A lot about skills and employment in the “mini-budget” this week. There is quite a lot on the “poor quality courses” debate, and on the financial impact of the virus on young people and on universities. Plus some regulatory changes that are starting to look ominous… A Universities Minister who thinks people shouldn’t bother going… 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 1st July 2020
There’s been so much news recently we had to delay our two most recent ‘tomes’ to bring you coverage of the full debate. With this policy update being issued two days after the last we were hoping you’d breeze through a light read. However, Parliament has other intentions. Apprenticeships and FE have been big mentions… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 29th June 2020
The government are apparently planning a radical overhaul of admissions (maybe), they have found some funding for research support, EU students will face higher fees in 2021/22, Education Questions in the Commons kept the Ministers on their toes, there’s the latest on student complaints, a brief mention of the B word and the sun has… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 19th June 2020
Welcome to your bumper edition of the weekly policy update. There has been so much action this week we delayed sending it to you twice! International Education is on the agenda with a push to the Government to do more. The Social Mobility Commission find the Government lacking and push them to make progress. It… Read more »
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology publishes all 15 reports based on its Covid-19 Expert Survey
In March, POST launched the Covid-19 outbreak expert database, inviting anyone who wanted to support Parliament in its work, and had expertise in COVID-19 and/or its impacts to sign up. In April, more than 1,100 experts on this database – including a number of BU researchers – responded to POST’s survey, asking for their immediate, short,… Read more »
Student experience news, more guidance on reopening, OfS share analysis, and Wonkhe highlight some uncomfortable exclusions within the additional student number place bidding requirements. Reopening campus The OfS has published Guidance for providers about student and consumer protection during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It includes Protecting student interest by providing clear and timely information (current… Read more »
POST Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme: latest news
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has formally launched its Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme, with further details of the application process for expressions of interest and a list of parliamentary offices participating in the scheme. If you are interested in applying, please follow the guidelines below: Firstly, inform your Faculty Dean or Deputy… Read more »
POST Academic Fellowship Scheme: expressions of interest invited
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is inviting expressions of interest for its Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme from Monday 8 June. Securing a prestigious fellowship with POST provides researchers with unique access to Parliament, policy experience and direct potential for impact. It is open to all employed academics with a PhD, and applicants… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 3rd June 2020
Parliament has returned from recess and happily so has your policy update. Here are the main stories from the last two weeks. Parliamentary News The FT reports that ministers are preparing to unveil a stimulus package in July, with money expected to go into training schemes and infrastructure projects plus support for technology companies. “With unemployment rising rapidly,… Read more »
3D Printing: How an Emerging Technology May Help Fight a Pandemic – New Article by Prof. Dinusha Mendis
A new article by Prof. Dinusha Mendis (Department of Humanities and Law, FMC), co-authored with Dr. Ana Santos-Rutschman (St Louis University, USA) and Dr. Rosa Ballardini (University of Lapland, Finland) explores the way in which the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of 3D printing in healthcare. In particular, the article considers the use of… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 20th May 2020
A bumper week (again) – here is your easy way to catch up on everything all in one place Student support Emma Hardy, the Shadow Universities Minister, has written to Michelle Donelan (Government’s Universities Minister) to highlight students facing significant hardship. In our last meeting we discussed the fact that many university students needed urgent… Read more »
BU academics contribute to initial findings from Covid-19 expert database
In March, POST launched the Covid-19 outbreak expert database, inviting anyone who wanted to support Parliament in its work, and had expertise in COVID-19 and/or its impacts to sign up. In April, more than 1,100 experts on this database responded to a survey put out by POST, asking them to share their immediate, short, medium and… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 13th May 2020
Speculation on what the easing of lockdown means for universities and particularly research labs. Contention over the Augar Review recommendations. Further concerns for the employment outlook of the graduating cohort alongside conjecture that the lack of work may mean those who hadn’t planned to may consider postgraduate study or even commencing university at undergraduate level…. Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 6th May 2020
Dissection of the Government’s HE support ‘package’ has dominated all this week and the Sutton Trust have a new report reminding us of the importance of considering disadvantage within HE access and participation. HE ‘package’ The Government announced its ‘package’ to support the HE sector through the financial trauma caused by C-19. It has dominated… Read more »
COVID-19 and Parliament: opportunities and resources for researchers
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) board has approved four new POSTnotes on: AI and healthcare Developments in vaccine technologies Distance learning Regulating product sustainability Work on these will be starting in the following months. They are looking for experts to contribute their insights, literature or as external reviewers. For more information on… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 1st May 2020
Hi all – we are bit late against our Wednesday deadline this week, we’re sure you’ll understand. Still lots going on and some of it doesn’t even relate to the crisis – KEF concordat high on your priority list, anyone? Students in the lockdown Minister under the spotlight: Universities Minister Michelle Donelan has responded to… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 22nd April 2020
Lots of MP commentary on universities this week including the (lack of) HE financial support measures. Virtual voting in the Commons wasn’t a great success, HEPI re-examine student experience across the 4 regions of the UK, concerns for graduate employment abound, and there is news on REF and KEF. Most importantly, happy World Earth Day!… Read more »
Major Study on 3D Printing and IP Law Led by Prof. Dinusha Mendis Published by the European Commission
A large scale empirical and legal study on the Intellectual Property Implications of the Development of Industrial 3D Printing, funded by the European Commission and led by Professor Dinusha Mendis (FMC, Law and Co-Director CIPPM) has been published. The report can be accessed here: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e193a586-7f8c-11ea-aea8-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-124493516 The project was awarded to Professor Mendis in 2018 and together… Read more »
BU staff can login below:
Other services
Recent posts
BU research Funding opportunities EU
PGR Virtual Poster Showcase | Charlotte Clayton
The Conversation: How Bali could build a better kind of tourism after the pandemic
Research Professional – all you need to know- PGR Virtual Poster Showcase | Ogochukwu Ann Ijezie
Health and Science Mis/Disinformation Thematic Issue, with a Covid-19 Flavour- Conversation article: Sierra Leone faces coronavirus as rainy season hits – local disaster planning will be key
UKRI Future Leader Fellowships Round 6 – Internal Process Launched
HE Policy Update for the w/e 9th July 2020
AHRC/BBC New Generation Thinkers 2021 scheme
MSCA NCP Virtual Drop-in Sessions
3D Printing: How an Emerging Technology May Help Fight a Pandemic – New Article by Prof. Dinusha Mendis
Research Information Network
- Physical Sciences Case studies: information use and discovery
- Information handling in collaborative research: an exploration of five case studies
- Information literacy monitoring and evaluation
- Data centres: their use, value and impact
- Heading for the open road: costs and benefits of transitions in scholarly communications
UKRI
- New research announced with leading African Universities
- New fund to develop digital innovation to revolutionise Britain's Manufacturing supply chains
- World-leading study into long-term health impacts of COVID-19 launched by UKRI and NIHR
- UKRI invests £13 m in life saving projects to improve diagnosis and treatment
- UKRI welcomes £300m investment in world-class research infrastructure