Parliament aims to diversify the voices heard from the research community. Researchers with disabilities are under-represented in engagement with Parliament and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is aiming to change this. (Note – they cover all disciplines not just science and technology.) In February 2021 POST are running online discussion groups to… 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.
Academic speakers wanted
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are seeking academic speakers for their inaugural spring seminar series. Register your interest on this form (please tick the UPEN box on Q11 – when asked how you heard about the opportunity).
Inquiry into Digital Trade and Data
The International Trade Committee has announced a new inquiry into Digital Trade and Data. It also pertains to the exchange and movement of data across organisations. The Committee’s inquiry will explore a range of issues, including digital trade and data provisions in Free Trade Agreements, concerns around the security and privacy of data, the environmental impact of digital trade, and the… Read more »
Biological science expert wanted to advice UKRI
An opportunity for an expert in biological sciences or biopharma to provide advice and guidance on UKRI’s long-term investment priorities for research and innovation infrastructure. The role as an Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IAC) member would involve supporting the cross-UKRI Infrastructure Fund. The primary role will be to give advice and make recommendations on the fund’s investment priorities to… Read more »
New publication for the SAIL Project Team
Staying Active and Independent for Longer (SAIL) is an EU funded project which began in 2017. The project aimed to use the concept of social innovation to develop 10 pilots across 4 countries (France, Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK) that would enable older people to be more active. The members of the research team… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 10th December 2020
We’re awash with experimental statistics this week! So far it looks as though Covid hasn’t resulted in mass (early) drop outs. There’s more detail on the Lifetime Skills Guarantee and the Education committee has been grilling the Minister on exams. Sustainability The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has published a report Beyond business as usual:… Read more »
Policy Influence Opportunity – Forestry, land management & environmental
Call for potential oral witnesses for EFRA Committee tree planting inquiry The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee secretariat is looking for potential oral witnesses for the Committee’s inquiry into Tree Planting and Woodlands. please see the background to the inquiry and Call for Evidence for further information. The Committee would be particularly interested to hear from researchers with expertise in… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 3rd December 2020
The Government has announced the requirements for universities to prepare plans for students to return to campus safely in January, flexibilities for 2021 level 2/3 exams have been confirmed, there’s a new report about higher technical education, and the attainment and continuation gap for estranged students is of concern. Parliamentary News Local Rebels: The Government… Read more »
Experts needed for Scientific Advisory positions
Food Standards Agency – Invitation to join the Independent Scientific Advisory Council. The Food Standards Agency is looking for committed, highly capable and motivated individuals to become members of their Scientific Advisory Committees and Science Council. Members will help ensure food produced or sold in the UK is safe, providing independent expert assessment of risks arising in… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 27th November 2020
The spending review was quiet on HE and heavier on research spending commitments. A UUK publication tackles racial harassment in HE and the OIA provides examples of what will and won’t be upheld from student Covid complaints. We wonder about the TEF. See you in December! Driving home for Christmas? Today’s news is all about… Read more »
Dr John Oliver awarded Parliamentary Fellowship
Dr John Oliver has recently been awarded a prestigious Academic Fellowship from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). One aspect of POST work includes making scientific research accessible to UK Parliament by producing forward-thinking briefings that involves horizon scanning activities on a range of subject areas. Dr Oliver will be working in the… Read more »
BU Professor publishes sixth edition of bestselling book ‘Social Work Practice’!
I am pleased to say that the sixth edition of my book Social Work Practice has now been published. It is with grateful thanks to all former students and people who have received social work services that this has been possible. I’ve updated this edition looking to the future and developing a more green and… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 20th November 2020
w/e 20 November 2020 This week has been all about Government intervention in HE. The news has been non-stop so we’ve sectioned some of the biggest debates into separate documents which are linked to within the main text. Fear not, for our skim readers the basics on each debate are still covered in the main… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 13th November 2020
We’ve a lot to cover this week as the new lockdown seems to have inspired policy wonks to publish! Input from the Government has informed how students should travel home safely for Christmas and the Education Secretary wants all the Skills answers. Skills reform Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has written to Stephen van Rooyen (Sky… Read more »
HE policy update for the w/e 6th November 2020
To combat potential politics fatigue we’ve kept the news from the last couple of weeks short and sharp for you, and to combat lockdown fatigue this is also a COVID-light update. Parliamentary News On Wednesday there was a debate in the House of Commons on FE funding. Research news Post-Brexit Research Programme Association Discontent has… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 23rd October 2020
Some fresh news and reports but overall a quieter week HE wise as the Government continues to focus on the rise in virus numbers nationally. Much of the media interest has focussed on familiar topics such as student complaints and white working class students. HEPI looked at future demand for HE study and UUK surveyed… Read more »
HE Policy Update for the w/e 16th October 2020
A big week for pandemic news as more restrictions bite across the country. The Secretary of State is getting tetchy and the Department for Education and the OfS are both going back on recent pledges to reduce bureaucracy, as they add new information requirements. Meanwhile if you missed it, Jane wrote last week for the… Read more »
Upcoming online events
BU is a member of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee (an APPG). Colleagues who are interested in attending any of the below online events should contact office@scienceinparliament.org.uk to book a place. Please inform the Policy team if you do book a place so we can monitor interest and uptake for these events. You will require… Read more »
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