![close-up image of a flower growing out of a fenced garden on University Square, beside Queen's University Belfast](/sites/media/Media,1920839,smxx.jpg)
22 July 2024
![graphic promoting QUB Pride Picnic, showing the Lanyon Building with a rainbow background and a celebrating crowd at the front waving rainbow flags. Text reads Join us in Celebrating Pride / Wednesday 24th July / The Front Lawn - 12-3pm](/sites/media/pride-picnic-2024.jpg)
All staff and students are invited to the third annual Queen’s Pride Picnic on Wednesday 24 July from 12.00pm to 3.00pm. Pride on campus will be celebrated with music, entertainment, food trucks, drinks and an ice-cream cart for all staff and students to enjoy.
This event is free. Please note: the first 200 registrations will receive a free meal and ice-cream ticket, but there will be the opportunity to purchase from the food trucks and ice-cream cart on the day.
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The Carer’s Research Support Fund is a new fund developed by the Queen’s Gender Initiative as part of the Institutional Athena Swan Programme and is launched in partnership with the Research and Enterprise Directorate. The fund aims to contribute to the costs of additional caring responsibilities for Academics (T&R or Education), Researchers and staff when attending research conferences or other career development research activities.
Staff can apply for up to £500 per academic year which can be used for either caring costs, or travel costs of dependant(s) and an additional caregiver to accompany the staff member to a conference.
Queen's recognises that participation in research conferences and career development research activities can be more challenging for those with caring responsibilities. This new fund is part of our broader approach to enhancing and enabling an inclusive and supportive research culture.
Further information about the launch of the fund will be released soon.
Childcare Services still has limited spaces available in its Out of School Club for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Out of School Club is situated at 11 College Gardens and is available for children attending Primary School (Primary 1 to Primary 7). The Club operates between 2.00pm and 5.45pm and hosts a maximum of 18 children from various schools across Belfast.
Staff wishing to register their interest should please contact childcareservices@qub.ac.uk.
![screengrab of Pure and Research portal homepage 2022](/sites/media/Media,1583831,smxx.jpg)
Pure, the University’s research information system, will be moving to cloud hosting on Thursday 25 July 2024.
As a result, there will be an outage period for Pure from Thursday 25 July – Monday 29 July (inclusive).
What do you need to do?
Anyone with research outputs that have recently been accepted for publication are encouraged to finalise any outstanding output deposits into Pure prior to the outage. The Open Research Team will be unable to validate any items during this outage. If you have any queries or concerns about unvalidated research outputs, contact the Library’s Open Research Team: openaccess@qub.ac.uk.
It will also not be possible to issue a DOI for datasets in Pure. During this time if you urgently require a DOI for your dataset as part of pre-condition for the acceptance of your published manuscript, it is advisable to contact another repository for this service. This can include Zenodo or Dryad. Other relevant data repositories may be found in re3data also. Contact rdm@qub.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Following the migration, users will not notice any difference in the look and feel of Pure. However, if you have Pure saved as a bookmark, it is advised to delete this and re-save the bookmark using this URL, https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/admin/, to ensure you are directed to the cloud hosted site.
What are the benefits?
Migrating Pure to the cloud will offer us several benefits, including:
- Enhanced Performance and New Features: By moving to cloud hosting, we can upgrade Pure more frequently and take advantage of any new features, resulting in improved system performance and a better user experience.
- Improved User Experience: We're transitioning to a single sign-on (SSO) system for logging into Pure, which will bring us in line with other University Systems and Office 365. This change will streamline the login process and improve overall usability.
- Reduced Technical and Maintenance Costs: Moving to the cloud will help reduce the technical and maintenance costs associated with hosting the system on-premises.
- Alignment with Strategy 2030: The move aligns with Strategy 2030 and supports the University's broader goal of moving more services to the cloud.
If you have any questions about this upgrade, or Pure in general, please get in touch at puresupport@qub.ac.uk.
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The next Summer 2024 Round Up edition will issue on Monday 5 August, followed by the next fortnightly edition on Monday 19 August.
The Round Up will resume its weekly schedule from Monday 2 September.
![Student in airport arrivals holding placard with QUB brand mark](/sites/media/Media,847761,en.jpg)
The Student Experience team is seeking staff volunteers to help support with meeting and greeting our new international students to Belfast at Belfast City Airport at various times on the following dates in September:
- Saturday 7 to Tuesday 10 September (inclusive)
- Saturday 14 September
Please register your interest before 20 August by contacting Julie Tomes (j.tomes@qub.ac.uk).
More information
Volunteers can help for short shifts of about three to four hours, or whatever time you can spare – all help is greatly appreciated. The shifts are approximately 9.00am to 12.00pm, 12.00pm to 3.00pm, 3.00pm to 6.00pm and 6.00pm to 9.00pm. A team of Student Assistants is covering most of the requirements and will be there to support attending staff members.
All information on requirements will be supplied to those who volunteer to support this initiative. Travel costs to and from the airport will be covered.
![Queen's staff and students with banner at Belfast Pride Parade 2023](/sites/media/Media,1971585,smxx-800x533.jpg)
Queen’s is proud to confirm that we will be taking part in the Belfast Pride Parade this year on Saturday 27 July. All Queen’s staff and students, and their friends and families, are welcome to join us as we celebrate LGBTQIA+ people in Belfast and beyond.
There will be light breakfast refreshments, coffee and an opportunity to meet, chat and get ready for the parade on the morning before we head to the parade, meeting at 10.30am at Elms BT1, Queen's Accommodation, 8 College Avenue, Belfast BT1 6DS.
Register here to take part in the Queen’s group at Belfast Pride Parade.*
Location and time to follow. The parade will leave at 1.00pm sharp and further information on the route and parade can be found on the Belfast Pride Parade website.
All participants will be provided with branded wristbands allocated by the festival and only those with wristbands can participate.
* Queen's has a limited number of wristbands, so please only register if you can join the Queen's group.
More information
Belfast Pride Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Belfast and this year the festival will run from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July, with Pride Day and the centrepiece Pride Parade on Saturday 27 July. The Belfast Pride Parade is the main event in the LGBTQIA+ calendar, a major city event and the biggest cross community parade in Belfast.
![woman using desktop computer in a bright office space](/sites/media/woman-using-computer.jpg)
Microsoft have informed us that access to the M365 desktop applications will be discontinued for QWorkers and Additional Persons starting 1 August. Please be assured that the functionalities of Word, Outlook, Excel, and other M365 applications will remain fully accessible via a web browser. Digital and Information Services (D&IS) will reach out to those affected before the change takes effect, and the D&IS Training Unit will provide necessary guidance for a smooth transition.
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To facilitate the year end process, please note the following arrangements for raising sales invoices to customers for activities carried out prior to 31 July 2024:
Qfis Sales order invoices
- Up to 31 July 2024: All sales orders relating to activities completed prior to 31 July 2024 should be fully approved and posted to QFIS by 4pm on Monday 31 July 2024. Invoices in progress but not fully approved by 31 July 2024, will be posted to the new year.
- 1 August 2024 – 8 August 2024: Sales order function will be available on QFIS but during this period there will be a delay in the email and posting of invoices. Invoices raised during this period will be emailed to initiators and posted to QFIS in the August 2024 period (202401) from 9 August 2024.
- Any sales orders raised from 1 August 2024 relating to activities carried out in the period prior to 31 July 2024 should be clearly identified as relating to financial year 2023-24 using the GL reference field and the invoice text. By exception and where material, manual adjustments will be made by the Accounting Services section of Finance to the 2023-24 accounts.
- Post 9 August 2024: Sales order invoicing will operate as normal. All fully approved sales orders will be posted in financial year 2024-25.
If you have any queries, please contact the Accounting Services section of Finance by emailing sorequests@qub.ac.uk.
![PFC_Peter Froggatt Centre_Administration Building_quadrangle](/sites/media/Media,762674,en.jpg)
It is important that the University's accounts record all the financial activity incurred during the period ended on 31 July 2024.
To ensure that expenditure is recorded correctly, all transactions relating to July 2024 and earlier periods should be sent to the Accounts Payable for payment by the cut-off dates listed below:
- Request for Payments: 9 August 2024
- Staff Expenses: 9 August 2024. All relevant Staff Expenses Claims, including follow-up queries in Workflow, must be authorised and cleared by this date.
- P2P Invoices: It is important that all Goods and Services received prior to the 31 July 2024, relating to P2P orders beginning '58', be GRNd immediately on delivery in order that the related invoices, that are sent directly by suppliers to Accounts Payable, may be matched and processed for payment on receipt.
Further clarification of these arrangements, if required, may be obtained by contacting the Accounts Payable: accounts.payable@qub.ac.uk.
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Following the successful REC Reverse Mentoring Pilot, the QGI-REC Team are seeking participants for the next REC Reverse Mentoring Programme. This will run as an accelerated programme over the course of three months from September to November 2024.
Please apply here by Friday 26 July if you are interested in taking part as a Mentor.* If you have any questions about the programme please email: REC@qub.ac.uk
Save the date: All participants will be invited to a launch event on Thursday 29 August from 12.00pm to 1.00pm. A light lunch will be provided.
More information
The purpose of the programme is to provide an opportunity for senior staff who want to learn from and build awareness of the barriers and experiences faced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues to do so through a one-to-one mentoring relationship.
* Applications are now invited from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues to be Mentors on the programme, with places allocated on a first come, first served basis. Mentees will then be invited from senior management staff. All participants will be provided with further information and guidance before the programme begins.
Mentors and mentees should be prepared to commit to one meeting per month over the three-month programme.
![Personal Development Review (PDR) - image shows young professional woman smiling](/sites/media/Media,1658111,smxx.png)
As we approach the end of the current academic year, colleagues are reminded of the importance of preparing for annual Personal Development Review (PDR) meetings, which are expected to be undertaken by all staff.
More information on PDR including documents, guidance and FAQs can be found on the People and Culture Intranet.
More information
PDR in its current format has been in place at Queen’s for five years and provides a framework for meaningful conversations. The process provides an opportunity to ensure that staff receive feedback, review their progress, agree important work priorities, and discuss their personal development.
The People and Culture Plan 2023-26 commits to supporting a culture of continuous learning and development which empowers staff to be responsible for their own learning, development and progression, and PDR forms a key part of this commitment.
The strategic commitments for Queen’s are stated in Strategy 2030 and staff are encouraged to reflect on aligning their own work priorities so we can all work collectively to deliver and enable good performance alongside individual learning and career development.
Colleagues in the Postdoctoral Development Centre have recommended a new template form with some additional guidance to make the process more effective for postdoctoral staff and their Reviewers. This form can be accessed via the PDR intranet site and also via the Postdoctoral Development Centre website where further support and resources are available.
The People and Culture Directorate will seek to implement future PDR improvements in the way that PDR is undertaken by colleagues. We hope to provide a more user-friendly, automated process that will re-focus PDR and capture the key elements and outcomes of PDR conversations.
We will update staff in due course on these developments; however, in the meantime, it is expected that all staff continue to carry out PDR using the current approach.
![close-up of a sunstar starfish](/sites/media/sunstar.jpg)
Queen's Marine Laboratory (QML) in Portaferry will host its 14th annual Open Day on Saturday 3 August from 10.00am to 3.00pm. This is a free, family-friendly event where you can meet QML researchers, see the wave tank in action, and get up close to some local marine and freshwater life. Enter via the Lifeboat Station gates on the shore front, Portaferry.
The event runs alongside the Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival. For more information please contact Emma Healey at e.gorman@qub.ac.uk.
![people playing badminton in a gym and football on a pitch](/sites/media/football-badminton.jpg)
Queen's Sport's Active Campus team invites colleagues along to the following staff activities. Please contact activecampus@qub.ac.uk for more information.
- Staff Football runs every Tuesday from 9 July to 27 August (eight weeks), from 1.00pm to 2.00pm on the OTF pitches behind the PEC. This is a fun and active way to take a break, get some fresh air and enjoy your summer! Register here to attend.
- Staff Badminton takes place on Thursdays from 11 July until 29 August, from 1.00pm to 1.45pm in the Minor Hall at Queen's Sport/PEC. This programme is designed to accommodate everyone, whether you consider yourself a competitive badminton player or prefer a more casual, social approach. Register here to attend.
![Young, serious-looking, sporty woman looking to camera and holding up a dumbell in a gym. Image includes wording 'Summer courses 2024 / Be More / Make more of you with our courses, members save up to 30%. Book online today.'](/sites/media/sport-summer-courses-2024-be-more.jpg)
Queen's Sport are offering the following new courses for adults and children this summer. Further details are given below:
- Adult courses: Box & Condition; Forge Fitness. Find out more here.
- Children's courses: Parent and Teen/Pre-Teen Circuits; Swim Camp; Dance Camp. Find out more here.
Adult courses:
- Box & Condition prioritises honing the essential boxing proficiencies, skills and fitness mixing pad work, alongside strength and conditioning drills/ exercises.
- Forge Fitness is a strength-focused course that will also increase your mobility and confidence while lifting weights.
Children's courses:
- Parent and Teen/Pre-Teen Circuits: this is a fun way to get kids involved in physical fitness and put them on the path to a lifelong enjoyment of exercise.
- Swim Camp offers a more intensive learning programme condensed into one week.
- Dance Camp: this is a one-week camp offering a mix of ballet and contemporary dance.
![group of staff and students gathered in Junction cafe for a lunchtime Irish Conversation Circle](/sites/media/ciorcal-comhra.jpg)
The next Ciorcal Comhrá – Irish Language Conversation Circle – will take place on Tuesday 30 July from 12.30pm to 1.30pm in Junction Café.
Fáilte roimh chách! / Everyone welcome! Tae nó caife saor in aisce / Free tea or coffee.
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The Postdoc Society warmly invites all research staff at Queen’s to its 2024 Summer Social, taking place on Monday 5 August from 1.00pm to 4.00pm in the Lanyon Building quadrangle (or Great Hall, depending on the weather).
Attendees can feel free to come and go during the event, but there will be a short, informal welcome at 1.15pm. The first 100 registered researchers will receive a free ice cream ticket (registration is required).*
More information | Register: Postdoc Society Summer Social
More information
This event is an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the summer break with free ice cream, lawn games and a bouncy castle, and to meet other postdocs and colleagues, and their families, from different Schools and Faculties across the University.
* Free ice cream tickets will cover either a classic ‘99’ ice cream, slush puppy, or tea/coffee. The van will be parked between The Graduate School and the quadrangle.
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The Postdoc Society are pleased to announce the return of the Queen's Postdoc Showcase, taking place in celebration of Postdocs and Research Staff, on Monday 16 September in The Malone Hotel, 60 Eglantine Avenue, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6DY.
The theme of this year's event is 'Helping to Shape a Better World'. This event is an opportunity for all research staff at Queen's to showcase their research, learn about others' research, and network with other postdocs.
Find out more and register here: Postdoc Showcase 2024
This is an event organised 'by postdocs, for postdocs'. The programme will feature talks by invited speakers, an expert panel discussion, an update from the Postdoctoral Development Centre, a research poster/display exhibition, oral presentations by selected postdocs and the winners of the PDC Postdoc Awards will be announced. There will be prizes for the best talks and posters.
Together, let's help to shape a better world and advance sustainable development.
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Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):
- Dr Michele Crepaz, Dr Ben Worthy: What to expect from Transparency and Integrity Reform after the General Election: Manifesto Analysis
- Dr Peter McLoughlin: Election 2024: the view from the UK’s most marginal constituency
- Post-Brexit Clinic at Queen’s, June 2024. Slides and recording now available here.
To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.
![The Conversation icon](/sites/media/Media,756881,en.jpg)
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:
- Professor Louse Mallinder (contributor): King’s speech 2024: experts react to the new government’s plans
- Richard Hargy: Donald Trump and the gathering darkness threatening US politics / Donald Trump e a escuridão crescente que ameaça a política dos EUA
- Richard Hargy: Kamala Harris: the top choice to replace Biden as Democratic nominee should he step aside / Kamala Harris: a principal opção democrata caso Biden se afaste da campanha
- Dr Peter John McLoughlin (contributor): Tory wipeout delivers landslide Labour victory: what the experts say
- Dr Grace Carroll: Why cats meow at humans more than each other / Por que os gatos miam mais para os humanos do que uns para os outros
- Dr Peter John McLoughlin: Election 2024: the view from the UK's most marginal constituency
- Dr Kostas Papageorgiou: Echoism: the flip side of narcissism explained
![Staff Gateway - News site screengrab as at 4 October 2021](/sites/media/Media,910458,smxx.jpg)
Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff News and Community Gateway:
- Latest student survey paints positive picture of Queen’s
- Queen’s University joins illustrious list of chemistry award-winners
- In Pictures: Summer Graduation 2024
- In Pictures: Showcase of Queen's Innovation Centres
- Queen’s becomes Accredited Living Wage Employer
- New senior appointments, including appointment of new Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- End of semester message and senior leadership appointments
- New chapter for the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s as it opens landmark building
- Queen’s University launches its Civic Mission: A commitment to collaboration and inclusivity
![Internal Communication Drop-In Sessions](/sites/media/Internal Communication Drop-in Sessions (1).jpg)
The Internal Communications Team in the Strategic Communications Directorate will hold the following Drop-in Sessions during Summer 2024:
- Tuesday 25 June 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 30 July 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 20 August 2024, 2.00pm to 4.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
- Tuesday 27 August 2024, 12.00pm to 2.00pm, The Graduate School, GR7
Colleagues across the University are welcome to drop in individually or in groups of up to four colleagues for guidance on approaches to help promote information or initiatives to internal audiences, or for advice on internal communication challenges.
Tea and coffee will be provided.
If you are not able to make it to one of the sessions and would like to arrange a separate time to speak with the team, please email internalcommunications@qub.ac.uk to arrange.
![close-up of smiling young woman wearing glasses after writing 'AI Generated' on a whiteboard](/sites/media/ai-generated.jpg)
A joint symposium between Queen's and Durham University, focusing on the innovative uses of Generative AI in teaching, learning, and assessment at both institutions, will take place on 11 September 2024. The symposium is open to staff at both Durham and Queen’s.
Contact the 2030 Digital Education Team at AI-Hub@qub.ac.uk with any queries.
![Horizon Europe | The EU Research & Innovation Programme 2021-2027. Image copyright: European Union, 2020](/sites/media/Media,2051556,smxx.jpg)
Research colleagues who would like to apply to Horizon Europe's cluster calls for collaborative project funding under its 'Global Challenges' pillar, and who do not know where to start, are encouraged to join the following series of four online webinars:
- Session 1 – Introduction and ways to find partners: Tuesday 27 August, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
- Session 2 – Application | Excellence section: Wednesday 28 August, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
- Session 3 – Application | Impact section: Thursday 29 August, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
- Session 4 – Application | Implementation section and wrap up: Friday 30 August, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Please register for these sessions here.
More information
Horizon Europe is a research funding programme led by the European Commission and worth €93.5bn. One of its main schemes is to fund collaborative research projects involving at least three countries under its pillar II addressing 'Global Challenges' (€53.5bn) and organised in six clusters:
- Health
- Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
- Civil Security for Society
- Digital, Industry and Space
- Climate, Energy and Mobility
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural resources, Agriculture and Environment
![Front of Lanyon Building](/sites/media/lanyon-entrance-blurry.jpg)
Queen’s has an excellent track-record of collaborating with private industry, public sector organisations, and the third sector to successfully deliver impactful, user-informed research. To support the development of these collaborations, the University will again commit a number of studentships (funded mainly via Department for the Economy and several by EPSRC) commencing in October 2025 for projects across the Institution that will involve significant work with a non-academic partner.
The projects require engagement with a non-academic collaborating partner. The collaborating partner should be jointly involved in devising the research programme. Additionally, each project requires:
- The student to receive workplace supervision by a named person from the collaborating partner (NB: this workplace supervisor will not be a formal academic supervisor);
- The student to spend at least three months with the collaborating partner who should pay any associated travel, accommodation or subsistence costs; and
- The collaborating partner to demonstrate their commitment to the project through a matched cash or in-kind contribution. NB: For-profit partners must contribute direct funding (cash contribution) to the project of at least £35k over the course of the project.
Partnerships with private sector industry, government departments/agencies, NGOs, charities and voluntary sector organisations that meet the above criteria will all be considered. This opportunity is open to both UK and non-UK collaborating partners organisations. For non-UK collaborating partners, supervisors should discuss and agree how the student placement aspect of the Collaborative studentship will be met.
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Staff are invited to view the latest edition of the new Research and Innovation Newsletter.
This newsletter provides the entire research community at Queen’s with information on the latest news, announcements and events related to their researcher journey and on Research and Innovation activities at Queen’s.
In this month’s edition:
- Research News
- Leading Researchers Programme
- Funding Information
- Training and development Highlights
- Research to Reality
- Research Policy Update
- and much more
![800x533 Lanyon July 2018](/sites/media/Media,943479,smxx.jpg)
Read this week's summary of funding opportunities and news from the Research Development team.
Researchers wishing to continue receiving this weekly update are asked to resubscribe here.
![aerial view of top of Lanyon Building with shadow cast onto front lawns](/sites/media/Media,1034477,smxx.jpg)
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.
This week’s new and returning films at Queen's Film Theatre, your cinema on campus.
SHOWING THIS WEEK:
- Crossing
- I Saw the TV Glow
- Janet Planet
- Longlegs
- Outwalker X QFT: Chicago
- Outwalker X QFT: The Wizard of Oz
- QFT Noir: Touch of Evil
- QFT Noir: Winter's Bone
- Sleep
- The Birdcage
- The Conversation
- Thelma
Staff tickets are priced at £6.50 (standard ticket price £8.90). If you are 26 and under join LUMI to get tickets for £5.00 everyday, all year round.
![illustration exhibit from 'DRIBBLE' sports exhibition at the Naughton Gallery, showing six female skateboarders](/sites/media/naughton-gallery-dribble.jpg)
Staff are invited along to the launch of The Naughton Gallery's new exhibition, 'DRIBBLE', on Thursday 25 July from 5.30pm to 8.00pm, with refreshments, music from DJ Marion Hawkes, and a pop-up shop courtesy of Iris Magazine Store. Admission is free and all are welcome.
DRIBBLE is the sixth exhibition in The Naughton Gallery’s sports exhibition series, this year opening to coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
More information
The Naughton Gallery’s sports exhibition series began with 'Get’cha Head in the Game' in 2017. Exploring the powerful role of sports in contemporary culture, 'DRIBBLE' is international in its scope, featuring a range of contemporary artists from Ireland, France, the UK, Denmark, Brazil, Japan, and the United States who incorporate sports and/or sports iconography into their practices.
Opening to coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, this exhibition tackles topics related to race, gender, politics, sexuality, class, and beyond, with the works on display spanning the sporting world, from tennis and basketball to skateboarding, wing walking, and bodybuilding.
This exhibition continues until Sunday 29 September. The Naughton Gallery is open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm.
![Image of a digital head with its features linked by lasers. The text depicts AI Support at Queen's.t](/sites/media/Media,2101728,smxx.jpg)
The latest updates on AI at Queen's. Contact the 2030 Digital Education Team at AI-Hub@qub.ac.uk with any questions.
Generative AI Training Sessions
Looking to expand your AI knowledge over the summer? A selection of Generative AI focused workshops across a range of topics and practices will take place in August and September and are open for registration. View and select your preferred sessions via this registration form.
GPT-4o Release
OpenAI has recently announced the release of GPT-4o. This advanced model accepts as input any combination of text, audio, image, and video, and generates outputs in text, audio, and images. It's much faster and responds to questions at human-like speeds. OpenAI has also provided a series of demo videos to showcase these capabilities.
These advancements are available for ChatGPT users with a free account. Discover how you can access GPT-4o and get started with ChatGPT by watching our Quick Start Video.
Queen’s AI Hub
As part of the AI Team's ongoing commitment to helping staff and students navigate the ever-evolving AI landscape, the AI Hub has moved to a new location and is now housed within the Queen's DigiHub. While the setting is new, and now accessible to the general public, you can still access the same comprehensive AI resources.
Visit the AI Hub here: go.qub.ac.uk/AI-hub
AI Guidance
You can keep abreast of the latest Queen's Guidance on the use of AI in Assessment here. Also, don’t forget that Copilot (formerly Microsoft Bing Chat Enterprise) is available to all Queen’s University staff. This AI-driven web chat operates within the secure Queen's environment, safeguarding your data. Watch our Quick Start video to learn how to access Copilot using your Queen's email address. For more details, visit the Queen’s AI Hub.
![Smiling woman seated in a bright, glass-framed office talking to colleagues](/sites/media/coaching-pandc.jpg)
Interested in developing coaching skills? The Coaching Connections development programme will be available in Autumn 2025.
Aimed at both Professional Services and Academic staff, this comprehensive development programme offers a recognised coaching qualification.
A short, online information session on Coaching Connections will take place on Thursday 15 August from 10.00am to 11.00am.
Find out more and register here.
On completion of the programme, participants will be part of the Queen’s team of internal coaches.
The application and selection process will open later this year.
More information
Coaching Connections is designed to develop coaching skills such as building rapport, listening and asking questions, so that staff may, through a coaching conversation, support individuals to explore options and develop insights around work-based challenges. This programme is aimed at both Professional Services staff at Grade AR7 and above and Academic staff at Grade AC2 and above.
Coaching Connections delivers the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring and on completion of the programme, participants will be equipped to offer coaching to Queen’s staff around work-based issues.
![Canvas graphic](/sites/media/Media,1192710,smxx.png)
Redesigned Discussions & Announcements now live in Canvas
Canvas Discussions & Announcements has had a refresh. The update has automatically been applied to all Canvas courses and no action is required from you as existing content will automatically update. The Redesign brings a number of benefits including an improved user interface, enhanced discussions (mentions, quotes, etc, and Anonymous Discussions).
![Advisor Exchange Podcast logo](/sites/media/advisor-exchange-podcast.jpg)
The Centre for Educational Development's new podcast, 'Advisor Exchange', was created to support individuals in the Advisor of Studies role. It aims to demystify processes, share best practices, and provide valuable insights into the intricacies of support department nuances.
Listen here and join the conversation.
![group of people listening to a presenter speaking in a large conference room](/sites/media/seminar-ced-leadership.jpg)
Developing Leadership in Educational Practice is a programme of study designed to bring together staff who work within the same environment to share good practice and discuss issues to enhance their personal development and wider professional practice.
This programme will run from October 2024 to May 2025.
Register for the programme via iTrent self-service.
It is intended that you will transfer new-found knowledge to adapt or change the way you work to improve the student experience.
This award recognises the importance of Academic and Professional Services Leaders who have a pivotal role at Queen's. You may join this programme whether you are from a professional service or academic role. Those in leadership roles in the Students’ Union would also be eligible for this programme.
More information
This programme will run from 25 October 2024 to 7 May 2025, from 9.30am to 11.30am, offering monthly workshops that will be delivered either in person or online. Both internal and external guest speakers will share their knowledge and insights on leadership. As part of the assessment process, participants must complete reflective activities, a strategic presentation, and a personal development plan.
Participants will:
- identify their own professional development goals, directions or priorities;
- plan for their initial and/or continuing professional development;
- undertake appropriate development activities;
- review their development and their practice, and the relations between them.
![Male student with supervisor](/sites/media/Media,914746,smxx.jpg)
The Centre of Educational Development will run a half-day workshop on the following dates, focusing on equipping attendees with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support and guide our students.
- Friday 13 September, 9.15am to 2.30pm. In person – room TBC.
- Friday 10 January 2025, 9.15am to 2.30pm. In person – room TBC.
Register via iTrent self service.
More information
Through interactive sessions and collaborative discussions, you will gain valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your advising practice. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow advisors, share experiences, and learn from experts in the field, enabling the creation of a supportive network that fosters student success and enriches our academic community.
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Staff are invited to apply to the following SEDA programmes. Details are provided below.
- SEDA Leading Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Curriculum: a programme of study, running in-person from September to December 2024, designed to bring together staff in an environment which encourages reflection on their past and current teaching and assessment practices, with a view to enhancing their skills as educators in an ESD-informed manner. Find out more and secure your place via iTrent
- SEDA Programme Leaders: a blended learning course for new, aspiring, and experienced Programme Leaders, running from 2 September 2024 to 5 January 2025. Places are limited to 12. Find out more and secure your place via iTrent.
SEDA Leading Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Curriculum
By the end of this programme, participants should be able to recognise and embed the hallmarks of ESD in their educational practice and how it can enhance the student experience.
This programme is open to Module Co-ordinators or Programme Directors, or members of staff who have significant influence over the curriculum development and design of credit-bearing courses. Embedded in the material and signposted, will be learning design principles and Sustainable Development Goals and the programme aligns with the Queen’s 2030 Strategy.
This programme will run from September to December, offering six in-person workshops, held on a fortnightly basis. As part of the assessment process, participants must complete reflective activities, a module critique and redesign.
The learning outcomes for the programme are:
- Identify the drivers underpinning sustainability in higher education teaching and explore the impact on the student experience.
- Consider how you and your university should respond to Education for Sustainable Development in order to contribute to an enhanced student experience.
- Reflect on how you are implementing and developing your practice in light of the needs and challenges arising from Education for Sustainable Development.
- Evaluate your effectiveness and contribution to the student experience within the context of Education for Sustainable Development.
Session dates:
- Session 1: 25 September 2024
- Session 2: 9 October
- Session 3: 23 October
- Session 4: 6 November
- Session 5: 20 November
- Session 6: 4 December
SEDA Programme Leaders
Course aims are:
- To support you in your professional development as an educational leader;
- To support and recognise your individual progress, practice and professional achievement;
- To enhance curriculum development and, hence, the student learning experience;
- To promote the development of professionals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively lead, nurture and guide educational change and development in the sector.
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The following learning events are now open for application. Full information and registration can be found via the iTrent links below.
- Introduction to Teaching: 2 to 6 September, 10.00am to 4.00pm – week of supported preparation for staff that have not previously been responsible for delivering a module.
- HEA fellowship claims – online programmes where participants will complete their claim for Fellowship/Associate Fellowship/Senior Fellowship HEA:
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- Associate Fellowship HEA (AFHEA): 14 to 18 October, 10.00am to 11.00am OR 18 to 22 November, 10.00am to 11.00am
- Fellowship HEA (FHEA): 28 October to 8 November, 10.00am to 11.00am OR 2 to 13 December, 10.00am to 11.00am
- Senior Fellowship HEA (SFHEA): 16 to 27 September, 10.00am to 11.00am
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The Digital Experience Insights Survey is part of a national initiative where data about the student digital experience is gathered from a range of Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) across the UK.
To find out what students at Queen's have said, access the Digital Experience Insights Student Survey 2024 summary report of findings. It includes the perceptions of over a 1,000 Queen's students, enabling us to reflect on their digital experiences and the transformative role of technology in education.
Please contact ced@qub.ac.uk for any queries in relation to this summary report.
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Digital and Information Services' IT Training programme has completed for this academic year. Courses for the 2024/25 Academic Year will be published later this summer.
If your School or Directorate requires IT training for staff, geared towards a specific area or set of tasks, email itcourses@qub.ac.uk and the team will arrange a consultation.
Additional training materials can be found here on the IT Training Unit SharePoint site.
To submit an item for Round Up, please email details to roundup@qub.ac.uk by 1.00pm on the Thursday before the Monday edition in which they are to appear.