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Social Charter Podcast

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Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network Series
Race Equality in Higher Education Conference

THE CHARTER 

The Charter is a podcast series which reflects The Social Charter of Queen's University Belfast. This podcast features interviews with students, staff and partners involved in projects making a great contribution to our communities here at home and farther afield. 

Follow the links below to listen, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

shared-education
Episode 1
Shared Education

In February 2020, a team from Queen's University Belfast made their way to Buckingham Palace to collect an  award - the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize - for their work on Shared Education.

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The Prize was a recognition of the excellence, innovation and public benefit of their long years of work in bringing children (and extended communities) together, for all their differences, in a traditionally divided education system.

In this, the first episode of The Charter, Maurice Macartney congratulates Professor Tony Gallagher, Professor Joanne Hughes, and Dr Gavin Duffy of the Centre for Shared Education (visit the website here) about how the project grew from small beginnings to make such an impact in Northern Ireland, and now in other post-conflict societies around the world.

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case-project
Episode 2
Building Sustainability with CityZen and CASE

Queen's students and staff have undertaken much great work in the area of sustainability.

In this episode of The Charter, Maurice Macartney talks to Professor Greg Keeffe of the School of Natural and Built Environment about his CityZen project, and to Sam McCloskey, Director of the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) about her team's work in pioneering new technologies.

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climate-action
Episode 3
Climate Action with the PCAN Network

There's more on sustainability in this episode, as Maurice talks to Professor John Barry and Dr Amanda Slevin about the work of the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), an ESRC funded network that brings together researchers and decision-makers from the public, private and third sectors across the UK.

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Prof Barry and Dr Slevin have been involved in setting up a Belfast Climate Commission, along with Belfast City Council.

Visit the PCAN website for further information.

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Episode 4
Knitstanbul and Social Enterprise

In this, the fourth episode of the series - and the first recorded during the Coronavirus lockdown - we look at the potential of the social and solidarity economy as a way of empowering marginalised people and of achieving goals that go beyond the realm of the economic.

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In the second section we hear from Professor Brendan Murtagh (pictured, right) of the School of Natural and Built Environment, who outlines his research into these issues, and looks in particular at social enterprises in Belfast.

Before that, we hear from Dr Fiona Murphy and Dr Evi Chatzipanagiotidou, of the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, about their anthropological research, and not least about their work with a social enterprise project involving Syrian refugees in Turkey - Knitstanbul!

To find out more about the work of Knitstanbul, visit their site here.

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Episode 5
Cancer Research and Mental Health

In this episode of The Charter, we focus on health, both physical and mental.

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In the first section, Professor Mark Lawler (pictured, left), from the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s, outlines the history of the All-Ireland Cancer Consortium, created in the wake of the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, and talks about a paper he and his co-authors published recently, showing just how effective the body has been.

For more on the All-Ireland Cancer Consortium follow this link.

In the second section, Dr Karen Galway (right) of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s tells us about how students and staff in the School have risen to the challenge of addressing mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and addresses the need for all of us to look after our mental health in this time of crisis.

For more on the School of Nursing and Midwifery follow this link.

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Episode 6
Geography at Work - Mapping Greenways and Urban Regeneration

In Episode 6 of The Charter, Dr Niall Majury gives us an insight into the evolution of the ‘Geography at Work’ programme, an initiative that sees Geography undergraduate students working in collaboration with partners in the community and local government on projects with a positive social impact.

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The episode also features students and partners who worked on two key projects.

Laura Thompson, Rebekah Gibson, Kirsty McLeod and Sarah Magee share their thoughts on their ‘Connecting Communities with Green Pathways’ project. 

Niamh Moggan, Naomi Martin and Eimear Rodgers talk about their project, Mapping Urban Regeneration in the South Belfast Corridor.

And we hear from Dr Azadeh Sobout of the Forward South Partnership, a community partner of the team, as well as Sabine Kalke of Belfast City Council’s Department of Infrastructure.

Find out more about our Geography courses here.

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Episode 7
Disability Rights - How To Build Back Better

One of the key principles of the Social Charter is a commitment to equality and social justice, so in this episode, Maurice talks to Dr Bronagh Byrne, of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s, about disability rights.

In particular, he asks how, after the Covid crisis, we might be able to ‘build back better’ for disabled people.

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Episode 8
Syrian Academics and Academia - Interactions through Cara

Dr Dina Zoe Belluigi of Queen’s University Belfast, and Dr Fateh Shaban of the Academic Centre for Development and Peace Studies, in Turkey discuss the work of the Council for At Risk Academics (Cara) and a potential project in Northern Syria in this, the last episode of Season 1 of The Charter Podcast. 

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Dr Shaban, originally from Syria, has been unable to return to the country since the outbreak of the war there. Now based in Turkey, he has been liaising with the Cara Syria programme for several years, and along with other Syrian colleagues set up the Academic Centre for Development and Peace Studies (ACDP) in Turkey.

Dr Belluigi and Dr Shaban met in 2019 at a round table that was facilitated by GRCF funding secured by Dr Parkinson of the University of Kent and Cara. They have subsequently worked together on academic papers (see below for details), a blog post, and a larger project, to establish a global partnership, Living Systems, to study and develop networks to address the crisis in the Syrian Higher Education sector.

This larger project, however, has just been dealt an unexpected blow, as Dr Belluigi addresses in the episode.

Follow these links for further details:

Cara Syria programme

The Academic Centre for Development and Peace Studies

Shaban, F. (2020) ‘Rebuilding HE in Northern Syria’. Education and Conflict Review. Issue 3, pp. 53-59. [Download available here]

Abdullateef, S., Ajaj, N., Anis, R., Shaban, F., Belluigi, D. Z. and Parkinson, T. 2020. Sharing the burdens of responsibility for a better future in transnational academia: Reflections of displaced Syrian academics on an atypical academic development event.  ETL Learning and Teaching Journal, Vol 2. No 2, pp. 393-396. [Download available here]

Dr Shaban and Dr Belluigi are contributors to the Advancing Critical University Studies network (of which Dr Belluigi is a founding member).

Belluigi, D. Z., Parkinson, T. and Shaban, F. 2020. Academics in exile: The blindspot in CUS?, in ACUSAfrica website, section 'CUS around the world, 13 October.

See also:

Belluigi, D. Z. & Parkinson, T. 2020. Building solidarity through comparative lived experiences of post/conflict: Reflections on two days of dialogue. Education and Conflict Review - Special Issue: Rebuilding Syrian higher education for a stable future 3, pp.16-24

Please note: Views expressed by participants in this programme do not necessarily reflect the position of Queen's University Belfast.

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Episode 9
Code Red for Humanity Part 1

The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, with Dr Donal Mullan.

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Episode 10
Code Red for Humanity Part 2

The Transition to Clean Transport, with Professor Juliana Early.

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Episode 11
Code Red for Humanity Part 3

Renewable Energy, with Dr Aoife Foley, Reader in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

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Episode 12
Code Red for Humanity Part 4

Peatlands as Nature-Based Climate Solutions, with Professor Graeme Swindles, School of Natural and Built Environment.

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Episode 13
Code Red for Humanity Part 5

Marine and Tidal Power, with Dr Carwyn Frost and Dr Louise Kregting (CASE) and Sue Barr, UK Marine Energy Council.

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Episode 14
Share Uganda - Community Based Health

With Dr Chris Jenkins and Dr Lorna Montgomery. To contact Dr Jenkins and for more on Share Uganda follow this link.

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Episode 15
Carbon Literacy

Dr Will Megarry of the School of Natural and Built Environment outlines the Carbon Literacy Training programme being developed at Queen's in partnership with 'Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful'.

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Episode 16
Common Health Assets

Dr Liam O’Hare and Dr Karen Galway of Queen’s University’s Innovation Zones discuss the Common Health Assets programme, a collaborative project with researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University, Bournemouth University, Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the University of East London and community-led organisations in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

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RACIAL EQUITY CHAMPIONS (REC) NETWORK SERIES 

A Racial Equity Champions Network has been established at Queen’s to support the University in its work on REC, and racial inequality more broadly. The network is made up of staff from all of our Schools and Directorates who are passionate about advancing race equality, and have knowledge and expertise in this area. 

REC Network Series
Episode 1

In this, the first of a Charter Podcast mini-series featuring members of Queen's University Belfast's Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network, we hear from Dr Adone Mohd Sarip from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, and from Dr Salissou Moutari from the School of Mathematics and Physics.

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REC Network Series
Episode 2

The second episode in a Charter Podcast mini-series featuring members of Queen's University Belfast's Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network. In this episode we hear from Dr Mairead Corrigan, PhD student Sharice Henry, and Dr Ikhlas El Karim of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.

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REC Network Series
Episode 3

Part 3 of a Charter Podcast mini-series featuring members of Queen's University Belfast's Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network. In this episode we hear from Dr Magdalena Rychlowska and Dr Paddy O'Connor of the School of Psychology about their work on equality, diversity and inclusion.

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REC Network Series
Episode 4: Safe, Clean Queen's

Part 4 of a Charter Podcast mini-series from Queen's University Belfast's Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network. In this episode we hear from two frontline workers, a cleaner and a security officer, about their experiences in Queen's.

Please note, the participants wished to remain anonymous.

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REC Network Series
Episode 5: Together We Are Stronger

In this the fifth episode of the Racial Equity Champions Network series, Dr Eiman Abdel Meguid of the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences and Dr Gift Sotonye Frank of the School of Law look at what needs to be done to address inequalities at Queen's.

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RACIAL EQUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE 

Queen's Gender Initiative and Racial Equity Champions (REC) Network hosted a one-day conference on Race Equality in Higher Education, the first of its kind at the University, on 20 September 2023.

Race Equality in Higher Education Conference
Part 1

This, the first in a series of videos drawn from the conference, features a welcome and introduction, and the Keynote Address given by Sheree Atcheson, Queen's graduate and multi-award winning leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Race Equality in Higher Education Conference
Part 2: The Student Voice

The second in the series of videos drawn from the QGI and REC Network hosted conference features a panel of students reflecting on the sometimes difficult situations they have faced in the community.

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Race Equality in Higher Education Conference
Part 3: Diversifying Education

The third part in this series of videos from the QGI and REC Network Conference features a panel chaired by Dr Kieran Higgins, with Dr M. Satish Kumar, Dr Yecid Ortega, Dr Mairead Corrigan (all Queen's) and Ms Danielle Chavrimootoo, of Kingston University.

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Race Equality in Higher Education Conference
Part 4: Diversifying Research

In this, part 4 of the series from the QGI and REC Network Conference, the panel discusses the issue of diversifying research. With Prof Dina Belluigi, Dr Mani Narayanan, Dr Ioana Latu and, chairing, Prof MN Ravishankar, all of Queen's University Belfast.

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Race Equality in Higher Education Conference
Part 5: The Work Of The Charter

Part five in this series of videos from the QGI and REC Network Conference on Race Equality in Higher Education looks at the work of the Advance HE Race Equality Charter. With Dr Michael Sulu, University College London; Professor Mary Hannon-Fletcher, Ulster University; and Mr Richard Stewart of Advance HE.

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