The event focused on the development of research informed social innovation through community academic partnerships (CAPs) and how these local social innovations can be translated into global contexts.

There were a wide range of speakers from research, practice and community organisations including:

Dr Liam O’Hare, Director of QUB Innovation Zones who spoke about some of the history, research and practice of social Innovation in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and its influence across the globe.

Dr Jackie Redpath MBE, Shankill Children and Young People’s Zone talked about the Conversations project with children and young people in Shankill Area.

Dr Karen Galway, QUB School of Nursing and Midwifery, outlined background and results from the NIHR funded Common Health Assets project.

Marian Quinn, Childhood Development Initiative in Tallaght Dublin spoke about their long term commitment to work on restorative practice in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Lucy McCullagh, Ulster Orchestra & Junyi Wang (PhD student, QUB) provided details about the Crescendo programme and its translation to a Chinese context.

Dr Siobhan Fitzpatrick CBE, Early Years and Yale University, described the international scaling of the Media Initiative for children.

Dr Laura Dunne (SSESW, QUB) provided an overview of the NIHR funded LINKS study, which explores early childhood development and peacebuilding in conflict affected countries across the globe.

Panel Respondents gave their views on potential international translation of the projects described and how the work fits within social innovation activity internationally. They included:

• Tatenda Mawoyo Institute for Life Course Health Research Stellenbosch University (South Africa).
• Dr Tetiana Holovatenko, Teachers’ Academy Karazin University (Ukraine).
• Professor Simon Teasdale, Professor of Social Innovation at Queen’s Business School.

Find out more

Queen's Innovation Zones