University College Dublin (UCD), Ulster University (Ulster) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) have joined forces to connect Research Managers and Administrators across the island of Ireland.
The initiative has the long-term goal of setting up an All-Island Research Excellence Network (AIREN) that will benefit the whole sector. The AIREN project is being delivered with support from InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative.
Synergy is a cross border cluster initiative set up by InterTradeIreland, the Cross-Border Trade and Business Development Body. The initiative aims to increase the growth and competitiveness on the island of Ireland, by supporting synergistic cross-border connections between networks, partnerships, sectors and clusters.
Inaugural AIREN Conference
The inaugural AIREN Conference ‘Research For the Future’ took place in-person on 8th September 2022 at the Titanic Hotel Belfast.
The Conference brought key stakeholders together to discuss all-island collaborative research and how to further develop and enhance the AIREN all-island network of research support staff. The diverse range of sessions also addressed research culture and shared career development inspirations for research support professionals. The conference opened with welcome addresses from Minister Gordon Lyons, MLA, Department of the Economy, Northern Ireland, and Minster Simon Harris, TD, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) Ireland, and the day was moderated by journalist, presenter and event host Sarah Travers. The conference included two excellent keynote addresses by Dr Deirdre Lillis, (DFHERIS) and Dr Simon Kerridge (University of Kent), international panel discussions and interaction sessions. There were 157 registered delegates with attendance from research professional staff from academic and research organisations on the island, as well as representatives from Government departments, the Higher Education Authority, InterTradeIreland, and funding bodies. The conference provided opportunities for delegates to meet and network with each other, and to link with colleagues working across the research ecosystem in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. The Conference Programme, and a report on and the recording of the Conference are available here. We thank all who attended and participated at the event for their contributions.
Team Members
Our Management Team members are made up of representatives from UCD, UU and QUB.
Caroline Treacey
(Lead partner) –
Research & Innovation Manager
at University College Dublin
UCD is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education
Dr Susie Gray
Research Development Manager – Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Queen’s University Belfast is the ninth-oldest university in the UK. Founded by Royal Charter as Queen’s College in 1845
Shauna McKeown
Head of Research
Development, Ulster
University
Ulster University’s international reputation for research excellence has received worldwide recognition
