Our REF results, as reported by Times Higher Education, rank Queen's University Belfast as 37th in the UK, and have highlighted the strength and depth of excellent research across the entire University.

A number of UoAs have performed exceptionally well, with UK-leading rankings within their panels. Agriculture, veterinary and food sciences was ranked joint 1st in the UK; Healthcare and biomedical sciences was ranked 4th in the UK; and Law was ranked 8th in the UK. Our depth and strength in Engineering is also clear, with 96% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Overall, 88% of research submitted by Queen’s has been assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent and 99% of our research environment was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

View a selection of case studies on the University’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) website.

The 2022 Queen's Technician Showcase takes place on Thursday 26 May from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

All staff and students are invited to this event highlighting Queen's technicians and the valuable work they do. The day will include a variety of talks and events, including a poster show, workshops, and demonstrations in the Biological Sciences Building.

Find out more on the QUB Technicians website.

Each year, the Communications Office showcases a selection of our graduands who have interesting stories to tell. In advance of the July Graduations, they would like your help to tell those stories.

Do you know a student who has won an award or is involved in charity work? Who has overcome adversity or achieved sporting success while studying? Or a student who has secured an exciting graduate job or career placement or who has their own business start-up idea?

If so, please email comms.office@qub.ac.uk with an outline of the student's story, School and subject. Please also include a mobile number and email address for the student so the Communications Office can get in touch to discuss it further.

The closing date for submitting information on Graduand success stories is 5.00pm on Monday 6 June.

The University continues to closely monitor the situation in relation to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and to align our approach with guidance from the NI Executive, Public Health Agency and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Please continue to review our FAQs for staff and students and guidance on the NI Direct website. 

We are extremely proud of our contribution to REF 2021; however, we are also aware that REF is only one part of the broader research ecosystem. Throughout the month of May, therefore, we are going to showcase and celebrate the totality of our research here at Queen's – our vibrant postdoctoral community, our inclusive research culture and our commitment to innovation in research both locally and globally.

Find out more.

Queen's enhanced flexible working offer, including the Agile Working Toolkit, launched on 2 November 2021, and, since Monday 11 April 2022 onwards, agile working arrangements, as agreed through local Team Standards, now apply for all staff roles.

In order to effectively evaluate this pilot year of the new agile working approach, People and Culture need to hear from as many staff as possible about their experience of agile working.

Nominations are now open for the new Queen's Technician Awards. These awards recognise the role of technical staff in delivering excellence in research, education and as a newcomer to Queen's.

Nominations are welcome from colleagues and students, and technical staff can also self-nominate.

The application form and criteria can be found here: Queen's Technician Awards 2022.

The closing date for submission is Wednesday 18 May at 5.00pm.

Queen's annual Pedometer Challenge begins today. The challenge will run for four weeks between Monday 16 May and Sunday 12 June.

Team Challenge Registration.

Individual Challenge Registration.

From Monday 11 April onwards, agile working arrangements will apply for all staff, as agreed through local Team Standards. Our approach, which is set out in the Agile Working Toolkit, places each team at its centre, providing a framework to enable discussion and support the creation of individual Team Standards that best reflect the circumstances of each team.

A full programme of support has been developed for managers and staff, over the last five months since the pilot launched, to ensure a smooth transition to this new way of working, and this will continue for the duration of the pilot.

An overview of what is available can be found below and more information, including how to attend, is available on the P&C SharePoint pages.

In fulfilling the University's obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the University's Equality Scheme includes a commitment to consult on the implementation of new and revised policies, as defined by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, with regards to equality of opportunity and good relations.

The University is seeking the views of staff, students, Trade Union representatives and external consultees on a proposed Pilot Linguistic Residence Scheme at Queen's.

The deadline for consultation responses is 5.00pm on Friday 8 July 2022.

With the end of the academic year fast approaching, colleagues are reminded to please encourage their students to take the OMNI survey at omni.qubsu.org.

Downloadable assets in the OMNI toolkit can be used, which include: email copy and email signature graphic; social media graphics, videos and posts; and more.

The survey findings will be used by both the University and Students' Union to make change for the better at Queen's and beyond. ​

Find out more about the OMNI movement.

The Digital Experience Insights Survey is part of a national initiative where insights about the student digital experience is gathered from a range of higher education institutions and further education colleges across the UK.

The new Student Survey Findings brochure is now available providing details on the student digital experience at Queen's for the 2021/22 survey reporting period.

Read the Queen's Student Survey Findings brochure.

Watch this short video for the headline findings.

The following Leading and Managing at Queen's workshops, scheduled over the next few weeks, still have places remaining.

Staff can book via iTrent using the links below, or search for all available 'Leading and Managing at Queen’s' workshops via iTrent Self Service. Full programme information is available here.

Queen's Gender Initiative, the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Gender Equality Team, and the Diversity and Inclusion Team invite staff to attend a virtual Active Bystander Training session on Friday 17 June from 10.00am to 11.30am.

Register for Active Bystander Training via iTrent Self-Service.

The Diversity and Inclusion Unit invites all Queen's staff to attend a Bullying and Harassment training session on Wednesday 25 May from 10.30am to 12.00pm via MS Teams.

Register for Bullying and Harassment training via iTrent. The event link will be sent out the day before the session.

The Postdoctoral Development Centre invites postdocs and early career researchers at Queen's interested in developing their leadership skills to a new two-day workshop designed to support staff in their leadership role.

This workshop will take place on Tuesday 21 June and Tuesday 5 July from 9.30am to 4.30pm in Riddel Hall.

Find out more and apply by Friday 20 May at 5.00pm.*

Recruitment is now underway for next year's Course Reps. Staff are encouraged to promote this opportunity to their students in any way they can.

Staff can use this Promotional Toolkit, which includes graphics, videos and sample social media posts.

Students can find out here if there is a role available on their course and volunteer by 5.00pm on Tuesday 31 May.

The Student Wellbeing Service is currently recruiting to the pool of Safe and Healthy Relationship Advocates across the University. This is a volunteer role for staff to support students affected by either bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and/or hate crime.

The role requires staff to meet individually with students who refer through the Report + Support website to provide emotional/practical support and signposting to specialist services.

Find out more information about this opportunity here.

Staff are asked to express their interest by 5.00pm on Friday 27 May.

The latest from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):

• Professor Christine Brown Wilson: How a Fun Game is Transforming Attitudes towards Dementia
• Alan Whysall: Northern Ireland's political future: challenges after the Assembly elections
• Dr Peter McLoughlin: Northern Ireland election: despite Sinn Féin's historic win over unionists, things may not be as they seem
• Dr Ronagh McQuigg: Northern Ireland's New Stalking Legislation

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

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:

• Dr Peter John McLoughlin: Northern Ireland election: despite Sinn Féin's historic win over unionists, things may not be as they seem | Spanish translation: Elecciones en Irlanda del Norte: ¿Qué incógnitas arroja la histórica victoria del Sinn Féin?

Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff Gateway:

• REF results highlight research excellence at Queen's
• Queen's doctor receives prestigious award for research on head and neck cancer
• Queen's Professor awarded France's prestigious Palmes Académiques

Our latest 'Spotlight on our Staff' profile features Sara Lynch, Head of Sustainability at Queen's.

As Head of Sustainability in the Estates Directorate, Sara leads the University's expanded Sustainability Team, overseeing the development of the University's sustainability strategy. As a member of the Estates Senior Management team, Sara is responsible for improving the University's sustainability performance across all activities, driving cultural and behavioural change throughout the campus and community.

Read Sara's staff profile.

Technical staff are invited to the next event in the Technician Venue Tour series. This tour will take in the KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, MBC, on Thursday 19 May from 12.00pm to 1.00pm BST.

Places are limited. Tickets are available here.

Staff are invited to join members of Queen's Heritage Hub at its first in-person networking event on Wednesday 18 May at 1.00pm in room OG/074, Lanyon Building North. Lunch will be provided.

To register to attend, RSVP to Emma McAlister, emcalister07@qub.ac.uk.

Staff are invited to The RM Jones Lecture, given by Professor David Armitage (Harvard University) on Wednesday 18 May from 4.00pm to 5.30pm online.

The full title of Professor Armitage's lecture is '1320, 1776 And All That: The Declaration of Arbroath, The Declaration of Independence, and the Fate of Documents'. This is a live online lecture followed by an interactive Q&A. The event will be chaired by Professor Richard English (Mitchell Institute).

Register here for The RM Jones Lecture.

Staff are invited to join the live podcast recording of the next Career Insights Interview, taking place online on Friday 27 May from 11.30am to 12.30pm. This will be of particular inerest to postdocs and PhD candidates at Queen's.

This session's guests are Dr Elaine O'Reilly (University College Dublin) and Dr Delphine Wagner (Kinesys Consulting).

Career Insights Interview: More information | Registration.

A series of mini staff engagement events will be held at sites across the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (FMHLS) campus. Co-hosted by the Faculty and School Leadership Teams, staff will have an opportunity to hear a strategic update from the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and then chat informally with the Leadership and Management Teams over refreshments.

All events are open to all FMHLS staff, but will be held at the following specific sites for convenience:

• Thursday 19 May, 2.00pm to 4.00pm: Lower Ground Floor Lecture Theatre/Atrium, School of Biological Sciences
• Wednesday 1 June, 12.30pm to 2.00pm: MBC (Lecture Theatre 1 and Main Foyer)

On Wednesday 15 to Thursday 16 June, Queen's will co-host a virtual brokerage event to facilitate the inclusion of SSH partners into Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment projects.

Academic colleagues are encouraged to register, create their profile and offer expertise or project collaboration as soon as possible. From today, participants will be able to review profiles and arrange one to one meetings with people of interest.

This event will be promoted in Europe to widen the range of opportunities.

Please register here.

One of the key challenges in commercialising University research is access to the early stage funding necessary to take a novel idea to an early stage of proof – thereby validating the commercial potential in order to attract additional investment. To overcome this funding challenge, the University has developed a 'Proof-of-Principle' (PoP) programme to support projects with significant potential to deliver economic impact via either licensing or creation of a spin-out.

The award of up to £10,000 is intended to move the projects to the next stage of proof.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 25 May at 5.00pm.

More information and application form: Proof-of-Principle (PoP) programme.

A Global Research Partnership Development Fund has been established to support networking and partnering by Queen's academics with colleagues worldwide. This scheme will support research partnership development with collaborators in global organisations – including academic institutions, business, government and third sector partners (including NGOs, civic and community organisations, etc) – in any country beyond the UK.

The application process is open to all Schools and priority will be given to research proposals that address any of the following:

The May edition of the EU Funding Newsletter is now available.

The newsletter is produced by the Research and Enterprise Directorate.

The Students' Union Shop is holding a clearance sale, with Queen's-branded hoodies from £12.50 while stocks last, and more.

For more information call in to the SU Shop on 3 Elmwood Avenue, or contact sushop@qub.ac.uk

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

More information: Campus Development: The week ahead.

Queen's Ensemble in Residence, Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, invites staff to its next concert on Friday 20 May at 7.30pm in the Harty Room, Music Building.

This 'New Horizons' concert features works by two former Music students at Queen's, composers Amy Rooney and Eduard Zatriqi, as well as pieces by Ian Wilson and Rebecca Saunders.

Book your place here.

This week's new and returning films at Queen's Film Theatre, your cinema on campus. Staff tickets are priced at £5.50 (standard ticket price £7.40). If you are 26 and under join LUMI to get tickets for £4.50 every day, all year round. 

NEW THIS WEEK:

AN CAILÍN CIÚIN (The Quiet Girl): Based on the acclaimed story, Foster by Claire Keegan, The Quiet Girl is a complex and delicate coming-of-age drama that explores questions of family, neglect, and loss through the eyes of its young protagonist.

The latest weekly update from the Seamus Heaney Centre is now available online. 

View the update.

Taking the early music of Dolly Parton as its starting point, BLUE SMOKE showcases the work of four contemporary artists who explore the idea of landscape and home within their work, although often in unexpected or unconventional ways. A selection of early Dolly Parton records provides the soundtrack to the exhibition.

BLUE SMOKE continues until Sunday 29 May. Admission is free. All are welcome. The Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Photograph: Simon Mills.

The Centre for Educational Development has organised a series of writing workshops for staff on Associate Fellowship or Fellowship HEA and Senior Fellowship HEA, taking place over the following dates and times.

Writing your claim for Associate Fellowship or Fellowship HEA

• 7 November to 18 November 2022: 10.00am to 11.00am
• 16 January to 27 January 2023: 10.00am to 11.00am

Register for this series via iTrent Self Service.

Senior Fellowship HEA

Training on Being an Adviser of Studies will take place on Monday 20 June from 9.30am to 11.00am.

This session is designed for new and more experienced Advisers of Studies. The workshop provides a forum for discussion of the key roles and responsibilities of an Adviser of Studies, based on the Queen's Code of Practice.

Register for Being an Adviser of Studies via iTrent.

Canvas for Assessment (Semester 2 AY2021/22)

The following are key guides to support staff with setup and administration of examinations/tests using Canvas:

• Canvas Assignment Setup Checklist
• Guidance on Assessments
• Guide on Open Book Assessment
• MS Lens Guidance

The Learning for All schedule of dates is now available for the courses below. Course registration is via iTrent Self-Service. For queries or support, please email stafflearning@qub.ac.uk.

• Effective Communication Skills
• Delivering Engaging Learning Sessions Remotely
• Working Smarter for Better Time Management
• Skills for Effective Mentoring
• Planning my Career Development
• Interview skills for Interviewees

Many staff in Queen's need to undertake, lead or collaborate in work-related projects. LinkedIn Learning is a useful resource with a wide range of learning to improve project management skills. Staff are invited to try some of these courses below, or search our curated Project Management Collection and extensive course library to support your own learning needs.

Project Management Foundations: Project management can be used to guide small, simple projects as well as complex enterprise-wide initiatives. This course explains the fundamentals of project management: from establishing project goals and objectives and building a project plan, communicating and closing the project.

Are you interested in gaining an internationally recognised IT qualification? Queen's is an accredited ICDL test centre, operated by the IT Training and Assessment Unit and offers ICDL and ICDL Advanced to current staff and students. Accreditation in the UK is issued by the British Computer Society.

Find out more: ICDL (International Certification of Digital Literacy) at Queen's.

Notification messages in Teams now allow users to mute meeting-specific notifications during calls from the in-meeting menu. Previously, these were managed via settings from the top toolbar.

Find out more.

Staff can find additional training materials on the Office 365 Training and Support SharePoint.

IT training courses will continue to be scheduled throughout this academic year, covering a range of desktop products. If your School or Directorate requires IT training for staff geared towards a specific area or set of tasks, please email itcourses@qub.ac.uk who will arrange a consultation.

Upcoming courses

Places are available on the following upcoming courses. Register for courses via iTrent Self Service.