INCORE is the co-ordinating body for all conflict, peace and reconciliation-related
work undertaken by the University
of Ulster. Some of this work is undertaken by specialist
units focusing on particular themes – such as education,
social and political issues in Northern Ireland and cross-community
relationship-building.
These specialist
units include
- ARK - Northern
Ireland Social and Political Archive
ARK is
a joint resource of the University of Ulster and Queens University
Belfast. ARK provides comprehensive and detailed information on social
and political issues in Northern Ireland. ARK provides a variety
of different kinds of information including background facts and
figures, survey results, research reports, research summaries,
audio-visual material and election results. ARK also features specialist
sections such as elections surveys, the Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey,
as well as CAIN - the award-winning Northern Ireland online conflict
archive. Within the University of Ulster ARK forms a constituent part
of INCORE. At Queen's University Belfast ARK is based in the School
of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.
The Centre for
Young Men’s Studies is a partnership between the
Department of Community Youth Work at the University of Ulster and
YouthAction Northern Ireland. It resides within INCORE (International
Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies at the University of Ulster)
and the School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies. The Centre
has five key strands. Strand 1 – Action Research with young males
aged 11-16 about their experiences of growing up in Northern Ireland.
Strand 11 – Longitudinal Research in schools across Northern
Ireland. Strand 111 – The development of models of best practice.
Strand 1V- Training for teachers, youth work practitioners and support
workers in order to develop new approaches to working with young males.
Strand V – Dissemination of learning.
The Peace and Conflict Research Group addresses issues related to
cross-community contact, sectarian attitudes and forgiveness in Northern
Ireland. This work brings together cutting-edge theorising on intergroup
relations with sophisticated methodology to illustrate how psychology
can contribute to improving life for the citizens of Northern Ireland
and more generally address the pressing global problem of intergroup
conflict. Within the University of Ulster the research group has close
links with the United Nations University through INCORE, and group
members play an active part in both the management and programmes of
INCORE. Members of the research group also collaborate with colleagues
from the Centre for Media Studies and the Institute for Social and
Policy Studies.
Nobel Laureate
John Hume is the current holder of the Tip O’Neill
Chair in Peace Studies, currently funded by The Ireland Funds. The
Chair was inaugurated by then-US President Clinton during his visit
to Northern Ireland in November 1995. The appointment of Professor
Hume to this Chair marks both a milestone and a benchmark in the
Irish peace process. A founding father of the SDLP, he has now stepped
back, handing the baton to a younger generation of leaders whose
task will be to consolidate the peace process realised by his vision.
Professor Hume’s tenure has been notable for an array of high-profile Peace
Lectures given by prominent global policymakers involved in peace and
conflict issues.
The UNESCO Centre
was established formally in February 2001 and was marked by the visit
of the Director-General of UNESCO, 
Koïchiro
Matsuura and the NI Minister for Further and Higher Education, Dr Séan
Farren. The Centre is a recognised research centre within the University
and received significant funding from Atlantic Philanthropies to support
research and development work in education for pluralism, human rights
and democracy. Total income for the five-year period (2002-07) has
been £5,820,305. Over 30 projects have been completed. Professor
Alan Smith is Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair at the University of
Ulster and an Advisory Professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
