team.
A number of Centre for Educational Development courses for the 2019-20 academic year have been listed on iTrent self-service, and are now open for booking. Upcoming events include:
For up-to-date information, follow CED on twitter @QUB_CED or visit the CED website.
Resources
Please note that all face-to-face IT Training courses have been cancelled until further notice.
Staff can access training materials via go.qub.ac.uk/itdocs – log in with your normal username and password.
Due to the Easter holiday for Queen's staff from Friday 10 April to Friday 17 April inclusive, the next edition of the Staff Round Up will be published on Monday 20 April.
Queen's University Belfast is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
For more information please read our Equality and Diversity Policy.
Queen's University Belfast is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC101788
VAT registration number: GB 254 7995 11
