Autumn 2026 – COI research training

We are thrilled to announce that for this autumn we have once again partnered with Refugee Action. Through their Front Line Immigration Advice Project, we will be delivering our series of free COI research training webinars, end 2026. These sessions are designed for legal representatives, OISC caseworkers, and COI researchers in the UK and beyond.

Our October/November COI training sessions will cover:

  • Fundamentals of COI
  • Disability-Specific COI Research
  • Child-Specific COI Research
  • Statelessness-Focused

 

  • Researching and Using Country of Origin Information (fundamentals webinar):

    Monday 19th October 2026, 9:30 am to 13:00 (GMT) | 10:30 am to 14:00 (CET)

Description:

  • What COI is, when it can be used, and its limitations
  • How to frame effective research questions and develop a strong research strategy
  • How to identify and apply reliable COI sources using practical research techniques
  • What are the key quality criteria for researching, selecting, and presenting COI
  • How to present COI to decision-makers according to best practices in the UK
Register here

 

  • Disability-Specific COI Research (specialised webinar):

    Thursday 29th October 2026, 9:30 am to 13:00 (GMT) | 10:30 am to 14:00 (CET)

Description:

This webinar will explore how to approach disability-focused country of origin information research, and will specifically cover:

  • Disability and models of disability
  • The legal context for international protection claims for persons with disabilities
  • How to develop a topic guide and frame disability-specific research questions
  • Taking an intersectional approach to COI research
  • Finding disability-focused COI sources
  • Including voices of people with lived experience in research
Register here

 

  • Child-Specific COI Research (specialised webinar):

    Wednesday 25th November 2026, 9:30 am to 13:00 (GMT) | 10:30 am to 14:00 (CET)

Description:

This webinar will explore the ways in which protection claims from children must be treated differently to those from adults in refugee status determination procedures.

  • The legal instruments, principles, considerations and interpretations that apply to children claiming asylum.
    What this means for UK-based researchers conducting child-focused COI
  • The workshop involves practical case studies to demonstrate how child specific issues can translate into appropriate research strategies.
Register here

 

  • Statelessness-Focused COI Research (specialised webinar):

    Monday 30th November 2026, 9:30 am to 13:00 (GMT) | 10:30 am to 14:00 (CET)

Description:

This webinar will focus on statelessness within the context of international protection claims and statelessness-focused country of origin information (COI). We will cover the concepts and legal frameworks surrounding statelessness, emphasising its implications for international protection claims and COI research.

Participants will collaboratively develop a research strategy based on a case study, drawing on principles for COI research for stateless individuals.

Practical exercises will highlight key issues, research topics, and an intersectional approach, including formulating research questions, identifying relevant sources, using appropriate terminology, and incorporating the voices of those with lived experiences of statelessness.

 

Register here

 

Please note that it is strongly recommended that you have attended the fundamentals’ webinar before you attend the specialised webinars on child-specific & disability COI. We ask participants of all webinars to read our Fundamental training handbook ahead of joining any sessions.

Are you unavailable on these training dates, or would you like to discuss the possibility of setting up an in-house webinar for your UK-based organisation? Get in touch with Emma Avilés at emma.aviles@asylos.org.