Founding member: Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast is the ninth oldest university in the UK with a heritage dating back over 150 years. Founded as Queen’s College in 1845, it became a university in its own right in 1908. Today, it is an international centre of research and education rooted at the heart of Northern Ireland.

The University has won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education on five occasions – for Northern Ireland's Comprehensive Cancer Services programme and for world-class achievement in green chemistry, environmental research, palaeoecology and law. Five prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards further recognises the University’s contribution to society. Queen’s received the award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts in 2008, was awarded the title of the UK’s Entrepreneurial University of the Year in 2009, won the Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year category in 2010 and received the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year Award in 2011 and Fundraising Team of the Year Award 2012.

With more than 17,000 students and 3,500 staff, it is a dynamic and diverse institution, a magnet for inward investment, a patron of the arts and a global player in areas ranging from cancer studies to sustainability, and from pharmaceuticals to creative writing. 

The Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast is renowned Irish-American businessman and humanitarian Thomas J Moran.

For Queen’s the benefit of membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities has been the access to global networks. This was illustrated most notably when Queen’s had the opportunity to host the ACU General Conference in 2003. Over 300 representatives from ACU member universities, leaders from industry and commerce, the world of communications, public service and a variety of official agencies and non-governmental organisations operating in the field of higher education attended the conference. It was a wonderful opportunity for Queen’s to host such a prestigious event, bringing together key policy makers in higher education from across the Commonwealth.

As internationalisation has become an increasing priority for Queen’s, our relationship with ACU and the access the Association provides to global networks will play an increasingly important role in helping us achieve our ambitious international goals. Our priority is to develop the students of today into the global citizens of tomorrow.

On a global level, higher education institutions face major challenges. The sustainability of higher education remains a key challenge, with institutions required to plan and budget carefully, ensuring an effective balance between investment in key infrastructure such as emerging technologies and buildings, and the allocation of resource to maintain high quality operations. The challenge of funding mass higher education from public and private sources is a global issue.

Environmental issues also represent a major challenge for all research intensive organisations. Managing and minimising carbon emissions from the equipment required to undertake cutting-edge research remains a priority and responsibility for all higher education institutions.

Within our new Corporate Plan we have identified four strategic priorities for the period 2011-16.  The four strategic priorities upon which the University will focus over the next five years are:

• To offer an exceptional student experience and high quality education, leading to improved progression, attainment and excellent career opportunities for our graduates.
• To enhance internationally recognised, globally competitive and sustainable research areas.
• To grow an efficient, effective and sustainable enterprise.
• To develop global citizens and address international challenges.

Successful delivery of the strategic priorities will require the complete engagement of all Queen’s staff, the provision of high quality professional services and continued investment in the University infrastructure.

We will support the delivery of the strategic priorities by:

• Enhancing the Quality of our People
• Enhancing the Quality of our Services
• Enhancing the Quality of our Infrastructure