The Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI) is a partnership between Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.

The centre is part of the wider ADR UK network, a partnership between universities, government departments and agencies, national statistics authorities, funders and the wider research community.

ADR UK makes it possible for researchers to access information collected by national and local government and other public sector organisations. Whilst this data is collected for administrative or operational reasons it can be very valuable for research purposes as it contains a wealth of information about our society.

Therefore, by providing a secure and unidentifiable forum for researchers to access linked and unlinked government administrative data, such as education, census, health, and social care data, researchers can gain a better understanding of economic and social issues. This in turn can lead to improved public policy and better public services for everyone.

 

ADR UK

ADR UK is made up of four national partnerships: ADR Scotland, ADR England, ADR Wales and ADR Northern Ireland. These partnerships are coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS plays a crucial role in curating, linking and facilitating access to administrative data for researchers in a safe and secure form. This structure allows each of the UK nations to have a dedicated centre and team, focusing on their individual policy needs while also enabling UK-wide research.

 

Benefits of Collaboration

The benefits of this collaboration are a closer working relationship between the generators and custodians of administrative data in governmental and other agencies, those that might use the data, and the policymakers who will benefit from further analysis of this data. Specifically, social researchers can use this data to analyse the impact of government policies or find new explanations for everyday issues.

The ADRC NI will also contribute to and lead wider public discussions around the use of data for research purposes for the public good. For example, in 2022, ADR UK organised focus groups to discuss public attitudes to data sharing across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Additionally, ADRC NI is working to establish the Northern Ireland Public Data Panel (NIPDP) to consider data questions of public importance.

More of our work can be found on the ADR UK website.

Queen’s University Belfast

Dr Aideen Maguire: ADRC NI Acting Director and Principal Investigator (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)

Professor Duncan McVicar: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (Queen's Business School) 

Professor Michael Donnelly: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)

Professor Lisa Bunting: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (School of Social Sciences, Education & Social Work) 

Professor Sarah Miller: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)

Professor Ciaran O'Neill: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)

 

 

Ulster University

Professor Jamie Murphy: ADRC NI Deputy Director & Principal Investigator (School of Psychology)

Professor Gerard Leavey: ADRC NI Principial Investigator (School of Psychology) 

Dr Magda Bucholc: ADRC NI Principial Investigator (School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems)

Dr Finola Ferry: ADRC NI Principial Investigator (School of Psychology) 

Dr Maria Loane: ADRC NI Principial Investigator (School of Nursing and Paramedic Science)

Dr Paul McKenzie: ADRC NI Principal Investigator (School of Geography and Environmental Sciences)

Dr Michael Rosato: ADRC NI Principial Investigator (School of Psychology) 

 

Operational Delivery Group 

Clare Jess: Project Manager (QUB, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)

Elizabeth Nelson: Public Engagement, Communications & Impact Manager (UU, School of Psychology)

Samanatha Livingstone: Senior Project Administrator (QUB, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science)