Ulster University

Dr Matt Jennings (Ulster) Work within the arts sector is often precarious, inequitable and underpaid. Yet policy bodies increasingly recognise the social and economic benefits of the creative industries and cultural development. Management research has identified the flexible approach of arts organisations as a model for workplace relations everywhere. Yet the resilience of cultural workers… Continue Reading ‘Quality of Life’: inclusion and resilience in community cultural development

Dr Sharon McClements, Prof Martin Haran and Mr Andrew McErlane (Ulster) Research has established that social infrastructure provision positively influences economic growth and social development, and a review of historical spending in NI indicates an identified need to upgrade and replace social infrastructure. Yet, as the UK Government continues to implement its austerity policies, the… Continue Reading Unlocking Benefits and Opportunities through Social Infrastructure

Mr Richard Johnston and Miss Laura Heery (Ulster) Competitiveness is a key driver in the rate of economic growth and living standards.  Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) developed the Competitiveness Scorecard on behalf of the Economic Advisory Group, taking a similar approach to the Republic of Ireland’s National Competitiveness Council.  The Scorecard benchmarks NI’s… Continue Reading Competitiveness Scorecard for NI

Dr Fiona Bloomer (Ulster) and Dr Claire Pierson (Manchester Metropolitan University) – Morality policy under the lens – evidence based policy making on abortion versus myth-usage This paper considers global trends in abortion policy using the framework of morality policy. The authors will explain how the controversy over abortion policy restricts legal reform, resulting in… Continue Reading Morality policy under the lens

Dr Alice Diver (Ulster) The recent statutory cap on Housing Benefit in England and Wales is commonly known as the ‘bedroom tax’ or the ‘spare room subsidy’, depending upon whether one is a critic or a proponent of it.  It has given rise to a small, but significant spate of domestic legal cases that examine… Continue Reading Putting dignity to bed? The taxing question of the UK’s housing rights relapse

Dr Lisa Hanna-Trainor and Dr Laurence Taggart (Ulster) – Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID): Transitioning into Older Years  People with intellectual disabilities are living longer and many are living with ageing family carers: this presents challenges surrounding how services respond to the needs of both cohorts. This is a fundamental issue for policy makers, commissioners and… Continue Reading Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID): Transitioning into Older Years

Dr Orla Drummond (Ulster) – The access to justice barriers for tribunal users: a comparative case study on Special Educational Needs Tribunals The Access to Justice Review (2) identified the difficulties faced by tribunal users in securing access to justice, and poses questions about how tribunal users might be best supported. Recent research from Ulster… Continue Reading The access to justice barriers for tribunal users

Dr Grainne McKeever (Ulster) The Access to Justice Review (2) is intended to address the challenges faced in ensuring access to justice for citizens at a time of reduced public expenditure, and part of the remit of the Review is to identify additional or alternative forms of legal support for citizens. The Review’s Agenda identifies the… Continue Reading The role of University Law Clinics in delivering access to justice

Miss Rachel Malcolmson (Ulster) The Northern Ireland (NI) agri-food industry faces significant challenges in re-building consumer confidence in the quality and authenticity of food/drink products. However, increasing demand for authentic, high quality produce, paired with a renewed sense of food patriotism, presents new growth opportunities for local and artisan food/drink products to be promoted for… Continue Reading Exploring Consumers’ Quality Perceptions of Local NI Food & Drink Produce