Ninth Level Ireland

“Queen’s University has chartered a jumbo jet at a cost of around £600,000 to bring hundreds of students directly from China to Belfast in September, the Irish News can reveal. It comes amid fears that a drastic loss of income from its international student intake would leave a hole in its budget running into millions of pounds …” (more)

[Gary McDonald, Irish News, 8 July]

“Northern Ireland’s top doctor warned of the risks caused by ‘ill-informed commentary’ in a letter that raised concerns about opinion expressed by a Queen’s University, Belfast academic … (more)

[Adrian Rutherford and Allan Preston, Belfast Telegraph, 19 June]

“The Presbyterian Church has appointed the Reverend Professor Gordon Campbell as the new principal of Union Theological College in Belfast. He will take over in January for a three-year term and will succeed outgoing principal the Very Reverend Dr Stafford Carson, who took up the post in 2013 …” (more)

[Alf McCreary, Belfast Telegraph, 6 June]

“Queen’s University (QUB) expects to open all of its campus for teaching and other activities in September. However, lectures will continue to be provided online and facemasks will be provided for staff and students …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 4 June]

“Sir, – As a prospective student who will hopefully be starting an engineering degree in Queen’s University Belfast this autumn, it is with growing concern that I read of various developments regarding next year’s teaching methods …” (more)

[Szymon Gorczynski, Irish Times, 4 June]

“Students set to start degrees in English at Queen’s University Belfast in September have been warned they will initially be taught remotely. A letter sent to prospective students envisages courses will combine online lectures, chat groups and video calls with ‘some face-to-face teaching’ …” (more)

[Michael Fitzpatrick, BBC News, 26 May]

“More than 100 social work students from Queen’s University have qualified early to join frontline services during the coronavirus pandemic. The 103 students from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s fast-tracked their studies to support social work service delivery, and wider health and social care services, during the crisis …” (more)

[Ralph Hewitt, Belfast Telegraph, 7 May]

“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) will not hold graduation ceremonies on its campus this summer. The university emailed students at the weekend to tell them it will hold ‘virtual’ ceremonies for students due to graduate instead …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 3 May]

“Following the closure of the university as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, many universities including Durham, Exeter, Cambridge and Oxford, amongst others, have implemented a ‘safety net’ policy which secures that students will maintain their graded average up until the date of closure of the university. Such a policy has not been accepted by Queen’s University Belfast …” (more)

[Change.org, 9 April]

“Students renting from a UK-wide university accommodation company are being held liable for hefty fees despite the coronavirus outbreak. The Student Roost, which has 20 locations across the country including four facilities in Belfast, is charging students for their digs up until April 30 despite course cancellations and campus closures …” (more)

[John Toner, Belfast Telegraph, 29 March]

“Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded a €315,000 grant in a bid to find a vaccine for coronavirus. The funding grant has been awarded as one of several projects that will receive part of a €21.5 million fund bankrolled by the UK Research and Innovation, and by the Department of Health and Social Care …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 24 March]

“In order to alleviate some pressure and anxiety for students in what are unprecedented times with the outbreak of COVID-19, Queen’s University has announced a number of measures today. To continue to support our students, Queen’s has decided that those currently living in the University’s residences and who wish to return home, can terminate their accommodation contracts from 27 March at no financial penalty …” (more)

[QUB, 20 March]

“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has cancelled all exams due to go ahead on campus. The university said it would arrange alternative ways to assess students instead. Both Queen’s and Ulster University closed their campuses to all but some key staff on Tuesday …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 20 March]

“Queen’s University Belfast has enacted a partial shut down of its campus in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in a decision taken by the university’s Major Incident Team. The closure of the university comes ahead of any official advice from the UK government for schools and colleges to close, although the UK government has said that it is likely to take that measure at some point in the near future …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 17 March]

“The notorious St Patrick’s Day parties in Belfast’s ‘Holylands’ area – an annual source of concern for local residents – are causing particular anxiety this year as Northern Ireland grapples with the spread of Covid-19 …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 17 March]

“Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has welcomed the move from Queen’s University to deliver lecture material remotely with all face-to-face lectures ceasing. The party’s Economy Spokesperson said: ‘I strongly welcome this action by Queen’s University to protect the health and well-being of students, staff and the public during the Coronavirus crisis …'” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 16 March]

“Queen’s University Belfast has said it will no longer hold face-to-face lectures from Wednesday due to the coronavirus outbreak. At this stage, laboratory sessions, tutorials and seminars are unaffected – unless advised otherwise by specific schools within the university – but further contingency plans are being put in place …” (more)

[ITV News, 16 March]

“A leading virologist has pulled back from speaking to the media about the spread of coronavirus after she was targeted by online trolls. Dr Lindsay Broadbent posted on Twitter over the weekend that she is stepping back from commenting publicly on the health crisis in order to preserve her own mental health …” (more)

[Lisa Smyth, Belfast Telegraph, 16 March]

“Stormont deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill has said schools, universities and colleges in Northern Ireland should close in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. She claimed the public were concerned and fearful and the difference with the Republic of Ireland’s approach was causing confusion …” (more)

[Michael McHugh, Belfast Telegraph, 13 March]

“The Northern Ireland Executive has decided against following the lead of the Irish Government and is not ordering the closure of schools and universities in an attempt to limit the impact of the coronavirus. The North’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, also complained on Thursday evening that the Northern Executive was not informed in advance of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s decision in Washington to announce a number of actions to address the Covid-19 emergency …” (more)

[Gerry Moriarty, Irish Times, 12 March]