ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives. By linking together data held by different parts of government, and by facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers to these newly joined-up data sets, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function – tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions. ADR UK is made up of three national partnerships (ADR Scotland, ADR Wales, and ADR NI) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which ensures data provided by UK government bodies is accessed by researchers in a safe and secure form with minimal risk to data holders or the public. The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub, which also promotes the benefits of administrative data research to the public and the wider research community, engages with UK government to secure access to data, and manages a dedicated research budget. ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. To find out more, visit adruk.org or follow @ADR_UK on Twitter. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) receives funding as part of Administrative Data Research Northern Ireland (ADR NI), a partnership with the Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI, comprising Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University). Together they support the acquisition, linking and analysis of administrative data sets, developing cutting-edge research to improve knowledge, policymaking and public service delivery. NISRA is an accredited processor under the Digital Economy Act, and brings proven experience in curating, linking and managing large-scale data sets, employing world-class technological and methodological innovation to support researchers’ access to data sets to transform research and policymaking.

ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives. By linking together data held by different parts of government, and by facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers to these newly joined-up data sets, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function – tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions. ADR UK is made up of three national partnerships (ADR Scotland, ADR Wales, and ADR NI) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which ensures data provided by UK government bodies is accessed by researchers in a safe and secure form with minimal risk to data holders or the public. The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub, which also promotes the benefits of administrative data research to the public and the wider research community, engages with UK government to secure access to data, and manages a dedicated research budget. ADR UK is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. To find out more, visit adruk.org or follow @ADR_UK on Twitter. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) receives funding as part of Administrative Data Research Northern Ireland (ADR NI), a partnership with the Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI, comprising Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University). Together they support the acquisition, linking and analysis of administrative data sets, developing cutting-edge research to improve knowledge, policymaking and public service delivery. NISRA is an accredited processor under the Digital Economy Act, and brings proven experience in curating, linking and managing large-scale data sets, employing world-class technological and methodological innovation to support researchers’ access to data sets to transform research and policymaking.

The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) is an important element in the ESRC data infrastructure for population and public health research in Northern Ireland and across the constituent countries of the UK. It has strategic relationships with the other UKCenLSs and, within Northern Ireland, with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the Public Health Agency (PHA), and the Honest Broker Service (HBS). Its 28% sample, which combines census data with administrative data from the healthcard register, social care, and housing, will span the period 1981-2021 when the link to the 2021 Census is completed. This enables the description and analysis of changing populations in changing places, individual fortunes over the life course, household contexts, as well as progress between successive generations. The grant will fund, until 2025, the NILS Research Support Unit (NILS-RSU) which has the functions of maintaining a secure data laboratory for users to work on these data safely, of supporting users from project application to publication, of promoting NILS-based research to policymakers and the public, of seeking new users through the promotion of the NILS, and of encouraging research for the public benefit. A major highlight of our work programme will be testing, using and developing research around the 2021 Census link. The NILS-RSU will also seek to widen the social and educational base of the NILS in Northern Ireland through engaging with new stakeholders and growing its contribution to education. It will also encourage research using the NILS and the other UK longitudinal studies to contribute to national and international research agendas whilst developing new research partnerships in Northern Ireland.

There is great potential for understanding more about our society by making better use of data that already exists and by linking different datasets together. This could be undertaken more widely in the UK as in other parts of Europe such as Scandinavia. Using existing data is not only efficient and cheaper than collecting new data, but it can also provide a powerful means of better understanding how society works and what action is needed to tackle a wide range of social issues, thereby guiding the development, implementation and evaluation of policy. This can be achieved in a way that ensures that the public have the maximum confidence that their data are being used appropriately and that the safeguards of these data meet the highest international standards. To this end, four Administrative Data Research Centres- ARDC for coordinating and undertaking record linkage are being setup in each of the four countries of the UK. In Northern Ireland the two universities and NISRA, the local governmental statistics agency, will come together to promote and facilitate record linkage here. This will have two aspects; an independent body (trusted third party) for linking different datasets and a separate secure environment (the NI-ADRC) for undertaking analyses of the data. The process of record linkage ensures that (i) the trusted third party never see the administrative information about individuals and (ii) that the ADRC never have sight of personal information such as names or addresses. All of these processes will be overseen by a UK Governing Board who report to Parliament, probably via the UK Statistics Authority. The public will be represented at all levels. An Administrative Data Service will coordinate ADRCs activities and provide a single source of information for enquiries and information. The NI-ADRC will be led by an academic Director; NISRA will provide the secure environment and oversee its operation with full auditing of all data access and processing. They will also operate the trusted third party linkage. The NI-ADRC will employ two experienced academics to provide assistance and technical support to users of these data who will have undergone accreditation training and access the anonymous data only in a secure environment; all statistical and written outputs will be further scrutinised before release. A major task for the NI- ADRCT will be to increase the public awareness of and confidence in the safe linking of administrative records and will therefore appoint a senior Public Engagement and Communications Officer. The NI- ADRC will also raise the potential for and benefits of record linkage amongst the academic fraternity, data custodians and Government Agencies. The formation of NI-ADRC should bring about a closer working relationship between the generators and custodians of administrative data in governmental and other agencies, the potential users of these data, and the policy makers who should benefit from the analyses of these linked data; this interrelationship will be underpinned by a series of seminars and meetings and other opportunities for interaction and exchange. Early in the first year the ADRC will start to cement relationships with the various data custodians and governmental agencies and (i) catalogue what data is currently available for linkage (ii) negotiate, with the ADS, the production of the metadata and the informal advice and support that will be essential for understanding the processes behind the data and of the database structures, and (iii) over a longer period increase the range and number of datasets available for linkage within NI and the wider UK context, and to encourage the passage of enabling legislation. Building relationships and joint strategies with the other ADRCs and the ADS, and with UK groups with interests in similar datasets and/or methodological approaches will be a major priority from the outset.

Our proposal is to develop and deliver a one year pilot Survey Skills Quantitative Methods Lecturer programme (SSQMLP) which would, given appropriate funding, be reproducible in subsequent years and replicable across the UK and NI. It will be open to all lecturers and postgraduate students with responsibility for teaching social science undergraduates in the UK HE and FE sector. The programme will be based in 5 localities within the UK and lecturers will join the programme for three academic terms. The three main objectives of the programme are to: 1. Improve lecturers' confidence in teaching quantitative methods and survey research skills to undergraduate students 2. Extend lecturers knowledge of freely-available research resources such as the ESDS, Administrative Data Service, UK Data Archive etc 3. Extend their knowledge of key survey research methods, teaching resources and techniques. Participants will form a Local Action Learning Network (LALN) which will be supported and facilitated by the SSQMLP team. Action Learning is a well-tried method of accelerating learning by doing. It brings together a group of people with varied levels of skills and experience to analyse a problem and develop an action plan, working together to solve problems and learn under guidance from a facilitator posing probing questions and supportive challenges. The SSQMLP team will help participants to identify learning goals, to learn collaboratively building upon their existing experience and knowledge and to provide one another with peer support. The SSPQMLP will also provide a range of capacity-building and training opportunities covering all aspects of the survey research process. The three main components of the programme will be: Key element 1: Face to face action learning Members of a LALN will be free to meet as frequently as they choose. However, the SSQMLP will facilitate 6 face-to-face events which will provide networking opportunities in addition to meeting specific action learning objectives. Each term there will be a one-day workshop and a separate early evening networking and learning event. These events will provide: 1. increased awareness of the survey research process and quality indicators 2. awareness and confidence in the use of the range of on line survey research resources available for quantitative teaching purposes 3. greater confidence in teaching quantitative methods 4. new tools and techniques for engaging students in learning related to quantitative research 5. an opportunity to network with and learn from their peers across social science disciplines 6. time to reflect on their teaching practices Key element 2: On-line resources All participants will benefit from access to on-line resources. We will develop an online community network for programme participants to pose questions and share their experiences, knowledge and learning. There will be an e-library of online resources to help their teaching - for example: 1. A 'how to' guide to using secondary data sources 2. Key sessions and presentations made available in the form of digital web and pod casts and via webinars for participants unable to attend in person 3. Online signposting to other ESRC and non ESRC training and teaching resources Key element 3: Optional individual placements The current Survey Skills Programme has built excellent relationships with the major UK survey organisations. The SSQMLP will build on these relationships to provide participants with optional individual placements to gain a first-hand insight into the survey process in the 'real world' and to improve their skills and understanding of survey research methods. These placements could include: 1. Accompanying an interviewer 2. attending a briefing for interviewers 3. shadowing a survey team from one of the survey organisations or working on a specific element of the survey process