Category Archives: Diversity and Inclusion

Explore Korean Culture: Essays and Videos Competition 2026

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Are you interested in Korean culture, society or Korea–UK cooperation? Here’s an opportunity to share your ideas and perspectives!

The Korea–UK Development Essays and Videos Competition, organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom, invites students enrolled at UK higher education institutions to explore contemporary issues in Korea–UK relations and consider how both countries can contribute to addressing global challenges.

Submit an essay or create a video to share your insights, demonstrate your critical thinking and engage with issues shaping the future of Korea–UK cooperation.

Submission deadline: 6 November 2026

This opportunity comes ahead of the Korean Ambassador’s official visit to Queen’s University Belfast on 18 November, which will feature a lecture and discussions on a new era of Korea–UK relations.

Check the attached information for competition topics, submission guidelines and further details. Have your say, share your ideas and contribute to the conversation on Korea–UK relations!

Upcoming multicultural films at QFT

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Happy October — and hello, November!

We’re delighted to share a selection of upcoming films in different languages to be screened or previewed at Queen’s Film Theatre.

Queen’s students and staff, their families, and members of the public are all very welcome to join us on a cinematic journey through different languages and cultures. Come along, discover new stories, and experience the richness of cultural diversity through film!

Arabic

Cotton Queen (Sun 18 & Mon 19 Oct)
In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, teenage Nafisa is raised on heroic tales of battling British colonisers told by her grandmother. But when a young businessman arrives with a new development plan and genetically engineered cotton, Nafisa becomes the centre of a power play to determine the future of the village. 

Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep (Sun 1 Nov)
In a Bedouin village on the Lebanon–Syria border, a burned truck sets off a hunt for Gamra, blamed for burning her lover’s car. As her cousin searches for her, he accidentally kills a man from a rival clan, sparking a blood feud. 

French

Case 137 (From Fri 16 Oct)
Set against the backdrop of mass protests in Paris, Case 137 follows Stéphanie (Léa Drucker in a César winning performance), a meticulous internal affairs investigator assigned to investigate a teenager critically injured by police fire.

A Man of His Time (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Mon 2 Nov)
Swann Arlaud (Anatomy of A Fall) gives an effectively inexplicit performance as a man making his way up the career ladder of the Vichy government, the regime in occupied France that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II. This has been receiving rave reviews in France.

Coward (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Wed 4 Nov)
Pierre, a young Belgian soldier, wants to prove himself on the battlefield during the First World War. Behind the frontlines, he meets Francis, who is asked to find a way to boost morale. Belgian director Lukas Dhont’s poignant third feature celebrates a love that blooms amid the hardships and horrors of the First World War.

All of a Sudden (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Sat 7 Nov)
French nursing home director Marie-Lou faces resistance from staff and shareholders after introducing a care method based on dignity. When she meets Mari, a Japanese theatre director fighting cancer, the two share a bond that will prove transformative. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) brings Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto together in a poignant drama about friendship, illness, art, and the responsibilities of care.

German

Fatherland (Preview in LFF Fri 16 Oct, General release from Fri 23 Oct)
In 1949, German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika embark on a road trip across a Germany in ruins, from US-dominated Frankfurt to Soviet-controlled Weimar.

Everytime (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Sat 7 Nov)
The upcoming Austrian director with a singular vision, Sandra Wollner, returns with her latest film, a story of a family tragedy, a trip to Tenerife in the hope of finding existential answers, and one woman’s relationship with her daughters and a teenaged family friend.

Rose (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Sat 7 Nov)
Sandra Hüller gives an award-winning performance as a 17th-century female soldier who disguises herself as a man to gain acceptance in a brutal farming community.


Korean

Hope (Tue 20 – Thu 22 Oct)
A rural Korean village is under attack from a mysterious creature laying waste to buildings, vehicles and anyone unfortunate enough to cross its path. Reinforcements have been diverted to battle wildfires and all communication has been cut off. Now it is down to a band of hunters, hapless police and terrified locals to identify the beast and bring it down whilst finding themselves hunted instead.

Possible Love (From Fri 23 Oct)
The lives of two married couples from different social strata collide in Lee Chang-dong’s (Burning) brilliantly unfolding narrative about economic precarity, in which a laid-off factory worker and his wife become the camera subjects for a documentary filmmaker. 


Spanish

La Bola Negra (From Fri 20 Nov)
Spain, 1932. A young man awaits to see if he has secured membership of the local casino. In 1937, a young nationalist soldier guards a republican prisoner. Jump to 2017 and an unexpected document is inherited by an historian from his grandfather. A genre-defying queer epic, rooted in the legacy of beloved writer Federico García Lorca.

Russian

Minotaur (Preview in Belfast Film Festival Tue 3 Nov)
Andrey Zvyagintsev transposes Claude Chabrol’s La Femme infidèle to contemporary Russia, delivering a magnificent political allegory that dissects the mechanics of ego, violence and corruption.

TLE-Session1-20261016

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Hello October! Hope you all have been settling in now and with our Language Centre first week of courses taking place last week, the Tandem Language Exchange programme is officially to kick off now – the first general meeting event is scheduled as below:

All welcome, and bring your friends and colleagues in.

For future events, please check

Tandem Language Exchange

Under One Moon

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Mid-Autumn Festival & Multilingual Celebration

Join us on Friday 25 September 2026, from 11:00 to 13:30, in The Auditorium, McClay Library, for an inclusive celebration of autumn, moon traditions and the many languages that connect our community at Queen’s.

Through a selection of short films, discover how the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Korean Chuseok, Vietnamese Tết Trung Thu, Japanese Tsukimi and other moon-related traditions share themes of harvest, family and togetherness while retaining their own distinctive customs, foods and stories.

The event will also mark the European Day of Languages on 26 September, celebrating its 2026 theme, “Languages unite!” Whether you speak one language or many, all are welcome. No previous cultural or language knowledge is needed, just bring your curiosity!

This event is jointly organised by QUB iRise Staff Network and The Language Centre.

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunch options will be available. Please note that the mooncakes provided may contain traces of eggs and nuts. 

To register for the event, please scan the QR code above or follow the link below:

Registration

Eid Mubarak

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On Friday 20 March, students and staff at Queen’s University Belfast came together in the Blue Sky Room to mark the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

The event was jointly organised by the One Elmwood International Student Engagement Team, the Diversity and Inclusion Unit, and the QUB iRise Staff Network, with support from the Queen’s Islamic Student Society and The Language Centre. It provided a valuable opportunity for members of the University community to come together, share food, and engage with cultural traditions in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making the celebration such a meaningful occasion.

Here’s the Instagram post from QUB Students.

And more photos below:

QUB DEIB Forum 3

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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

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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!

TLE in May – World Day for Cultural Diversity

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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.

go.qub.ac.uk/CulturalDiversity

A Taste of Irish Names

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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

Malartú Ollscoile – University Exchange

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University Exchange – The University of Edinburgh & Queen’s University, Belfast
Students from The University of Edinburgh visited us this month, on the second leg of a university exchange programme between Scottish Gaelic and Irish language learners.

Our guests sampled the Irish language initiatives on campus, as well as other parts of Belfast.

Fáilte!/Welcome!
Our friends from Scotland received ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’/One Hundred Thousand Welcomes, as they joined Dr. Síobhra Aiken’s Irish lecture.
The University of Edinburgh students got to know some of our Irish students, shared stories, and were taught some useful phrases they could use at the ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’/Irish language conversation circle later that day.

Ciorcal Comhrá/Irish Language Conversation Circle
Our monthly Ciorcal Comhrá was a busy one, with Irish speakers of all abilities using their ‘cúpla focal’ over a ‘cupán tae’.
With Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations in full swing, we had a large gathering of ‘gaeilgeoirí’/Irish speakers and were entertained by our fantastic Student Traditional Music Group.

Cuairt ar Ghlór na Móna/Visit to Glór na Móna
Glór na Móna, one of the key Irish language organisations in Belfast, was the venue for our Scottish Gaelic students, as they listened to a lecture from Dr. Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh on indigenous, minority languages.
We were also given a guided tour of Glór na Móna, and heard about the pioneering work being done at community and grassroots level.

Ranganna Gaeilge/Irish Classes
Our Irish language students and Dr. Míchéal Ó Mainnín warmly welcomed The University of Edinburgh students to a lecture, in which they exchanged ideas and shared opinions on Irish, Scottish Gaelic and other minority languages.

Madden’s – Ceol Beo/Live Music
Our guests from The University of Edinburgh enjoyed an evening of music and song in one of Belfast’s most well-known bars for Irish traditional music, Madden’s.

Cuairt ar Raidió Fáilte/Visit to Raidió Fáilte
Raidió Fáilte 107.1FM, Belfast’s Irish language radio station, welcomed us to their studios. Our guests had a talk with Raidió Fáilte DJs, Edel Ní Churraoin and Pól Ó Néill on broadcasting, podcasts and all areas of production in a minority language setting.
We were also given the opportunity to record and edit interviews in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, picking up the key skills associated with working in radio.

This exchange programme between Queen’s University, Belfast and The University of Edinburgh was both educational and enjoyable, and we look forward to strengthening our connections and collaborating again in the future. Míle buíochas!/Mòran taing!/Many thanks!