LIVE on 22 APRIL 2026 …
The Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS) soon will resume!!!
The 2026 KESS Programme will feature eight themed seminars, from 22 April – 24 June 2026, which will be jointly delivered by the Research and Information Service (RaISe) in the Northern Ireland Assembly (the Assembly) and the five local university – Queen’s University of Belfast (Queen’s), Ulster University (Ulster), The Open University (OU), Stranmillis University College (Stranmillis) and St Mary’s University College Belfast (St Mary’s). Full Programme details will be published shortly.
Seminars are free and held on specified Wednesdays, starting at 1.30pm in Parliament Buildings, located on Stormont Estate. You are most welcome to attend. Ensure to register early, as spaces are limited.
KESS aims to promote evidence-informed policy and law-making in Northern Ireland; providing a forum in which academics present their research findings in a straightforward format, to support Assembly scrutiny – in particular, scrutiny of Northern Ireland Executive and non-Executive bills.
It seeks to encourage discussion, foster improved understanding, demystify devolved governing arrangements and enable opportunities for more in-depth, future engagement. Providing a safe and respectful environment, KESS brings academic findings to the attention of key participants and decision-makers, including Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) working in their plenary, committee and constituency capacities, the wider public sector and others.
KESS does not support or promote perspectives or messages stated at seminars or in policy briefings or PowerPoint presentations. The opportunity to apply to present at KESS is open to all “academics” employed by a university partner. When the call is open, it is promoted through the university partners’ internal communication channels and social media. Contributions from all perspectives are encouraged. All presentations are required to be independent, evidence-informed, robust and reliable, as well as relevant to Assembly bill scrutiny.
When attending, please allow time to walk from the public car park and pass through Assembly Security before entering Parliament Buildings; a public building, where there may be photography, filming and recording in its public spaces. Only the academics presenting at KESS are filmed when making their presentations. Reserved seating can be provided away from the camera, if requested.
Please ensure to specify any special needs you may have when registering (for example, wheelchair accessibility). The Assembly is committed to fulfilling its equality-related roles and responsibilities and will take reasonable efforts to meet requests relating to them.
For more details, please email: [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you throughout the 2026 KESS Programme.