The REACH Festival returns from 2–5 April 2025, celebrating the power of art in exploring climate and sustainability challenges.

Through a vibrant mix of exhibitions, film, music, VR, talks, panels, creative writing, engineering, and academic discussions, REACH ‘25 offers fresh perspectives on today’s most pressing environmental issues.

Join us across campus as we bring science, emotion, and action together through the arts.

Full programme details coming soon.

Save the date and be part of the conversation!

• Visit the Active Campus website for more information. 

Ahead of the Easter break (18 April to 27 April inclusive), the cut-off date for all information to be included in April's pay run is Friday 4 April 2025 at 5.00pm.

Relocation Claims

Staff are asked to submit relocation claims by close of business on Friday 21 March, to ensure processing and inclusion in April 2025 salaries.

Staff should note the following Accounts Payable arrangements over the Easter holiday period for paying authorised Supplier Invoices, Request for Payment and Staff Expenses Claims:

• Invoices received by 5.00pm on Wednesday 9 April 2025 and Requests for Payment or Staff Expenses Claims received by 12.00pm on Thursday 10 April 2025 will be paid by Thursday 17 April 2025;
• Invoices received after 5.00pm on Wednesday 9 April 2025 and Requests for Payment or Staff Expenses Claims received after 12.00pm on Thursday 10 April 2025, but received before 5.00pm on Tuesday 15 April 2025 will be paid by Friday 2 May;
• All Invoices, RFPs and Staff expenses received after 5.00pm on Tuesday 15 April 2025 will be paid by Friday 9 May;
• Normal payment arrangements apply for invoices, RFPs and Staff expenses received week commencing 28 April.

The annual training for Chairs and members of Boards of Examiners, and School staff involved in supporting Boards of Examiners, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 2 April.

This session will provide training on the academic regulatory framework for Boards of Examiners for 2024-25 to enable colleagues to make confident and robust decisions, in line with the University's Study Regulations.

• Register your attendance here.

Queen's Active Travel Survey has been extended until Friday 14 March, and the Sustainability Team would like to hear from all staff and students on how you travel to work. Respondents will be in with a chance to win one of several prizes, including two Enterprise Plus First-Class Monthly Return Tickets for Belfast to Dublin, a £40 restaurant meal voucher for Deanes at Queen's, and a £50 voucher from McConvey Cycles.

• Complete the short survey here.

Staff in formal or informal leadership roles are invited to register now for the next series of three 'Leading Live' stand-alone, short breakfast events, giving leaders the opportunity to share experience and knowledge through conversation. These events will take place on Thursday 3 April, Wednesday 2 July and Wednesday 1 October.

• Please register for any or all events here, as soon as possible.

The One Elmwood Student Experience Team and the Staff Diversity and Inclusion Team invite staff and students to come together for a joyful and inclusive celebration of Eid al-Fitr in The Cube, First Floor, One Elmwood, on Monday 31 March, from 4.00pm to 6.30pm for an evening of festivity and community.

• Please register here by Friday 14 March.*

• View additional support and guidance on getting started with Windows 11.

Colleagues are invited to attend the following Staff Wellbeing events in March and April. Please register via iTrent Self-Service, unless otherwise indicated, where you can find full details. Search for ‘Wellbeing’ to see courses with availability.

• Nature of Worry & Uncertainty session
• Understanding your Sleep Cycle
• Nightingale Holistic Therapies (register via the provider)
• Wellbeing - Mindfulness

The MHLS Athena Swan Group invites staff to its International Women’s Day event 'Let’s Talk Pregnancy and Baby Loss', taking place on Wednesday 12 March from 12.00pm to 2.00pm (welcome lunch at 12.00pm, event from 12.30pm) in the Canada Room and Council Chamber, Lanyon Building.

• Please register to attend here.

Recent posts from Queen's Policy Engagement (QPol):

• The winner takes it all? Reflection on the election success of the Far-Right in Germany, by Dr Ulrike Vieten

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:

• J.D. Vance has become Trump's attack dog, but he's yet to prove himself a worthy successor, by Dr Richard Hargy

Read the latest staff news stories on the Staff News and Community Gateway:

• Queen’s honours 15 women from across the University through an inspiring art exhibition
• In Pictures: LGBTQueen's: A Celebration Showcase
• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can hide in human cells without alerting the immune system
• Queen’s launch new resource to raise awareness of delirium among healthcare students

Staff are invited to attend EIC2025, the Emerald Isle Conference on Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, taking place at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, from 9 to 11 April 2025.

Wherever you are on your journey with green chemistry and engineering, this conference will offer an opportunity to interact with international leaders in the field, find inspiration, network with peers, and share your innovations.

• Register here. Registration closes at 5.00pm on 12 March 2025*

Staff are warmly invited to join the DEIB Forum on supporting international Chinese students on Friday 21 March from 11.00am to 2.00pm in Lecture Room 1, Riddel Hall.

Jointly organised by QBS DEIB Committee and The Language Centre, supported by QUB iRise Network, this forum aims to discuss the local resources, good practices and challenges when supporting Chinese (and other) international students, in response to the recently published HEPI Report How can UK universities improve their strategies for tackling integration challenges among Chinese students? (Ebel, 2024).

Find out more and register here.

The Mitchell Institute invites staff to the following events.  More information and registration can be found at the links below:

• Research Workshop: Migrant Community Language Enclaves: The Case of the ‘Gaeltacht’ of Springfield, Massachusetts, Wednesday 12 March, 1.00pm to 2.30pm, Mitchell Institute Fellows’ Room, 18 University Square
• Panel Discussion: ARINS/Irish Times Survey Findings, Thursday 13 March, 5.30pm to 7.00pm, Emeleus Lecture Theatre

The Centre for Behaviour Analysis at Queen's invites staff to its 20th anniversary conference, 'ABA, Autism, Education, and Leadership', taking place on Saturday 17 May from 10.00am to 2.30pm in the Great Hall.

The guest speakers are Professor Gina Green (QUB Hon. Doctorate (2005) and Dr Paul Gavoni (Professional Crisis Management Association (PCMA)).

Please register here.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has launched its annual Emerging Technologies Competition, inviting applications for the 2025 edition. This prestigious competition is a key platform for academic entrepreneurs and spinouts to gain recognition and visibility for their innovations.

• Submit your application by 7 April.

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

This week’s new and returning films at Queen’s Film Theatre, your cinema on campus.

SHOWING THIS WEEK:

• Micky 17
• The Last Showgirl 

Presented as part of International Women’s Day, the University’s 180th anniversary celebrations and Queen’s Gender Initiative’s 25th year, IN GOOD COMPANY: Portraits of Queen’s Women, is a collaboration between the Naughton Gallery and Queen’s Gender Initiative celebrates the vital and diverse contributions of women at Queen’s University Belfast.

This landmark exhibition runs until Sunday 23 March. The Naughton Gallery is open daily, from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Read more about the exhibition here.

The Naughton Gallery's popular Silversmithing workshop series returns on Saturday 12 April from 10.00am to 4.00pm in the Newark Room, Lanyon Building (South).

• To reserve your space, and for further information regarding fees and payment, please contact art@qub.ac.uk.

The Diversity Inclusion and Wellbeing Unit invite you to attend a Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia Awareness session on Thursday 20 March from 10.00am to 11.00am online via Zoom.

• Register via iTrent Self Service.

• Engaged Research and Impact: Why are they important?, Thursday 3 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm
• Postdoctoral Leadership Programme, 20 May and 3 June, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Jisc Report: How to Approach Digital Transformation in Higher Education 

Jisc’s newly published report highlights the key success factors for digital transformation, drawing on insights from universities, including Queen’s. The findings demonstrate how institutions can integrate digital technologies, such as AI, to enhance teaching, learning, and strategic planning. 

Read the full report here. 

Training Video Catalogue

A Canvas training video catalogue has been created for staff to access on a self-service basis. Whether you need a refresher or want to learn something new, explore our range of short, on-demand training videos covering Canvas Fundamentals, assignment setup, Turnitin, and more. Check out the Training Catalogue on the DigiHub today.

The Safety Training programme for this academic year is available on the University Safety Service Training webpage. The full range of courses can be booked via iTrent Employee Self-Service.

Available training sessions for March are given below. All sessions are in person.

The following training sessions are now available to book via the Training Events calendar.

• Introduction to Microsoft Visio: Tuesday 11 March: 10.00am to 11.00am 
• AI Building Blocks Series: AI for Teaching and Learning: Thursday 13 March: 11.00am to 12.00pm

Windows 10 Enterprise is out of official Microsoft Support from 14 October 2025, therefore Queen's staff are encouraged to upgrade their device's operating system from Windows 10 to Windows 11 well in advance of that date.

For more information on Windows 11 and how to upgrade, see Getting Started with Windows 11.