Series 8

2026 PROGRAMME (April - June 2026)

The 2026 KESS Programme features eight themed seminars across 22 April – 24 June 2026.

22 April:	Diversity & Religious Education: Considerations When Legislating
6 May:	Victims & Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System: Considerations When Legislating
20 May:	Online Safety For Young & Disabled Persons: Considerations When Legislating
27 May:	All-Island Marine Water Governance & Water-Land-Edge Environmental Cleaning: Considerations When Legislating
3 June:	Employment, Enterprise & Regional Balance: Considerations When Legislating
10 June:	Safe & Effective Staffing In Health & Social Care: Considerations When Legislating
17 June:	Place-Based Research In Education & Housing: Considerations When Legislating
24 June:	Marginalised Group Access To Higher Education & Employment: Considerations When Legislating

Seminars are free and held on Wednesdays (dates above) starting at 1.30pm in Parliament Buildings on the Stormont Estate.

View the Series 8 KESS Seminar videos

Image of Prof Noel Purdy presenting at seminar

From Entitlement to Enforceable Rights: Strengthening Post-19 Pathways for Learners with Special Educational Needs in Northern Ireland

Image of Dr Raluca Roman presenting at seminar

From Margins to Belonging: Evidence from Participatory Research on Roma Access to Higher Education in Northern Ireland

Image of Dr David Coyles delivering presentation

The Spatial Context of Anti-Social Behaviour in Housing: An Under-Examined Dimension of Policy Scrutiny

Image of Dr Liam O'Hare delivering presentation

The Story I Want My Life to Be”: Lessons from the Conversations Research for the 16-18s in Education and Training Bill

Image of Dr Kristen Reid presenting

Better Learning: Enhancing mentoring and support for work-based learning

Image of Prof Laura McCauley presenting to KESS

Clustering for Impact: Shared Services – the Challenges and Solution for Social Economy Growth in Northern Ireland

Image of Dr Finola Ferry presenting

Understanding “good jobs” employees and employers in Northern Ireland using linked administrative and survey data

Screenshot of Justin Magee presenting

“Beach Clean 2.0: a transdisciplinary, civic approach to tackling marine plastic pollution in Northern Ireland”

Screenshot of Claudia Allen presenting

Streamlining Fisheries Governance: Addressing Legislative Fragmentation in Shared Irish Marine Waters

Image of Dr Zhraa Alhaboby speaking at seminar

The cyber-victimisation of disabled adults in Northern Ireland: evidence from a mixed-methods study

Image of Prof Michelle Butler delivering presentation

Young people’s social media use: Experiences of illegal and/or harmful behaviours

Time for redress for those bereaved during the Troubles

Image of Dr John Taggart

Maximising the use of Registered Intermediaries in the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System

Improving Access to Justice for Victims of Crime in Northern Ireland

Image of Prof Stefanie Sinclair

Creative Learning in Education to Affirm Religious, Ethnic & Cultural Diversity

Image of Dr Rebecca Loader

Diversity, anti-racism and school curricula in Religious Education