Flagship Civil Society Research Centre Enjoys Official Inauguration

The Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD) will celebrate the launch of its flagship WISERD Civil Society Research Centre on Thursday 5^th February, 2015. 

WISERD has received funding in excess of £10 million to found a national research centre which will undertake a five year innovative and far-reaching research programme of policy relevant research addressing Civil Society in Wales, the UK and Internationally. This funding includes £7 million from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and a further £3m from Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea Universities. WISERD Civil Society is a collaborative venture, involving researchers from across twelve UK Universities and a range of international partners.

The Centre's programme will explore a series of policy and practice relevant themes which impact upon civil society at local, regional and national levels. These will include: education, volunteering, well-being, ageing, governance and diversity.

The launch event will take place at The Gate Arts Centre in Roath, Cardiff and will be attended by some of the world's foremost academics, public and policy stakeholders, and civil society organisations. Speakers include: Ruth Marks (MBE), Chief Executive of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA); Rhodri Morgan, former First Minister for Wales; and Saskia Sassen, the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and Co-Chair of The Committee on Global Thought.