QUB DEIB Forum 3

Posted on 30 October 2025 by Liang Wang

Closing the Awarding Gap for International Students – A Case from QUB School of Law

Date: 17 Nov, 2025
Time: 13:00 – 15:30
Venue: Canada Room / Council Chamber

Speakers

Dr Gift Sotonye-Frank, Lecturer, School of Law
Dr Zi Yang, Lecturer, School of Law

This DEIB Forum series is dedicated to exploring and strengthening support for international students and staff at Queen’s.

The upcoming session will focus on “The Awarding Gap for International Students”, using a Law programme module as a case study. Drawing on research by a team of Law academics from diverse cultural backgrounds, the forum will examine the issue from an intercultural perspective, highlighting how a deeper understanding of international students’ experiences can inform more inclusive assessment practices.

The Forum includes a presentation, followed by a panel discussion led by Dr Victoria Barnes, Associate Dean of Education, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

This forum suits colleagues from QUB Schools and Faculties who are interested in this topic. Students and student society representatives are also welcome to attend and join in the discussion.

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction
Presentation
Panel discussion with Q&A
Closing remarks

Places are limited to max. 30 and we have the first-come, first-served policy. The registration form will be closed once places are taken, or by 5 pm, Friday 14th November the latest.

To book the place, please click the button below.

Registration

DEIB Forum Homepage

GLOBAL GREETINGS: LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

Posted on 25 September 2025 by Liang Wang

Join the Civic Engagement team, in partnership with the Language Centre, for Global Greetings – a fun, interactive lunchtime event on Wednesday 1 October from 12.30 to 1.30pm in the South Dining Hall.

Explore different tables and learn how to greet your neighbours in a range of languages, including Arabic, Cantonese, French, Greek, Hausa, Irish, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Ulster Scots, and more!

Registration

Come along, enjoy your lunch, and pick up a new language along the way!

September Enrolments

Posted on 31 August 2025 by Liang Wang

Happy September!

While August is coming to its end, we are pleased to embrace the new academic year to start soon, with two enrolment announcements to go live on and from Monday 1st September.

The Language Centre announcement

We offer almost 70 classes in 12 different languages that have both online and in person teaching. All classes will commence week beginning Monday 6 Oct 2025.

We welcome all to make an early registration as courses are extremely popular and fill up quickly.

Class schedule and registration links can be accessed via The Language Centre homepage or scan the QR code.

Global Student Ambassador Enrolment

The application for the Student Ambassador Programme 25/26 will open on Monday 1st September.

Applications will be first-come first-served basis to meet demand, and as soon as the capacity is reached, the application channel will be switched off.

Any students interested in applying please follow the webpage.

Wish you all have a great start of the new academic term!

TLE in May – World Day for Cultural Diversity

Posted on 15 May 2025 by Liang Wang

In honour of the World Day for Cultural Diversity (21 May), we invite all QUB students and staff to join a special Tandem Language Exchange on Monday, 19 May. This event is a fantastic opportunity to spark your interest in learning new languages, connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and make new friends across campus.

Come celebrate diversity through language and conversation!

Cultural Diversity Survey

In addition, we would also like to invite you to contribute to our Cultural Diversity Survey by filling in the form so that we can better work with you to plan for the various cultural festivals and special days in the future.

A Taste of Irish Names

Posted on 27 March 2025 by Liang Wang

Ever wondered how to pronounce Irish names like Caoimhe, Tadhg, or Saoirse? Join The Language Centre for a fun and interactive Irish Language Taster Session designed to help international students and staff (as well as local attendees) get to grips with the unique sounds of Irish names!

📅 Date: Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
🕚 Time: 13:00 – 14:00
📍 Venue: Auditorium, McClay Library, QUB
👉 Entry: free, but spaces are limited! Secure your spot now.

Whether you’re an international student, staff member, or simply curious about the Irish language, this session will help you understand and confidently pronounce Irish names, deepening your appreciation of Ireland’s rich linguistic heritage.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🌿✨

Registration

Nawruz Mubarak

Posted on 21 March 2025 by Liang Wang

Happy International Nowruz Day to all those who celebrate!

“Afghan people say Nawruz and Iranian people say Nowruz, which doesn’t make any difference. It’s mainly because of our accent.”

Zahra Rahimi

Zahra Rahimi, a Queen’s alumnus with MSc in Advanced Food Safety, has just sent us the festive greeting and directed us to the cultures of practice from her personal perspective.

Today marks the first day of our new year in the solar calendar, which many of us celebrate as Nawruz—meaning “New Day.” It’s a time of renewal, joy, and fresh beginnings.

I just wanted to take a moment to send you a note and share our warmest New Year wishes with you! May this year bring you happiness, good health, and success in everything you do.

What is Nowruz/Nawruz?

Nowruz, meaning the ‘new day’, has its spelling varying from country to country, marking the first day of spring (usually occurs on 21 March) and celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people across the globe, with over 3,000-year-long tradition of celebrations in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Nowruz is a rite dating back to at least the 6^th century BCE, marking the new year and ushering in spring. Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, this historic rite is observed on 21 March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

UNESCO

Memories of 2018
Memories of 2018
Memories of 2021

Here is a brief introduction to the Haft Sen, referring to 7 items starting with S, as Zahra recommends.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by آموزشگاه سیاهپوش(معهد سياهبوش) (@siahpoosh.institute)

If you would like to learn more about the Nowruz/Nawruz culture, you are welcome to join the Iranian Association of Queen’s University celebration event coming on next Wednesday 26th March.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Iranian Association of Queen’s University (@iaqueensu)

International Mother Language Day 2025

Posted on 17 February 2025 by Liang Wang

Happy International Mother Language Day!

With the International Mother Language Day arriving on Friday 21st February, we are pleased to invite you, QUB students and staff members, especially those who are from different linguistic backgrounds to join in this special Tandem Language Exchange event for the celebration of the richness of our linguistic and cultural assets we bring together to Queen’s.

Date: Wednesday, 19th February, 2025
Time: 15:00-16:30
Venue: TR2, McClay Library

If you have not signed up for the Tandem Language Exchange programme yet, please scan the QR code above or register via the button below.

Sign up for TLE

To learn more about International Mother Language Day, visit the page here.

World Arabic Language Day Celebration

Posted on 18 December 2024 by Liang Wang

Happy World Arabic Language Day! It has been the second time that Wejdan, a PhD candidate from School of Arts, English and Languages, to volunteer to facilitate the celebration of the World Arabic Language Day. Here is the summary of the celebration.

About Word Arabic Language Day (Click for more info)

World Arabic Language Day, celebrated annually on December 18, highlights Arabic as one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. Renowned for its role in the Islamic Golden Age as the language of science, philosophy, and art, this day serves to honour and promote the preservation of Arabic, showcasing its significance in fostering cultural diversity.

On December 13th, Queen’s Language Centre marked the occasion by hosting an engaging workshop on Arabic calligraphy in the Auditorium, McClay Library. I took pride in delivering this session, offering participants an opportunity to explore the rich history of Arabic calligraphy, understand its evolution, and practise writing their names using the elegant Naskh script.

The workshop began with an introduction to the cultural and artistic importance of Arabic calligraphy, particularly in Islamic art, architecture, and manuscript tradition. Participants were guided through the historical development of Arabic scripts, from Kufic to refined cursive styles such as Naskh and Thuluth. A visual timeline and carefully curated examples illustrated the scripts’ adaptability and aesthetic nuances.

Hands-on activities followed, where attendees practised fundamental strokes using calligraphy pens and templates. With step-by-step guidance, they learned to write their names in the Naskh script, gaining an appreciation for the precision and discipline required in the art form. The session concluded with an insightful discussion on the contemporary relevance of Arabic calligraphy, including its applications in digital design, art installations, and cross-cultural dialogue.

Post-workshop interactions were particularly gratifying. Many participants shared how the session deepened their appreciation for the intricacies of Arabic calligraphy, fostering a newfound respect for its artistic and cultural significance. These conversations reaffirmed my belief in art’s power to transcend boundaries and unite people.

Being part of this initiative was an immense honour, as it aligned with Queen’s University Belfast’s commitment to fostering cultural diversity and inclusivity. The event showcased the university’s dedication to providing spaces where individuals from varied backgrounds can come together to learn, connect, and grow. Attendees from a diverse background enthusiastically participated, sparking meaningful discussions on the interplay between language, culture, and art.

International Volunteer Day Celebration 2024

Posted on 5 December 2024 by Liang Wang

On Monday, 2nd December, Queen’s students (including graduates and visiting students), alumni, and staff came together to celebrate International Volunteer Day with an engaging information session aimed at encouraging greater participation in the Cultural Diversity at Queen’s scheme.

Part of the participants attended the end-of-session group photo.

The event opened with a welcome address by Suyi Yang, the Student Union (SU) Officer for Equality and Diversity, who introduced the SU’s volunteering programs and hosted a lively Q&A session to address participants’ questions.

Ms. Dan Zhou, a Queen’s alumna and Marketing graduate, shared her inspiring journey as an international student taking on voluntary work during her studies. She highlighted the diverse events and activities she supported and reflected on the invaluable soft skills she developed through her volunteer work, particularly in intercultural settings. Dan’s volunteering experience played a pivotal role in her entrepreneurial success, helping her establish her local Belfast-based business, Eco Fresh Food.

Dan (right in picture) was sharing her experience as a volunteer when at Queen’s.

Dr. Liang Wang followed with an overview of the Cultural Diversity at Queen’s scheme. He encouraged students and staff to contribute to upcoming initiatives designed to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within the Queen’s community. To illustrate, Dr. Wang shared examples from previous Chinese New Year celebrations, offering participants inspiration for their involvement in the upcoming Year of the Snake celebrations.

The informal networking session provided a platform for attendees to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and even outline a few provisional proposals for future cultural events.

Participants enjoyed hot finger foods provided by The Language Centre and refreshments generously sponsored by Ms. Dan Zhou.

The event was a lively celebration of the Queen’s community’s collaborative spirit, fostering connections and generating enthusiasm for making cultural diversity a central part of campus life.

Celebrating World Arabic Language Day

Posted on 4 December 2024 by Liang Wang

Every year on 18th December, the United Nations celebrates its World Arabic Language Day, recognising its “legacy and immense contribution to humanity.”

To mark this special occasion, we warmly invite you to join us for an Arabic Language and Calligraphy workshop, celebrating the World Arabic Language Day. This workshop will demonstrate the beauty of the Arabic language through the timeless art of calligraphy. Participants will learn about its historical and cultural significance while gaining hands-on experience in crafting their own Arabic calligraphy pieces.

Organiser: The Language Centre

Facilitator: Wejdan Mohammed A Alawad (PhD student from School of Arts, English and Languages)

Date: Friday 13th December 2024
Time: 11:00 – 13:00
Venue: The Auditorium, McClay Library

The event is free and you are welcome to bring along colleagues and friends who may be interested in attending. Registration is required due to room capacity.