The Institute of Policy Studies Programme on Race, Religion, and Intergroup Cohesion (IPS RRIC) will hold the Forum on Inclusion That Works: Evidence, Practice, and Impact on Friday, 30 October 2026, online via Zoom.
Social cohesion programmes are often high-stakes and high-touch, especially when we are working with identity, lived experience and sensitive group dynamics. Yet the outcomes we care about most (trust, belonging, intergroup comfort, willingness to engage, norms of inclusion) can be difficult to measure, compare and attribute to an intervention.
This online forum convenes academics and practitioners to focus on methodology and evidence-based evaluation, looking at not just what programmes do, but how we measure evidence-based changes. By showcasing a range of approaches used to foster social cohesion and inclusion in community and school settings, the forum aims to strengthen the vital connections between practice, research and knowledge-building in the field. Furthermore, it serves as a platform to surface real-world implementation experiences, challenges and lessons learnt, ultimately encouraging deep reflection on how organisations learn from their programmes and adapt their approaches over time.
To surface global and cross-sector lessons, the online forum is structured around three moderated panels:
Interventions in Schools and Youth Programmes
This panel explores how to build inclusive mindsets in young people. It examines evidence-based curricula and classroom techniques, as well as experiential learning opportunities.
Digital and Media-Based Interventions
From social media and messaging apps to creative media, this panel focuses on how digital technology can be used to change attitudes and counter hate.
The Science and Practice of Reducing Bias
This panel discusses how rigorous methodological and technological intervention and community-led dialogue can effectively bridge deep-seated social, racial and religious divides.
Please click here to view the programme.