The Conflict Research Society is pleased to share the reflections and findings of Lucy Kentish, recipient of the 2024 Sydney Bailey Fund. Lucy is a PhD student at the University of Bristol whose research investigates the role of education in addressing division in deeply divided societies, with a focus on Integrated Education and Shared Education in Northern Ireland.
With support from the Sydney Bailey Fund, Lucy was able to expand her fieldwork by holding additional focus groups with young people aged 15–21. These conversations provided valuable insights into how students themselves perceive opportunities for cross-community learning and what they want education to offer in a society navigating peacebuilding.
Reflecting on her experience, Lucy explains:
“My interactions with inspirational teachers who warmly welcomed me into their schools, and conversations with young people from all across Northern Ireland, were exactly what I had hoped for, and more.”
As a Visiting Student at Queen’s University Belfast’s Mitchell Institute, Lucy also benefited from close engagement with academics and peers working on conflict, peace, and education. Immersing herself in everyday life in Northern Ireland allowed her to understand the nuances of a society still grappling with its peace process.
Lucy will present her research at the European Conference on Educational Research (University of Belgrade) and at the Conflict Research Society Annual Conference (University of Kent) in September 2025.
The CRS congratulates Lucy on her achievements and thanks all who contribute to the Sydney Bailey Fund, which continues to support early-career researchers in advancing the study and practice of peace and conflict.
Sharing Research Through Video
Alongside her written reflections, Lucy also created a short video capturing her time in Northern Ireland and the communities she worked with. In the video, she shares her motivations, her fieldwork journey, and her key insights on how young people experience Shared and Integrated Education.