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The Genesis of IHRI: A Legacy of Innovation in Practitioner Education

The International Health Research Institute (IHRI) stands today as a testament to a five-decade journey of groundbreaking innovation in professional development and applied research. Its roots stretch back to a worldwide-first initiative at Trinity College Dublin and the Irish Management Instititue in 1975, with the launch of the first action learning master’s degree in management practice.

Forging Key Partnerships: Expanding the Reach

In 2003, the  seminal influencers of the above programme were joined by Dr. A. Hodgers with the formation of the Irish Centre for Work Based Learning (ICWBL). The ICWBL co-founders strategically identified Middlesex University London as the ideal partner to further advance the developed methodologies and practices.

Middlesex University had been at the forefront of Professional Practice Education/Work Based Learning (WBL) at university level since 1992, investigating the possibility of developing and accrediting a “curriculum in the workplace” under an Employment Department funded initiative. Their commitment to educational innovation was further recognized with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for excellence in 1996, followed by a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) awarded Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the area of WBL in 2005. This paved the way for the establishment of the university’s National Centre as an Institute for WBL in 2007, validating undergraduate and postgraduate WBL programmes and leading to the development of a Doctorate in Professional Studies.

Together, ICWBL and the Middlesex University Institute collaboratively developed and implemented postgraduate and doctoral programmes and methodologies. Their work involved crucial partnerships with other national entities, including universities, government departments, and a strong focus on industry, primarily through ICWBL’s collaborations with leading global corporations on numerous research and development projects. Middlesex University formally acknowledged the profound contributions of the ICWBL co-founders, awarding an Honorary Doctorate to Professor Mulcahy for lifelong contributions to the field and a Visiting Professorship in Practitioner Scholarship to N. Hodgers. Both N & A. Hodgers were appointed members of the University Institute’s research council.

IHRI’s Emergence: A New Era of Research & Education

The systemic disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 era, which highlighted critical structural issues across national and industrial systems, spurred a new evolution. In 2023, Dr. Andrew Hodgers and Nicole Foster established the International Health Research Institute (IHRI) as an independent, interdisciplinary research and education institution.

IHRI’s core mission is to address these identified systemic inadequacies by delivering cutting-edge postgraduate and doctoral-level programmes initially in allied health. The institute aims to cultivate practitioner scholars, building upon the prior 50 years of accumulated excellence and knowledge inherited from the seminal work of Hodgers and Mulcahy. To ensure this continuity and integrate world-leading expertise, N. Hodgers serves as Emeritus Chair of the Academic Board, supported by a global IHRI leadership team.

In 2025, IHRI marked a significant milestone, receiving its higher education license (2025-004) from the Malta Further & Higher Education Authority for the provision of MQF/EQF level 7 & 8 programmes worldwide through digital means.

Looking ahead, IHRI is committed to further developing and advancing the practitioner scholarship model. Its programmes will cater to practitioners across all professional fields, leveraging 21st-century tools and technologies to empower practitioners, researchers, and scholars worldwide to achieve the highest levels of education, professional impact, and status.