Queen’s now proudly holds six Gold, five Silver, and four Bronze School Awards, with Queen’s Business School also recently receiving a Silver Award, further demonstrating the University’s commitment to progressing gender equality across its schools.

Key notes:

• Irish passport holders are exempt.
• Dual UK/Irish citizens should use their Irish passport to skip the queues.
• Everyone should expect longer wait times. Arrive early and bring supporting documents.

Find out more: Information for Staff Travelling to Europe from 12 October 2025.

* From late 2026, a new ETIAS travel authorisation will also be required for visa-exempt travellers. International Staff Support will provide further information nearer the time.

• Further information is available on the European Commission website.

If you need any help, or have any queries, please contact:

• International staff: internationalstaff@qub.ac.uk 
• Other staff: hrhub@qub.ac.uk 

Staff are welcome to join a group of colleagues or bring in family and friends to celebrate.

* Lunch is £37.50 per person, including a glass of mulled wine on arrival, and will be served from 12.30pm.

Entertainment will be provided by Queen’s music graduate Finbarr Keaveney, who will be singing Christmas classics, swing, and music from shows and movies.

• CiviContribution Fund

  This fund is a key part of our Civic Mission and supports Queen’s Strategy 2030 commitment to social and civic responsibility. Grants of £2,500 or £5,000 are available to staff and students delivering projects with external partners during this academic year.

  Projects must align with one of the university’s Social Charter themes; addressing inequalities and promoting equity, civic culture and intercultural dialogue or education with a social purpose, and should support at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  For 2025/26, the CiviContribution Fund assessment panel would particularly welcome applications that:

  • demonstrate innovation in their approach;
  • include meaningful involvement from students;
  • involve individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds, including asylum seekers and refugees;
  • focus on addressing need in economically deprived areas;
  • have a clear impact within the local area;
  • are submitted by first-time applicants.
• Queen's Annual Fund 2025-26

  Open to staff and students, last year 53 staff applications were supported from different Schools and Faculties to deliver a wide variety of essential and innovative initiatives, benefiting thousands of students, within mental health and wellbeing, community engagement, sport development, sustainability, entrepreneurship, arts, cultural diversity and more.

• Green Fund

  Staff and students can receive up to £2,000 to empower them to create and deliver projects within a chosen area that benefits the environment. 

  Queen's Sustainability Team is looking for innovative and original projects that promote environmental awareness amongst staff and students, impacting the wider Queen’s community.

  As part of our Strategy 2030 commitment to embracing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are encouraging Green Fund applicants to incorporate the SDGs into their projects.

• Research and Innovation Conference Fund

  This Fund continues to support colleagues to present their research at high-profile international conferences.

  This year a number of changes have been introduced. All colleagues considering an application are encouraged to read the updated guidance and application form carefully before applying.

Anyone can experience domestic abuse, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexuality, social class, or location.

What the session will cover:

• Key statistics on domestic abuse
• Current strategies and the legislative context
• Signs and symptoms of abuse – how to recognise them
• The impact of domestic abuse on children and young people
• Pathways to support and available services

Who is it for?

This session is suitable for anyone wanting to build awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and its effects. 

Staff can contact eqdiv@qub.ac.uk with any queries.

More information

Now in its third year, Queen’s Reverse Mentoring gives student mentors the opportunity to share their lived experience with staff. The goal is to help staff better understand the unique everyday challenges, perspectives and journeys of students in Queen’s.

What’s Involved for Staff Mentees:

• As a mentee, you will be paired with a student mentor who will guide you through conversations about their life as a student: academic challenges, campus life, wellbeing, social life, aspirations, and more.
• You and your mentor decide together on the topics and formats (walking around campus, informal coffee chats, etc.). The idea is to foster open, informal, and meaningful conversation about the lived student experience.
• We ask participating staff members to commit to at least three mentoring sessions between November and April.

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.

Key Features of Read&Write for Work

• Text-to-Speech: Reads on-screen text aloud with visual highlighting to support understanding and boost retention;
• Screen Masking: Reduces visual stress with customisable colour overlays and a focused reading pane – helpful for anyone sensitive to colour or light;
• Check It: Provides an advanced, dyslexia-friendly spelling and grammar checker that includes word suggestions and dictionary definitions to support clear, confident writing;
• Dictation: Converts speech to text, making it ideal for hands-free writing or note-taking. Great for multitasking, saving time, and reducing screen fatigue;
• Scan and PDF Reader: Converts paper documents or inaccessible PDFs into editable, accessible formats for easier use. 

Queen's Staff Forum ensures that all staff have a voice – providing a space to raise workplace issues, offer meaningful feedback and influence positive change across the University.

This is a great opportunity to represent your School or Directorate and make a real impact on the staff experience at Queen's.

This event is being held to celebrate the new academic year and raise money for Mermaids charity. Staff and students can gather friends for teams of up to six, or come on their own, for a great opportunity to meet new people and put their knowledge to the test.

Support and information:

• AI Case Studies of Queen's staff.
• AI self-help guide: AI on assessment.
• AI self-help guides: Saving time.
• New Student AI Guide – this student guide demonstrates how to use AI as a partner in learning to support critical thinking, problem-solving, research, and communication, while building real skills and independence.
• AI student support page.
• Explore the AI Hub.

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

• Israeli doctors reveal their conflicted stories of treating Palestinian prisoners held in notorious 'black site' Sde Teiman / Las conflictivas historias de los médicos israelíes que trataron a prisioneros palestinos en el campo de detención Sde Teiman, by Dr Merav Amir (QUB) and Professor Hagar Kotef (SOAS, University of London)
• I've researched the politics of flags in Northern Ireland for decades – here's what England needs to understand, by Professor Dominic Bryan

• Lisa Rea Currie appointed AHRC Community Innovation Practitioner on BeHere Project
• Virtual Tour of Clark Clinic Launches to Support Families on World Heart Day
• Seamus Heaney Fellows 2025-26: Caoilinn Hughes, Mark McCambridge and Conor McPherson
• Queen’s climbs to top 25 universities in UK
• In Pictures: Queen’s Business School celebrates triple accreditation status
• Queen's researchers join prestigious Academy
• Queen’s Business School joins top 1% of business schools globally with triple accreditation
• Queen’s academics appointed to prestigious panels that will shape the future of UK research

More information

The Conversation is a news analysis and opinion website with content written by academics working with professional journalists. It is an open access, independent media charity funded by more than 80 UK and European universities.

• View Queen’s academics’ articles on The Conversation here.

During this training session the editor will discuss The Conversation’s unique, collaborative editorial process, give tips on style, tone and structure (with examples), look at how to pitch (with examples) and look at different approaches and article types. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your research with the editor and pitch potential story ideas.

* There are a limited number of places for this session. If you sign up and then are no longer able to attend, please cancel your registration so that your place can be re-allocated to a colleague on the waiting list.

• For more information on the session, please contact comms.office@qub.ac.uk.

More information

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society. It is a key element of ESRC’s commitment to share UK social science research with new audiences.

This year the festival is being held from 18 October to 8 November 2025 and features hundreds of free events across the UK for both children and adults, run by 41 universities and research institutes. Events are on a huge range of topics, including health and wellbeing, the environment, crime and justice, and equality.

Professor Andriana Margariti is Professor of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.

• For more information, or any queries, please contact smdbs@qub.ac.uk / 02890972215.

More information

Professor Barbara Casadei is Head of Department at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) at Imperial College London. She joined Imperial from the University of Oxford where she was a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, an Honorary Consultant in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Lead of the Cardiovascular Theme of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.

Professor Casadei was the first female President of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), where she established the European Cardiovascular Patient Forum, Women in the ESC (WinESC), and EuroHeart – an international collaboration that aims to advance the standard of care and build a European-wide infrastructure for pragmatic clinical trials. She has had a global impact on cardiovascular medicine, spearheading an internationally leading bench-to-bedside research programme on atrial fibrillation, spanning investigations from human tissue and cells to clinical trials.

The Barcroft Lecture was established by the Wellcome Trust after the passing of Professor Henry Barcroft to honour his contribution to medical research. The lecture is awarded by the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast for major contributions to research in the fields of physiology or medicine.

• Explore current ERC funding opportunities
• Hear directly from grant holders and panel members
• Gain insights into ERC funding and its suitability for your research ambitions

Whether you are new to ERC or aware of the scheme and considering a future application, this event will help you assess its potential as a route to support your research.

Information and the booking links for the 2025-26 CATE and NTFS Roadshows are also available on the Teaching Excellence Awards webpages. Please contact Events@advance-he.ac.uk for support with bookings, if required.

CATE Roadshows 2025-26

Facilitated by the CATE-Net Co-ordination Group and the Advance HE Awards Team, these virtual roadshows will offer an overview of the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) and guidance on the application process for those interested in applying in 2026. All will include a brief introduction to CATE and an overview of the professional and institutional benefits. The CATE application process will be outlined and there will be practical guidance and suggestions from previous CATE winners, plus time for questions and answers. All three roadshows will cover the same content.

• Dates and booking links
  • CATE Roadshow 1: Monday 29 September, 2.00pm to 4.00pm
  • CATE Roadshow 2: Tuesday 11 November, 3.00pm to 4.30pm
  • CATE Roadshow 3: Thursday 4 December, 12.00pm to 1.30pm

NTFS Roadshows

Facilitated by ANTF Committee Events co-ordinator, Professor Debbie Holley and the Advance HE Awards Team, this series of virtual roadshows will offer insights and guidance through the NTF application process. Each will focus on a different aspect of the scheme.

• Dates and booking links

  NTFS Roadshow 1 – National Teaching Fellowships: is it for me? Tuesday 23 October, 12.00pm to 1.30pm.

  This first webinar will cover the new guidance for institutions and individuals, highlight useful Advance HE resources, and include narratives from new award winners and ‘old’ hands sharing their journey to NTF.

  NTFS Roadshow 2 – Evidencing excellence: what does it look like? Thursday 20 November, 1.00pm to 2.30pm.

  This second webinar covers the three key areas of development for successful NTF applications. We draw upon the expertise of both Advance HE and ANTF committee members and offer thoughts and reflections about how best to frame your application.

  NTFS Roadshow 3 – Getting over the finish line: what are the final steps? Tuesday 9 December, 12.30pm to 2.00pm.

  Our final webinar in the series offers thoughts on polishing applications, gaining institutional buy-in, reminds Teaching Excellence Accreditation Lead (TEALs) of their roles and responsibilities, discusses what needs to go with institutional statements and lots more.

These roadshows are presented by Advance HE, in collaboration with the Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF) and the CATE Winners’ Network (CATE-Net).

If you have any further queries, please contact Olivia Hamill (o.hamill@qub.ac.uk) or Karen Fraser (k.fraser@qub.ac.uk).

Career Audit and Skills for the Future: This session offers a dedicated opportunity to reflect on where you are in your career, assess the skills and experiences you’ve acquired, and consider how to strategically shape your next steps for the future.

Postdoc Parents Network: Coffee Drop-in Session: Join the Postdoc Parents Network for a relaxed coffee drop-in. This is an informal space to meet other postdoctoral researchers who are parents, learn more about the Network, meet some of the Network Champions, and chat about anything from juggling work and family to ideas for future activities. There is no formal agenda – just tea, coffee, biscuits, and good conversation colleagues who share similar experiences.

• Urchin
• Ellis Park
• Too Much: Melodrama on Film
• BFI London Film Festival at QFT
• A Want in Her
• A House of Dynamite
• Cinemagic 2025
• CatVideoFest 2025
• The Witches of Eastwick + St Agnes' Choral Society

Under the guidance of goldsmith Diane Lyness, each participant will be taught traditional jewellery-making techniques such as piercing, soldering, shaping, texturing, and polishing, to create a beautiful pair of silver stacking rings to take home.

Students will enjoy games, freebies and treats, meet their Student Officers, and explore the ways they can get involved with everything the Students’ Union has to offer.

* This award is a testament to the positive experiences students are having at Queen’s.

• Learning for All - Get Ready for Management and Leadership
• Panopto - Creating Engaging Pre-Recorded Videos
• AI Evaluations: Foundations and Practical Examples

View Learning and Development's October programme of events at a glance.

More information

From Learning for all, LinkedIn Learning, Nature Masterclasses and Recruitment and Selection Training, the Learning and Development programme of events includes courses to suit everyone.

If you experience any difficulties or have any queries regarding these sessions, please e-mail stafflearning@qub.ac.uk.

* Lecturers have the option to leave recordings fully automated, opt out of recording one or more lectures if needed, or change preferences up to one hour before class. Use the Panopto Automated Scheduling Tool on Queen’s Online.

• Panopto Scheduling Tool: Step-by-step instructions

Did you know?

• With automated lecture recording, you do not need to open Panopto. Recording starts five minutes after the lecture begins and stops five minutes before the end.
• Everything on your screens will be included in the recording. Perform a quick 'privacy sweep' before recording starts.
• A red light at the teaching bench indicates recording is in progress.
• Need to stop the recording? Press F9 to pause/resume or F10 to stop completely.
• You have 48 hours after the lecture to review/edit the recording before it becomes visible to students.
• Embedding recordings in your Canvas pages makes them easier for students to find.

Support Available

• Video-Enhanced Learning Toolkit (short Canvas course)
• Panopto Training – book a live session via the Training Events calendar
• Panopto SharePoint – guides, training and support
• Contact panopto-support@qub.ac.uk with any queries.

If your School or Directorate requires tailored IT training for specific tasks or areas, please email itcourses@qub.ac.uk to arrange a consultation.

Please feel free to contact the University Safety Service at safety@qub.ac.uk or 028 9097 4613 should you have any queries or training requirements.

• Tuesday 14 October will focus on opportunities in Tech, Science and Engineering. Venues: Mandela Hall; South Dining Hall; Whitla Hall.
• Wednesday 15 October will focus on opportunities in Business, Finance and Law. Venues: South Dining Hall; Whitla Hall.

To support the diverse needs of our students, this year’s Autumn Fair will feature a period of ‘quiet time’ from 2.30pm to 3.00pm on both days, when numbers will be restricted and noise levels reduced. 

Students can register to attend the Fair via our Careers management tool MyFuture using their Queen's student login details to get access. Here, they can visit exhibitor profiles, interest areas and job opportunities ahead of the event.

The highlight of the week is the Go Global Fair, taking place on Wednesday 8 October from 12.00pm to 3.00pm in the Mandela Hall, One Elmwood, where a range of organisations will showcase the international opportunities available to Queen’s students, and the range of programmes organised or funded through the Global Opportunities Team will be highlighted.