Events

Jeremy Corbyn lecture

The Right Honourable Jeremy Corbyn MP will be giving a public lecture at Queen's at 11.00am on Thursday 24 May 2018. This will be the Labour Party Leader's first major speaking engagement in Northern Ireland and will provide an opportunity to hear his thoughts on some of the key issues relevant to the region. The event will be hosted by Professor Richard English, who will facilitate a question and answer session after the lecture.

Events

Harri Holkeri Lecture 2018: President Michael D Higgins

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will deliver the Sixth Annual Harri Holkeri Lecture in the Great Hall at Queen's on Tuesday 29 May from 11.30am – 12.30pm. For more information, please see the press release.

The Harri Holkeri Lecture Series recognises and celebrates the contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process of the late Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri.

Data Protection

University Records Retention Schedules

As part of the University's requirements under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will come into effect on Friday 25 May, Records Retention Schedules are being developed for each business area. The retention schedules are in the Records Management section of the Information Compliance webpages. Retention schedules for records relating to Finance, University Committees, and Development and Alumni Relations have been completed and are available to view. The remaining retention schedules will become available when they have been approved.

Intervarsity

Queen's University Boat Race

Queen's University Boat Race is three weeks away, on the second Saturday in June. Staff can get tickets from Queen's Sport reception, or call 028 9068 1126. Tickets are £10.

Please see here for more detail.

Research

Multiple Sclerosis Study – Call for Volunteers

Staff are invited to register their interest in a forthcoming study being carried out by the Centre for Experimental Medicine. The study is entitled 'Investigating Functional Immune Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis' and the Centre is looking for healthy people, aged 18 years or older, who would be willing to donate blood towards this research. If you are interested please read this Participant Information Sheet, for further information, and contact Dr Denise Fitzgerald as follows: 

Professional Development

Advance HE accreditation

Queen's has been awarded accreditation by Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) for the new professional development pathways towards recognition for the three categories of Fellowship.

For more information about the pathways offered by the Queen's Merit Award (AFHEA, FHEA and SFHE), please contact Karen Fraser at k.fraser@qub.ac.uk.

Event

UKICRS Symposium – Special Event Registration

• Monday 4 June: Lessons from the Other Side: Life after University, 11.00am – 1.00pm, Riddel Hall

Part of the annual UKICRS Symposium, supported by the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (FMHLS) Athena SWAN programme. The event will include short talks highlighting the experiences of four young researchers who have recently made the transition from a PhD or postdoctoral position in university to careers within the pharmaceutical industry or media communications. Talks will be followed by questions from the audience.

For more information and to register, please follow this link.

Staff Recognition

Rising Star Awards UK 2018 – Voting opportunity

Dr Geetha Srinivasan, from Queen's University Ionic Liquid Laboratories (QUILL), has been shortlisted amongst 10 individuals for the Rising Star Awards UK 2018 in the Science and Engineering category.

Staff are welcome to support Dr Srinivasan by casting votes at this link.

Training

Finance Training Programme

There are places still available on the 'Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC)' training session on Wednesday 23 May. Further information, including details on how to register via iTrent, and how to access online learning materials, is provided on the Finance Directorate website.

Courses are available in:

• a classroom-based environment, delivered by the Finance team; and

Inaugural Lecture

Inaugural Lecture Invitation – Biological Sciences

• Wednesday 20 June: Microbes, P and Me, 4.00pm, MBC, North Lecture Theatre, OG 046

Staff are invited to this inaugural lecture by Professor John McGrath, Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the School of Biological Sciences. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Jenny Williamson at the details below. Refreshments will be served following the lecture.

Research Excellence Framework

REF 2021: Briefing for Postdocs

The Postdoctoral Forum and the Research Policy Office have arranged a briefing session for postdoctoral research staff to learn more about the next Research Excellence Framework (REF), taking place in 2021, and how it affects their current and future career pathways. Two dedicated lunchtime information sessions have been arranged, which will include a short presentation covering the background to REF, key issues for REF 2021, and how it affects postdocs. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers. Please see full details and links to register below:

News

SSESW Newsletter

The Summer 2018 issue of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work newsletter is now available to view online. The issue provides updates on recent education and research activities and the ways in which the School is seeking to make a difference to people's lives, locally and globally.

Staff can download a copy at this link. Previous editions can be viewed via the School website.

News

Seamus Heaney Centre

• Wednesday 23 May: Room to Rhyme: 50th Anniversary Conference,
  9.30am – 5.00pm (with readings from 6.00pm), Linen Hall Library
  
  Featuring a plenary address from Professor Edna Longley and evening readings by Michael Longley, Alan Gillis, and Colette Bryce. This event is free, but booking is essential. See here for more information.

Community Engagement

Queen's Big Give

Staff are invited to donate and volunteer for this year's Queen's Big Give, organised by the Students' Union (SU), Community Engagement, Estates Environmental Team and Accommodation.

Donate 
Unwanted reusable goods such as kitchenware, clothes, books, CDs, DVDs and non-perishable food can be dropped off at British Heart Foundation and South Belfast Food Bank collection points at the SU, Ashby and MBC until Saturday 9 June. Free house collections are also available by phoning the British Heart Foundation on 028 9024 5838.

Public Engagement

Balmoral Show

Queen's staff showcased some of the cutting-edge research carried out at Queen's to thousands of visitors at this year's Balmoral Show. Students and staff guided visitors through exhibits and stalls covering food science through to robotics and virtual reality, and an interactive geographical sandpit in which participants could create new hills and valleys and watch the real-time results of their efforts. Pictured, from left to right are Thomas McRoberts, Baxter the Robot and Conor McElvogue.

For more information on Queen's presence at the Balmoral Show, please follow this link.

Student Development

Queen's Scholarship Awards

The University recently conferred 13 different awards on 106 students covering the 2017/18 academic year. The awards, within the Scholarships and Awards Group's remit, include scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, range from undergraduate entrance scholarships to prizes for trainee teachers, and include travel scholarships and postgraduate scholarships for outstanding achievement.

Staff can read more on the Academic Affairs website.

Student Engagement

International Student Photography Competition

International Student Support invite staff to visit the Main Site Tower foyer before Friday 25 May to view entries to their inaugural International Student Photography Competition. The theme is 'What Belfast means to me' and consists of four categories: Community; Nightlife; Nature; and Cityscape.

Staff can vote in the People's Choice Category – the winning photograph will receive vouchers worth £75.

Wellbeing

Pedometer Challenge / Queen's White Coat Walk

There will be a Pedometer Challenge lunchtime awards ceremony on Tuesday 29 May at 1.15pm, in the Auditorium of the McClay Library. Final results and winners will be announced at the awards. Staff Wellbeing would like to thank all staff who took part in the Challenge this year, and for all the interesting team names, tweets and pictures. 

White Coat Walk 
The SCCE Green Impact Team invite all staff to the first ever 'Worldwide White Coat Walk' on Wednesday 6 June, alongside other universities around the world raising money for cancer.

Sport, Health and Wellbeing

Queen's Sport: Summer Membership

Staff can now avail of a 'Three-Month Queen's Sport Membership'. Staff who join today would get the rest of the month of May free.

Please follow this link to find out more and to join online.

Impact

QPOL Policy Engagement and Research Blog

Recent contributions from QPol. Click on the links to read. 

• People in Northern Ireland Want the UK to Stay in the Customs Union and Single Market New Research on Public Attitudes Reveals
  Professors John Garry and Brendan O'Leary look at some of the headline findings from their recent report into public attitudes to Brexit across Northern Ireland.

Impact

The Conversation (and Anthill Podcast)

See below for the latest Queen's article published in The Conversation. Click on the link to read.

• Five myths about Palestine's youth activists – debunked 
  By Dr Julie Norman

If you are interested in writing for The Conversation, contact comms.office@qub.ac.uk to find out more.

Arts and entertainment

Queen's Film Theatre listings

Please see below for this week's screenings. Click on the film titles for more information. Staff ticket price £5 (standard ticket price £6.95).

Michael Inside – Critically acclaimed prison drama telling the story of Michael McCrea, an impressionable 18-year-old living with his grandfather Francis in a Dublin housing estate.

The Sound of Music – Returning in a 4K restoration, Julie Andrews stars as Maria, a novice at a strict Salzburg convent, in this timeless musical classic based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers.

Wellbeing

Parenting NI – Being an Effective Parent

• Thursday 24 May: Being an Effective Parent, 1.00pm – 2.00pm, location TBC 

This workshop will give parents the time to think about different parenting styles. It will enable parents to consciously think about how they parent, with an overall aim of making life in their home easier with happy and healthy children.

Please register to attend here; the room will be confirmed after registration. Lunch will be provided at this session. 

Organised by Staff Wellbeing, in conjunction with Parenting NI.

Training

Disability Awareness

Staff are advised of two upcoming training sessions on disability awareness, delivered by Employers for Disability NI (EFDNI). The sessions will take place on Tuesday 12 and Tuesday 19 June.

For further details, and to register, please follow this link.

Learning and Development

Learning and Development 2017/18 Course Programme

Staff can view upcoming training courses at this link. To book a place on an upcoming training course, log onto iTrent.

Staff are advised that, with the exception of wait-listed courses, Organisational Development do not carry waiting lists over from one academic year to the next.

For queries/support, please contact training@qub.ac.uk.

@QueensOrgDev

Professional Development

CED

A number of the Centre for Educational Development run courses for the 2017-18 academic year are listed on iTrent self-service, and are now open for booking. 

For up-to-date information please follow CED on Twitter or check the CED website.

• Wednesday 23 May: Small Group Teaching, 2.00pm – 4.30pm

Training

IT Training Courses

Please see below details of upcoming IT training courses, now available to book on iTrent.

Course dates can be viewed here.

Tip of the Day: During the Creating Infographics and Visual Content workshop on 30 May, you will practice using Piktochart, Canva and Sway. Free tools which allow you to create professional, visually appealing social media posts, infographics, newsletters and more. Register on iTrent.

Round Up

Staff Round Up submissions – deadline reminder

Staff are reminded that the deadline for submitting articles to the Staff Round Up is 1.00pm on the Thursday prior to the next edition. Inclusion of submissions received after the deadline is not guaranteed.