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Previous Conferences and Events
Browse past conferences and events to learn more about the research topics, discussions and activities we are involved in.
The School of Sport and Exercise Science in conjunction with the CSS organised and hosted the 31st annual conference of the European Sport Management Association, the leading European network for sport management scholars, in Belfast.
Over 500 delegates from around the world took part in three days of engaging discussions and workshops in Belfast, focused on the theme of Inclusivity, Accessibility and Sustainability in Sport Management.
The conference showcased groundbreaking research, with numerous thought-provoking sessions and presentations exploring the central themes of EASM 2023, including those delivered by CSS staff. We were delighted to host 4 of the most esteemed sports management scholars who shared their expertise and vision for the future of sport management.
They included: Professors Simon Shibli, Simon Darcy, Mike Weed and Alison Doherty. Our hosting of the conference was made possible through the invaluable support of our partners: Visit Belfast, Belfast City Council and Tourism Northern Ireland.
For further information, see European Association for Sport Management Conference - Ulster University
The British Society of Sports History conference, hosted by Ulster University, brought together 76 researchers working across sport history, sociology, policy, heritage and cultural studies.
The event had a strong national and international reach, with 41 attendees from across the UK and 35 travelling from the Republic of Ireland, mainland Europe and the United States. It showcased the School’s growing role as a home for historically informed sport research, while also creating space for postgraduate researchers, early career scholars and established academics to share new work.
The conference reflected CSS’s commitment to building research communities that connect disciplinary depth with wider public and policy relevance, and helped strengthen Ulster’s links with national and international sport history networks.
See more at Past BSSH Conferences | British Society of Sports History
Across 2 days in November 2025, the CSS hosted a hugely successful Football Collective Conference at the Clearer Twist National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
The conference was the largest in the Football Collective’s history, bringing together over 170 delegates from over 60 institutions and 17 countries to explore football’s profound social, cultural and political significance locally, nationally and internationally.
In keeping with The Football Collective’s mission to become ‘the academic voice of football’ and ‘bring critical debate to our game’, the conference explored ways to build on existing work and offer new directions for shaping critical research and applied agendas in football.
This was facilitated by two packed days where academic researchers, students, practitioners, policymakers and industry experts came together to participate in 70 panel presentations, interactive workshops, and networking.
The success of the conference further cemented the place of the CSS at the forefront of the social scientific study of football (and sport) locally, nationally and internationally.
Further information on the conference can be found here The Football Collective Conference 2025 | The Football Collective Conference 2025
The Centre for Sport in Society welcomed over 60 senior stakeholders from across government, sport, local authorities and the voluntary sector to discuss the need for a stronger evidence base demonstrating the economic, social and health value of sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland.
Featuring keynote speaker Professor Simon Shibli, the event stimulated important discussion on future research priorities and the role of evidence in informing policy and investment.
The event reinforced the Centre's position as a leading convenor of strategic policy dialogue and highlighted the School's growing influence in shaping national research agendas and supporting evidence-informed decision-making across the sport sector.
More information can be found at Centre for Sport in Society Event | Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
Building on the success of the inaugural Knowledge Exchange Event held in June 2025, the School of Sport and Exercise Science hosted Elevating Coaching: Research-Informed Change for the Future, bringing together more than 60 policymakers, governing bodies, coach developers, researchers, educators and practitioners from across Northern Ireland.
The event strengthened the Centre’s position at the centre of national conversations on sport coaching by facilitating evidence-informed discussions on coaching policy, workforce development, equity, wellbeing and knowledge exchange.
The collaborative outputs will help shape future research agendas, inform policy development and strengthen cross-sector partnerships, reinforcing the Centre's role as a leader in translating research into practice and driving positive change across the sport sector.
For more information, see Elevating Coaching Knowledge Exchange Event | Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
CSS research into gambling-related harm was at the centre of a Stormont event on 17 June, where Dr Paul Kitchin, Dr Tunde Adebisi and Dr Erin McEvoy (Ulster University Department of Management, Leadership and Marketing) shared emerging findings with members of the All-Party Group (APG) for Reducing Harm Related to Gambling.
The event brought together policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to explore new evidence and discuss policy responses to a rapidly evolving gambling landscape. Insights from funded research conducted at Ulster University, including the YouGaMSI project - a North-South Research Programme initiative (2022-2024) and a UKRI funded rapid evidence review were shared with the audience leading to a lively and frank discussion on gambling-related harms.
The presentations provided APG members with timely insights into emerging risks, regulatory gaps and the societal impact of new gambling formats, all of which can inform legislative and policy responses to gambling harms.
With several new outputs nearing publication and further funding applications planned for 2026, CSS research in this area is set to continue shaping conversations on gambling harms across Northern Ireland and beyond and will support both policy development and wider public understanding, ensuring that research impact extends beyond academia.
