Interactions Research was delighted to attend the first annual conference of the All-Island Research Culture Network at Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday, bringing together researchers, evaluators, and institutional leaders from across the island to reflect on and accelerate improvements in research culture.
The Network was established in late 2023 by University College Dublin (UCD) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) through funding from the Wellcome Trust. Its goal is to improve how research is conducted and supported, not only within individual institutions but across Ireland’s broader research ecosystem.
The Network is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and expand the impact of the work on Research Culture carried out at Higher Education Institutions and Research Performing Organisations across Ireland.
Katherine and Claire attended the event as external evaluators, connecting with attendees through the Rapid Assessment of Capacity Development (RAC) framework. This qualitative methodology is designed to assess lasting cultural and organisational change, even after external funding concludes.
“We’re looking at how changes in values, capabilities, and practices might persist beyond the life of the project,” said Claire. “Being part of this conference gives us early insights into where momentum is building and where more support is needed.”
Key themes explored during the conference included:
- Building Sustainable Research Partnerships
- Measuring Research Culture Progress
- Research Careers and Career Pathways
These themes reflect the conference’s emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, recognition of diverse research roles, and the importance of data-informed culture change.
Next steps:
Interactions Research will continue engaging with funded partners and wider network participants as part of the RAC evaluation process, which involves interviews, workshops, and participatory feedback loops to identify meaningful shifts in organisational capacity and individual experience.
As the Network moves forward with quarterly meetings and ongoing collaborative projects, Interactions evaluation work will help ensure that progress is not only documented, but critically understood.
