Higher Education Institutions Rural Development Research Symposium 2026

A National Conversation on Rural Ireland's Future

For the first time in almost twenty years, Ireland's rural development research community will come together in one place. This national symposium, organised by University College Cork and Teagasc, in collaboration with the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Network for Rural Development, brings researchers, policymakers and practitioners into the same room to strengthen the evidence base behind rural policy and practice.

The symposium is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) under Our Rural Future, Ireland's national rural development policy framework. Its four themes map directly onto the priorities emerging in the next policy cycle, Our Rural Future 2026–2031:

• Resilience of Rural Communities
• Rural Infrastructure and Public Services
• Rural Economy and Enterprise
• Climate and the Green Economy

What to expect

Alongside thematic paper sessions drawing on research from across the island, you'll hear from leading contributors including Prof Sally Shortall (Newcastle University), Prof Jim Walsh (Maynooth University), Betty-Ann Bryce, Senior Policy Analyst (OECD) and Justin Gleeson, Director of the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO), who will take part in a moderated discussion on the evidence needs of rural Ireland over the coming decade.

Supporting the next generation of rural researchers

This is also the first national event of its kind designed with PhD researchers and early-career researchers in mind. A dedicated poster session will feature over 30 posters showcasing research being carried out with and for rural communities and enterprises, creating space for new researchers to share their work and build connections with policy and practice colleagues who can use it.

Who should attend

Whether you are researching rural change, designing or delivering rural policy, or working day-to-day in local development, enterprise support or community organisations, this symposium is an opportunity to see the full picture of what is currently known, and to help shape what we need to know next.

The symposium will