We focus on the interesting set of reports released as people clear their desks before their summer holidays. Learning gain The OfS have published evaluations of the various learning gain projects that have been running for some time. The OfS website is very clear “The report below is independent research which we have commissioned. As… Read more »
Category / policy
This part of the blog features news and information about higher education policy and how BU’s research is influencing policy.
HE policy update for the w/e 5th July 2019
A slightly quieter week in HE policy, dominated by the release of the latest NSS data, which if course has policy implications as: it will be included in the next iteration of the TEF (which looks at three years of data) subject to any changes to the TEF after the independent review, and potentially either… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 28th June 2019
Although after the frantic weeks in early Spring we seem now to be in a political limbo, when nothing is achieved except an escalation in rhetoric and an increase in polarisation, actually, there’s quite a lot going on. Some of it looks like political legacy building, but hey, if it works… Sharing access to health… Read more »
Invasive Species
The Environmental Audit Committee is running an inquiry into the impact of invasive species and their management. This tackles non-native species living outside their natural range which have arrived by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. Invasive species are those that negatively affect native biodiversity, ecosystem services and public health, through predation, competition or by… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 21st June 2019
The political news has been dominated by the Conservative leadership battle this week. Plus lots on research funding and tough conversations on social mobility. Collaboration between universities and business “State of the Relationship is the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) flagship annual report showcasing university-business collaboration across the UK and providing an authoritative… Read more »
Loneliness
The government has announced the launch of a campaign to tackle the stigma of feeling alone. Loneliness Awareness Week began on Monday (17th June), led by Minister for Loneliness Mims Davies. The initiative is called “Let’s Talk Loneliness” and brings together The Marmalade Trust, the British Red Cross, the Co-op Foundation, the Campaign to End… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 14th June 2019
Another busy week in national politics and also in HE policy. The government may be having a slightly quieter time while they elect a new leader but that gives us time for plenty of speculation…. Research Communications BU is running a Research Communication Day on Thursday 20 June. The morning (from 10:30) will share tips… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 7th June 2019
Is it only just over a week since Augar landed? Given the volume of commentary, it feels much longer. We are quite good as a sector at criticism and finding the potential problems and risks in things. As a HEPI blog says: “Last week’s Augar report divided opinion. At HEPI, we were at the more positive end of… Read more »
What does Augar mean for the Arts and Humanities – Policy Update Supplement 7th June 2019
One thing that everyone can agree on is that the implications of Augar are ominous for the Arts and Humanities – the (historian) Minister for Universities gave a speech on Thursday which we discuss below, with some reflections on what Augar could mean for Arts and Humanities subjects in universities. The Minister speaks In an… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 31st May 2019
We’re going early again this week as we have a big focus on this week’s big report, and we’re sure you all want to know (although there is a lot of coverage). There is other news as well. Augar recommendations for the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding So finally, the long awaited report has… Read more »
HE Policy update for the w/e 24th May 2019
We usually post these early on a Monday morning so you can all catch up before you start the week, but we write them on a Friday – these days they can be out of date within 10 minutes, let alone after a weekend. So this week we are going early! EU election results will… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 17th May 2019 (a bit early)
This week’s policy update is an early (almost) mid-week treat. There will be a bumper edition next week. The Minister defends universities Chris Skidmore was in front of Education Committee on Wednesday at an accountability hearing. You can watch it here. In the parts we watched, he answered questions on encouraging apprenticeships, and while he… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 10th May 2019
Research The Universities Minister, has delivered the first in a series of four planned speeches on how the UK can best achieve its ambition to invest 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027. It was a surprising speech in some ways, short on announcements, although there were some, and long on wishful thinking. We’ve pulled… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 3rd May 2019
Did you know you can access previous editions of the policy update online here? You can also find them on the BU research blog by searching on the “policy” category, although that is often a shorter version without the pictures. Local elections If you are reading this on Friday, the results are still being announced. The… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 26th April 2019
Brexit No news, just speculation this week. We’re currently predicting nothing will change and the UK will leave the EU without a deal on Halloween, even though that is the only option that MPs seem to be able to agree that a majority of them don’t want. There was a PQ, though, on Horizon 2020 Q… Read more »
HRA Research Transparency Strategy Group minutes available
The Health Research Authority (HRA) has formed the Research Transparency Strategy Group in response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Report on clinical trials transparency. You can read more about the first meeting of the expert group, including the minutes by clicking here In relation to this, the HRA’s Director of Policy,… Read more »
BU migration health stakeholders’ meetings in Malaysia
BU’s researchers Dr. Pramod Raj Regmi and Dr. Nirmal Aryal have recently visited Malaysia for a consultation meeting. They organised meetings with stakeholders working on migration health related and Nepali migrant workers as Public Patient Involvement (PPI ) in Malaysia. These meetings discussed risk factors for sudden nocturnal deaths and kidney disease among Nepali migrant… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 12th April 2019
Brexit So we aren’t leaving the EU on 12th April – not that anyone really thought we would. Although the decision made by the EU in the middle of Thursday night means that we could leave at some stage up to the 1st June, it seems far more likely that EU elections will be held… Read more »
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