Applied Social Science and Public Policy

On this page:
Introduction
Centre for Innovation and Structural Change
Irish Centre for Social Gerontology
Health Promotion Research Centre
Child & Family Research Centre
Centre for Clinical Health Services Research and Development
Centre for Disability Law & Policy

Introduction

NUI Galway has an international reputation in the Applied Social Science and Public Policy fields. This reputation is underpinned by substantial inter-disciplinary research activity across the Colleges of Business, Public Policy, & Law, Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies and Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences and also by an academic structure within the University which facilities and encourages such inter-disciplinary research.

The research undertaken is concerned with advancing a sophisticated understanding of the antecedents, processes and consequences of economic innovation and social change with respect to how balance may be achieved in social and economic development. By combining insights from the perspective of different groups most affected as well as across different academic disciplines in the social sciences, the research addresses issues of innovation, social inclusion, balanced development and health. Research aims to provide a multidisciplinary understanding of innovation and social entrepreneurial strategies that enhance active citizenship, empower marginalised groups and facilitate balanced development. Ireland's evolution toward a knowledge-based economy is based upon a continued commitment to innovation, which in turn requires a better understanding of the consequent rapid changes taking place in the Irish economy and society with a view to better informing public policy making.

Some of the Applied Social Science and Public Policy major Institutes and Centres are outlined here.

Centre for Innovation and Structural Change (CISC)

The Centre for Innovation and Structural Change (CISC) is an inter-disciplinary research institute, based at J.E. Cairnes Business School of Business & Economics at National University of Ireland Galway, focused on building an internationally-recognised programme of research and education on innovation processes and policies that are fundamental to the development of a knowledge-based economy. By taking a cross-disciplinary approach to research and through the development and delivery of education and training, particularly to PhD students, CISC has developed a distinguished record in scholarship and research in innovation and structural change. Research at CISC is organised under a number of priority research areas, namely, Innovation Systems, Industry Clustering, Internationally Traded Services, Inter-Organisational Systems and High Performance Work Systems.

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Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG)

The Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG) is a multidisciplinary research centre on ageing at NUI Galway. ICSG focuses on research, education and training in the field of social gerontology in Ireland and internationally. There is a specific research focus on rural gerontology, the economics of ageing and on technology and ageing. ICSG aims to develop and promote social and economic aspects of ageing in Ireland with a view to supporting a holistic and positive view of ageing, which emphasises participation and empowerment for older people at all levels of society. The first centre of its kind in Ireland, ICSG offers research expertise and practical support to public, private and voluntary agencies involved in the formulation and implementation of public policy for older people at international, national, regional and local levels. Research themes include Economics of Ageing, Rural Ageing and Technology & Older People.

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Report Shows Investment In Mental Health Care Will Benefit Economy Read more

Health Promotion Research Centre (HPRC)

The Health Promotion Research Centre (HPRC) produces research, of national and international significance, that supports the development of best practice and policy in promoting health.  Areas of research include: Population Health Research, Programme Development & Evaluation, Health Services Research, and Policy Research. The HPRC is unique in that it is the only designated research centre in Ireland dedicated to health promotion. The Centre collaborates with regional, national and international agencies on the development and evaluation of health promotion strategies. Collaborative studies are undertaken with governmental agencies, the European Commission, World Health Organisation, and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education. The HPRC is located within the Discipline of Health Promotion, School of Health Sciences, at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

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Report Recommends Online Resource for Health Promotion Among Students Read more
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Widespread Health Inequality Among School Children in Ireland Read more 
NUI Galway Researchers Report Health and Educational Experience at Post Primary School Level Read more 
Health Inequalities in Young People's Health - How do Ireland's children compare internationally? Read more

Child & Family Research Centre (CFRC)

Recently awarded the first UNESCO Chair in the Republic of Ireland and based at the School of Political Science and Sociology, The Child and Family Research Centre (CFRC) undertakes research, education and training in the area of children and families. The CFRC is a partnership between the Health Service Executive and the University and is strongly supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland. Committed to better outcomes for disadvantaged children and youth through Family Support, the centre offers a range of education programmes including an MA in Family Support Studies, a three-year research based Ph.D programme and a structured Ph.D programme in Child and Youth Research. The centre works in collaboration with national and international centres of excellence for child and family welfare providing research and evaluation expertise to public, private and voluntary organizations with a particular focus on brokering between theory policy and applied practice. In the coming years an expansive plan to build the UNESCO programme on Children Youth and Civic Engagement will emerge which will include new and interesting education opportunities in this field as well as the internationalisation of the centre.

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President McAleese Officially Launches UNESCO Chair at NUI Galway Read more

Centre for Clinical Health Services Research and Development (CCHSRD)

The Centre for Clinical Health Services Research and Development (CCHSRD) at NUI Galway harnesses a rich diversity of research perspectives, methodologies and expertise from a range of disciplines to conduct, report and disseminate clinical health services research, characterised by interdisciplinary and inter-agency ways of working, with a view to producing high quality information about our health and health services. The principal research themes at the Centre are Health Service Reforms and Multidisciplinary Health Care Practice, Effective Chronic Disease Management Involving a Multidisciplinary Approach, Evaluation of Health Care Innovations and Translation of Research into Achieving Optimal Health Gain.

Centre for Disability Law & Policy

The Centre for Disability Law & Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway is dedicated to producing research that informs debate on national and international disability law reform. The Centre is pursuing two major research projects on the Modernisation of Service Delivery in Ireland and a Baseline Study on Disability Law & Policy in Ireland. In addition it has undertaken a range of research projects especially for the European Commission on eAccessibility. It interacts proactively with a wide range of international partners and is engaged in many international and European research networks. It also partners with a range of national research bodies on disability in Ireland. Within the University it collaborates actively with the Centre for Child and Family Support and the Centre for Social Gerontology in order to advance a coherent lifecycle approaches to policy development.

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NUI Galway Law Expert Addresses UN Conference Read more

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