University Mission Statement "Queens is a broadly-based, research-driven university with a dynamic world-class research and education portfolio and strong international connections. The University promotes the widest possible access to this portfolio of excellence in an environment of equality, tolerance and mutual respect, and it fully embraces its leadership role in Northern Ireland and beyond." (approved by Senate, 30 November 2004) 10 Key Facts About Queens Queens is a member of the Russell Group of the UKs 20 leading research-intensive institutions and is home to more than 17,000 students and 3,000 staff. In the era of the knowledge-based economy, the University is playing an increasingly important role in economic development. Its research plays a pivotal role in underpinning Northern Irelands industrial base and it makes a significant contribution to wealth and job creation. Around 50 companies have emanated from Queens research, creating over 1,000 jobs. In the recent Research Assessment Exercise, Queens had 11 subject areas ranked within the top 10 in the UK and 24 in the top 20. Queen’s has more than 250 buildings, some 120 of them listed as being of architectural merit. Other Queen’s premises are at the Royal Victoria and City Hospitals, Newforge Lane, and the Marine Biology Station at Portaferry. The best known image of Queen’s is the dignified façade of the Lanyon Building which features in all kinds of media. It has even been used on the leading Russian TV network as the backdrop to news items about Northern Ireland. Queen’s is proud of its pioneering record on social equality issues. The University’s Charter of 1908 guaranteed women equal eligibility to hold any office and enjoy any advantage of Queen’s – 12 years before women were admitted to Oxford and a full decade before they were given the vote. Full rights for women students had already been granted in the 1880s. The 1908 Charter, which consolidated the principle of n