Academy for British and Irish Studies

Introduction

The Academy for British and Irish Studies provides a response to debates concerning identity, citizenship, nationhood and ethnicity.

Our aims:

• For our research activities to have a broad and meaningful impact by informing public discourse on the subjects of identity, citizenship, nationhood and ethnicity.
• To foster a context and relationships conducive to intercultural exchange.  
• To help to build social capital on campus.

We do this by organising outward-facing accessible events, communicating our research to the media and decision-makers at all levels, encouraging intelligent debate and developing extensive networks of academics, practitioners and stakeholders within and beyond academia. 

The Academy, formerly the Academy for the Study of Britishness, was founded in 2008 to promote the study of the making and unmaking of national identities in what has historically been termed the ‘British World’ and Ireland. Drawing on expertise from the University’s Politics, Sociology, Education, Art, Design and Architecture, English, Music and History departments. To better reflect the expanding nature of our research interests, we took the title of Academy for British and Irish Studies in 2011.

We seek to position the Academy as an internationally-recognised resource centre concerning the pertinent issues of identity and citizenship. We work towards this objective by undertaking and disseminating excellent, innovative, multi and interdisciplinary research. The Academy coordinates research, networking and teaching agendas in the field of British and Irish Studies and initiates original research, conference and teaching activities.

We advise local, regional and national policy-makers and practitioners about research into identities and their implications in Britain, Ireland and any part of the world which has a relationship with Britain.