Category / policy

This part of the blog features news and information about higher education policy and how BU’s research is influencing policy.

Policy Influence Opportunities

New mailing list for colleagues who would like to use their research and expertise to engage with and influence UK policy making. The policy team have set up a new mailing list for academic and professional service colleagues who are interested in using their expertise or research to influence UK policy. We are keen to share timely information… Read more »

Dr John Oliver elected President of EMMA

Dr John Oliver (FMC) has been elected as President of the European Media Management Association (EMMA). The European Media Management Association is an international not-for-profit academic organization that was founded in 2003 to support growth in media management research, scholarship and practice throughout Europe and around the world. It facilitates links between relevant national and… Read more »

Announcements: Clinical Research | Broadcasting | Body Image | Decarbonising Transport | NHS

Today’s announcements: Health Secretary Matt Hancock has made an announcement on the £64 million funding provided to strengthen clinical research delivery   Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden has made an announcement on plans for a new broadcasting white paper   The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has published a report on the government response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee Report; ‘Changing… Read more »

BU research influences new UK Govt. Innovation Strategy

As mentioned previously on the BU Research Blog, Dr John Oliver’s (FMC) research into the effects of crisis events on corporate innovation and performance was published in a Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy (BEIS)Committee pre-budget report (February 2021) on The Impact of Coronavirus on Business and Workers. The Govts. response to this inquiry demonstrates the instrumental… Read more »

HE policy update for the w/e 18th June 2021

We’re still in the mid-June lull before the July storm we mentioned last week, however, the Skills and Post-16 Bill was debated at length in the Lords with disgruntlement over the lack of substance and missing details. Lord Storey’s Essay Mills Bill has a twin introduced by Chris Skidmore in the Commons. TEF awards have… Read more »

HE policy update for the w/e 12th June 2021

It might not feel it in the wider world, but it’s the June calm before the July storm in HE policy.  The culture wars are getting silly, the data is showing the challenges for levelling up, and there are yet more suggestions for how to spend more while spending less.  Plus two Cabinet Ministers with… Read more »

New Subject Benchmark Statement for Policing

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has today announced that it is working with the College of Policing to develop a new Subject Benchmark Statement for Policing. Subject Benchmark Statements describe the nature of study and the academic standards expected of graduates in specific subject areas. They show what graduates might reasonably be expected to know, do and understand at the end… Read more »

HE Policy Update for the w/e 3rd June 2021

A short update this week in a short week – but we know you’d miss it if we didn’t do an update.  And it’s an interesting one, with gossip and rebellion, and some hard(ish) data too. Staff changes It was announced after we published last week that Chris Millward would not be staying on at… Read more »

New select committee inquiries

The long-term impact of the pandemic on towns and cities | Lords COVID-19 Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Wednesday 30th June 2021 The Treatment of Contracted Staff for The MOD’s Ancillary Services | Defence Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Sunday 27th June 2021 Space Defence | Defence Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Thursday 1st July 2021 Animal… Read more »

HE policy update for the w/e 28th May 2021

Last week was busy week, so there’s a lot to report.  There were more ominous rumblings about the future, but the Minister dismissed scaremongering on fees, and the muddle continues on free speech, with the government trying to draw a line between what it is desirable to protect in the name of free speech, and… Read more »

Open Access @ BU and how it works

BRIAN (Bournemouth Research Information and Networking) According to BU’s Publications Policy and Procedures, on acceptance of publication by the publisher, all BU authors should record all research outputs in BRIAN immediately, and no later than three months after this point. For journal articles and conference proceedings, to comply with the REF Open Access policy, all… Read more »

DWP In-House Research Unit – Academic Secondment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is inviting applications from mid-career to senior researchers to join its newly formed In-House Research Unit on an academic secondment for 18 months. This is a unique opportunity for academics to work in a government research service. The In-House Research Unit provides a full service model, designing and… Read more »

Diverse policy voices – 9 June

Diverse policy voices – An online event exploring professional support staff and technicians’ engagement with policy initiatives across UK higher education. 9 June 2021, 12:30-13:30, online – register here Shift Learning and the Newcastle University Policy Academy Alumni and collaborators explore the experiences of policy engagement among staff working in Higher Education and allied industries…. Read more »

Humanities research to inform UK policy

What do UK Policymakers want from the humanities and what can humanities researchers offer? Friday 4 June 12:00-13:30, on Zoom Register to attend here. A joint Universities Policy Engagement Network and The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) seminar that brings together UK policymakers from parliament and central government to explore how UK policymakers… Read more »

Call for evidence and expertise

Does your research touch on any of the below topics? POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) has nine new POSTnotes in production. POST are welcoming contributions from experts within the below fields. Blue carbon Delivering the Local Nature Recovery Network Energy sector digitalisation Genome editing and the future of food Managing soils for carbon… Read more »

Parliament for Researchers – exploring select committee evidence

New online training session: Parliament for Researchers – exploring select committee evidence, Wednesday 9th June 2021, 14:00 – 15:00pm To build on your knowledge about the work of select committees, join this focused online training session to explore how select committees use research findings and expertise as evidence, and how you as a researcher can engage…. Read more »

Call for experts in food insecurity and children’s health

Call for experts in food insecurity and children’s health The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is looking for 2 expert speakers for a virtual briefing event for parliamentarians and parliamentary staff on ‘Food insecurity and children’s health’ (Date TBC, around end of June/ early July). The event aims to inform MPs and Peers on the… Read more »

Expert request – Energy Sector Digitalisation

Call for experts in energy sector digitalisation POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) is looking for experts to speak to about energy sector digitalisation, as they create a research briefing (POSTnote) on this topic.  They would like to interview academics and experts who could contribute insights on: the use of digital technology within the energy… Read more »