For
more than 20 years voluntary action studies have been a research
interest of staff at the University of Ulster. In the early 1990s the
subject emerged as a significant academic field at a time when it was
receiving growing national and international interest.
CVAS was established
in 1995 and since that time its staff have been undertaking research
into the work and characteristics of the community and voluntary
sector, its strengths and weaknesses, its relationship with government
and other topics. There is now a significant and growing output of
publications, including books and articles in leading international
journals, that documents the features of the sector and the importance
of its work. Both within Ireland and on an international level CVAS
and the University of Ulster have achieved a presence in the field
of voluntary action studies.
CVAS staff have
been active participants at the research conferences of ARNOVA,
the Association for Research on Non Profit Organizations and
Voluntary Action and ISTR,
the International Society for Third Sector Research.
