PolicyWISE's third cross-nation Policy Learning Roundtable: Northern Ireland

We have published the full report  of the roundtable held in Belfast in November 2024 to examine cross-nation policy learning and challenges over the last 25 years, and to look forward to improved comparative policy research and knowledge exchange

Takeaways included:

•   Scrutiny is essential to good policy development and requires constructive engagement and input from all sides and sectors, supporting a strong legislature and good government.

•   Cross-administration learning and co-operation, east-west and north-south, will help build an understanding of skills gaps and the necessary policy and data interventions in Northern Ireland.

•   Northern Ireland’s devolution story is unique, and other administrations and policymakers should consider (and learn from this) in their engagement, comparisons, and relationships.

The event brought together senior policymakers, analysts, academics, think-tank colleagues, education leaders, inter-governmental officials, and economists – from across Northern Ireland, and beyond. 

This was the third in a series of roundtables across the nations, we have previously published reports from our previous events in Edinburgh and Cardiff with a final event in England to follow in Spring 2025. Our aims in hosting these series of roundtables are to help inform and improve how policy learning and development works across nations and administrations, how comparative policy research, data and researchers can contribute, and the use and development of cross-nation networks and communities.