Queen's University's first staff pulse survey, facilitated by People Insight, has now launched.

You will have received your unique link via email from People Insight and you are encouraged to have your say by taking part – there are just 12 questions and it only takes a few minutes to complete. 

As with previous surveys, the information that you provide in response to the survey is strictly confidential and cannot be traced back to you individually. By sharing your views and experience, you can have your say and help shape a better employee experience for everyone who works at Queen's. The survey closes at 5.00pm on Friday 5 February. Find out more on the People and Culture website.

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The third Monday in January is usually known as 'Blue Monday'. Let's turn this day on its head and into something positive on 'Brew Monday' by encouraging people to get together over a warming virtual cuppa.

It's more important than ever that we stay connected, even if we have to keep a physical distance.

Why not nominate someone in your team to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting for you all to have a virtual cuppa and chat, or reach out to a family member or friend to chat, listen and support one another.

If you or anyone you know needs to chat, you can contact a Samaritan.

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The Portering team would like to extend their appreciation to members of the Queen's community who so generously donated towards their 2020 Christmas Toy Appeal. Through your contributions, the Portering team were able to donate just over £6,500 to St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army's Christmas fundraising efforts. This has helped provide gifts for disadvantaged children at a time when many in our local communities are facing financial insecurity. 

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). 

Please continue to review our FAQs for staff and students and the Public Health Agency website.

Watch: Campus Safety videos.

 

Useful contacts

If the information you are looking for is not addressed in the University's Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs, there are a range of contact points for staff and students:

 

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Any member of staff or student who is either:

• self-isolating
• has developed symptoms
• or has received a positive test 

is asked to please inform the University via our dedicated online portal.

StopCOVID NI app

To help protect yourself and all within the Queen's community and wider public, please download the STOPCovid NI contact tracing app, available at:

• Google Play Store
• Apple App Store

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The United Kingdom left the European Union (EU) single market and customs union at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. This means that there will be new rules for citizens and businesses in the UK.

Staff and students can visit our dedicated website for information, support and the latest developments in relation to Brexit. Please check these webpages regularly for updates.

The University is currently advertising for the following positions internally:

• 20/108525 – Clerical Officer - Job Share, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• 20/108526 – Clerical Officer, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• 20/108550 – Technician, School of Pharmacy

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This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the risks of cervical cancer, and help women and people with cervixes learn about how to reduce these risks and prevent the illness.

It's vital that you are: attending cervical screening when invited; knowing the symptoms of cervical cancer and seeking medical advice if experiencing any; taking up the HPV vaccine if aged 11-18, and encouraging others to do so; knowing where to find support and further information.

For further information about Cervical Cancer screening, the NHS has provided this website to give more information.

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The Queen's and AFBI Strategic Alliance has now been formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that sets out the guiding principles under which the two organisations will work together in order to deliver transformational research in the areas of food, environment and agriculture.

To mark this significant milestone staff are invited to take part in a joint Queen's and AFBI staff webinar between on Tuesday 2 February from 1.00pm to 2.30pm. This will provide an overview of the Alliance's background, areas of research focus and plans for the future, followed by a Q & A.

Please register as soon as possible here. A link to the webinar will be sent out to those who register in due course. 

As part of the continued focus on developing leadership capability at Queen's, People and Culture's Connected Leaders level 2 Leadership Development Programme, with an optional ILM level 5 award in leadership and management, launches in March 2021. Applications are welcome from 4 January 2021 until 5.00pm on Wednesday 20 January 2021.

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This January Queen's marks the one year anniversary of the official launch of the Queen's Fellowship Academy. Read the full story on the Staff Gateway.

The Fellowship Academy was established to offer a comprehensive range of bespoke tailored opportunities to support future research leaders and influencers with their professional, academic and personal development and progression. Further information on the Fellowship Academy can be found here.

(Photograph: Fellowship Academy Launch event on 13 January 2020)

Read the latest Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol) Research Blog posts:

• Joseph Ireland: Spread Climate Change spirit with your words and implement a Climate Change Act
• Professor Katy Hayward: What the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement means for Northern Ireland

To submit an article to QPol, email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.

Read the latest Queen's articles published in The Conversation: 

• Dr Billy Melo Araujo: Brexit trade problems: what's gone wrong and can it be fixed?
• Dr Connor Bamford: One year since we first reported on this coronavirus – what we've learned, and still need to know
• Dr Deborah Wells: Six tips for looking after your new puppy, according to science
• Dr Fiona Lavelle: How we cook changed during lockdown – and we can learn from this for life after the pandemic

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

• Building new habits and making things happen in 2021: Joyce Johnston (Head of Reward and Wellbeing, People and Culture Directorate) provides staff with some tips from the Staff Wellbeing Team to help you stick to your new health and wellness resolutions in the new year.

If you are interested in writing a staff blog piece, please contact internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk.

Staff are invited to the webinar 'Black Lives Matter? Attitudes to Minorities and Migrants in Northern Ireland' on Wednesday 27 January at 3.30pm via Zoom.

Details and registration.

This webinar focuses on attitudes to minorities and migrants in Northern Ireland, using data from the 2019 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey. The main presenter is Dr Lucy Michael, followed by a panel discussion.

The SMDBS Gender Equality Office invites staff to attend the Dame Ingrid Allen Lecture (Annual Gender Equality Lecture) on Friday 29 January from 11.00am to 12.15pm via Microsoft Teams.

The guest speaker is Professor Parveen Yaqoob. Further details, including Professor Yaqoob's biography and the online registration form, can be found at the following link.

More information / Register.

Queen's staff and students are invited to a short Waste Awareness Webinar with Belfast City Council on Wednesday 27 January from 2.00pm to 3.00pm.

Register here. The joining link will be sent after registration.

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Queen's Carbon and Energy Team have put together some top energy saving tips for reducing energy usage and carbon footprint whilst working from home. See here for more Climate Conscious Living tips.

Let the sunlight in
Make sure your work-space has plenty of windows and natural solar light so lights can remain off.

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Do you want to make a difference? Is the protection of the rights, safety and dignity of patients who are research subjects important to you? Are you interested in research which benefits patients and service users? If so, the ORECNI service at BSO would welcome your involvement and support. They are seeking new members for Health and Social Care Research Ethics Committees (HSC REC) in Northern Ireland.

Full information and application form. To discuss the role of a research ethics committee member please telephone Tamla Ervine or Fiona McNally at ORECNI on 028 9536 1400.

The deadline for applications is 4.00pm on Thursday 28 January. Interviews are scheduled for 22 and 23 February.

The Postdoctoral Development Centre is co-ordinating a series of virtual career interviews to help postdocs and PhD students explore the different career options available to them, directly from successful professionals who established their career outside of academia and, on occasion, from academics.

The November interview will take place on Friday 22 January from 10.00am to 11.15am. This interview will feature Dr Joan Edwards, Specialist Animal Nutrition at Palital Feed Additives, and Dr Ivan Fisher, Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at G&L Scientific (Regulatory and quality control consultancy).

All are welcome. More information / Register.

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

For information, please follow this link.

 

Due to the latest COVID restrictions, the QFT has again had to close its door. But patrons can still experience the best that QFT has to offer, from home, with QFT Player.

For new titles and more information, please see the QFT Player 'What's On' webpage.

 

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Staff are invited to attend the Online Exhibition and Performance of 'Public CoLab' on Friday 22 January at 3.00pm.

Attend here.

Public CoLab is an annual practice-based collaborative project between Broadcast students and Architecture students. This year, the project's focus will be 'Stories and Spaces in a post-Covid world'. The project takes place from Monday 18 to Friday 22 January and will culminate in the public Online Exhibition and Performance on the Friday.

During the week, participating Broadcast and Architecture students will research public space and people's various needs of that space and come up with stories and solutions for the adaptation of public space in a post-Covid, pandemic-prepared world.

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We fully recognise that this is challenging and anxious time for students and, in some cases, this may be exacerbated further by financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University's Student Support and Hardship Funds are available to support students in financial hardship during their studies and we would encourage tutors, advisors of studies and all colleagues in student-facing roles to help signpost students to the funds where appropriate:

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Under the current NI Executive COVID-19 restrictions the Naughton Gallery remains closed. In the meantime, follow the Gallery across their social media channels for updates and digital content including artist spotlights, Collection highlights, Book Club recommendations, ARTSOUNDS playlists, and more.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Student Wellbeing Service has organised a programme called '2021: Easier Said Than Done'. As part of this programme, and due to the popular 'Key to Opening Up During Lockdown' Mindfulness Sessions held in 2020, the Student Wellbeing Service has arranged for two staff sessions:

• Mindfulness Compassion Sessions: every Monday and Friday in January from 10.00am to 10.30am via Zoom
• "The Foundation of Motivation" Webinar – Wednesday 20 January, 1.00pm to 2.00pm

Register here to view the full programme

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The Graduate School recently launched its Semester Two Programme for January – May 2021. This programme acts as a guide to illustrate some of the many development opportunities available to postgraduate students this semester, as well as a range of community and wellbeing events to help them to stay connected.

View the full programme here.

The Graduate School invites the Queen's community to the next 'Innovation After Hours' event on Thursday 4 February from 6.00pm to 7.00pm via Microsoft Teams.

February's speaker is Linzi Rooney, owner of Born and Bred – an online and Belfast City Centre store.

Register here. 

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

View the update here.

The Handbook of Assessment Guidance and Support 2020-21 is now available on Queen's Online. The guidance outlined within the Handbook is the University's preferred practice on assessment.

Upcoming Canvas VLE Training:

• Wednesday 20 January, 1.00pm to 1.30pm: Building Communities. Register here.
  
  This session will focus on how to create and maintain a social presence online highlighting some of the key Canvas tools to help foster student engagement and interaction. Practical advice will be given on how to set the scene, create, facilitate and engage your students, to help build that sense of community in your course.

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New Rich Content Editor in Canvas

Canvas has updated the Rich Content Editor (RCE), which is now available in all Canvas courses. It looks very similar to the original editor you are used to but provides a new and improved interface with some enhanced functionality. To understand what's new, check out this useful blog post: Canvas New Rich Content Editor.

Digital Accessibility with Blackboard Ally

Blackboard Ally, a tool which will help you to gauge and improve the accessibility of course content is now available in your Canvas courses. Check out the post linked below for the latest information on BBAlly and what this will mean for both staff and students at Queen's. Link to the latest guidance below which includes training and support on offer:

• Blackboard Ally: http://go.qub.ac.uk/BB-Ally
• Digital Accessibility: http://go.qub.ac.uk/DigitalAccessibility 

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A number of Centre for Educational Development courses for the 2020-21 academic year have been listed on iTrent self-service, and are now open for booking. Courses include:

• Canvas Course on Small Group Teaching/Lab Demonstration. This is a self-paced course on Canvas for teaching assistants and anyone new to teaching. Register here.
• Being an Adviser of Studies: Monday 21 June, 9.30am to 11.00am. Register here.

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Places are now available for the following courses in January 2021. Register via iTrent.

For queries or support, please contact Organisational Development: stafflearning@qub.ac.uk.

• Learning for All – Effective Remote Mentoring: Tuesday 26 January, 9.30am to 1.00pm.
  
  This interactive workshop will provide an understanding of the principles of mentoring, the core skills needed to provide an impactful mentoring experience and how to develop an effective mentoring relationship and experience.

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As part of the University's continuing commitment to supporting the Mental Health of its staff and students, the Diversity and Inclusion Unit in partnership with Action Mental Health are continuing to deliver Mindful Manager sessions until February 2021.

Mindful Manager training is aimed at those staff with line management responsibility and will upskill managers, providing Line Mangers with the tools required to identify issues staff may be having in the workplace and provide appropriate support.

Next available sessions:

• Tuesday 19 January, 11.00am to 3.00pm
• Tuesday 26 January, 9.30am to 1.00pm
• Wednesday 17 February, 9.30am to 1.00pm

More information / Registration.

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There is a new feature in Teams that allows you to share your screen and content from Teams 'Chat'. Click the Screen Sharing icon, top right, next to 'Audio call'.

Further information is available on the Office 365 Training & Support SharePoint site.

To arrange a Teams Clinic for staff in your School that goes beyond the basics, please email itcourses@qub.ac.uk.

The new training schedule has been published but more courses will be added. Course dates can be viewed at: go.qub.ac.uk/trainingschedule.

Register for courses via iTrent Self-Service.

Places are still available on the following online courses:

• Using Microsoft Teams: Tuesday 19 January, 10.00am to 11.00am
• Creating Infographics and Visual Content: Wednesday 20 January, 10.00am to 11.30am
• SharePoint for Site Contributors: Thursday 21 January, 10.30am to 11.30am
• SharePoint for Site Owners: Thursday 21 January, 12.30pm to 1.30pm

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