The visit, attended by Dr Andrew Grounds Dr Gareth Robinson from QCAP and Dr Olinda Santin from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, featured a series of discussions with Catherine Bass, Marquinta Harvey, Erich Baker and Jeff Donahoo from the Belmont Data Collaborative, Christian Williams from CARES, and staff from Belmont Innovation Labs, including Josh Yates and John Gonas. The delegation also engaged with representatives from the Jim McIntyre College of Education and Global Partnerships, fostering connections across multiple academic disciplines. Nichole Ritchie also led a tour of the Belmont Campus and showcased various parts of campus such as the recently redeveloped ‘Simulation lab’.

Dr. Grounds and Dr. Robinson concluded the visit with a keynote address at the Belmont Data Collaborative Data Expo, which facilitated valuable interactions with visiting academics, local community representatives, and Belmont University faculty. This event showcased both institutions' commitment to data-driven community engagement and providing translation research which can support marginalised populations.

As Belfast and Nashville celebrate 30 years as sister cities, this academic partnership demonstrates how universities can work to support wider urban change. Through comparative research and shared methodologies, this initiative aims to generate new insights into addressing urban challenges while maintaining a strong focus on creating community impact. As these become increasingly complex, such innovative partnerships can help avoid the ‘local trap’ and provide an international dimension to community-engaged research.