The month of May was a busy one for the QSA*Net NORF-funded project, with three workshops engaging both national and international audiences and aimed at strengthening practices around Qualitative Secondary Analysis (QSA).
Workshop at RUN-EU: Building Skills in QSA
On 2 May 2025, the QSA*Net team delivered a workshop as part of the RUN-EU (Regional University Network – European University) training programme, welcoming 46 participants from across Europe. The session introduced core concepts of QSA, addressed common barriers to data reuse and equipped attendees with practical tools and methods.
Read more details on the workshop here.
Online International Workshop: Building a Global QSA Network
On 6 May 2025, QSA*Net convened an online international workshop with collaborators from Maynooth University, University of Leeds, and Technological University of the Shannon. The event brought together global researchers to map existing networks, share challenges, and collectively imagine the future of QSA. A key outcome was the groundwork laid for a sustainable, international QSA network, supporting collaboration and open data reuse across borders.
Read more about this event here.
SAI Annual Conference: Exploring QSA in Ireland
Building on this, QSA*Net hosted a panel at the Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) Annual Conference in Cork on 8-9 May 2025. The panel, titled “Qualitative Secondary Analysis in Ireland: Challenges and Opportunities,” featured leading voices in the field. Speakers addressed ethical considerations, shared findings from Irish QSA research and explored the long-term value of archived data. The session highlighted both the promise and complexity of advancing QSA within the Irish research ecosystem.
More details on the workshop can be found here.
Looking Ahead
These events demonstrate how community-building, training and international dialogue can help embed open practices in qualitative research and ensure long-term impact. For more information or to get involved in the QSA*Net international network, contact Professor Jane Gray (jane.gray@mu.ie) or Dr. Rong Bao (rong.bao@mu.ie).
