Tagged / knowledge exchange

Writing policy briefs

international, open access, Publishing, writing

This week saw the publication of ‘Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs‘ co-authored by Bournemouth University’s (BU) Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as well as former BU staff Dr. Nirmal Aryal.  An effective policy brief bridges the gap between research findings and policymaking, ensuring that evidence is presented succinctly and in a way that is accessible and usable for policymakers and relevant stakeholders. It is an important step in what is called knowledge mobilisation. However, many researchers find it hard to communicate the findings of their studies to relevant policymakers, whilst policymakers note that the evidence they need is not easily accessible and is often not presented in an accessible format. Producing policy briefs is one of the approaches which academics can use to get their research noticed by policymakers.

This practical paper outlines some of the trials and tribulations of producing policy briefs, based on real-world research. It offers several recommendations to help improve the writing and dissemination of policy briefs.  The paper is published in an Open Access journal hence freely available to anybody across the globe with internet access.

 

References:

  1. van Teijlingen, E., Balen, J., Regmi, P., Rushton, S., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N. (2025). Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs. Journal of Health Promotion, 13(1),:89–96. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v13i1.87170

 

Upholding Excellence: The Concordat to Support Research Integrity

We are pleased to share developments that reinforce our commitment to the highest standards of rigour, ethics, and transparency in all our research activity: Our updated Research Integrity Statement has been published on the BU Research Integrity page, alongside the adoption of the revised Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

Concordat to Support Research Integrity

The revised Concordat is a vital update for the UK research sector, setting out a clear framework for upholding and strengthening research integrity. This establishes five core commitments for researchers, institutions, and funders, ensuring that our research culture continues to be robust, ethical, and trustworthy.

Our Five Core Commitments:

  1. Maintaining the highest standards of research integrity – the principles: Responsible research is grounded in the principles of honesty, rigour, transparency, care and respect, and accountability.
  2. Maintaining the highest standards of research integrity – expectations and compliance: Research must be conducted according to all appropriate ethical, legal, regulatory, and professional frameworks.
  3. Embedding a culture of research integrity: This focuses on creating a positive research environment by making integrity central to continuing professional development, designing research to embed ethical practice throughout, and collaborating to maintain a supportive research culture.
  4. Questionable research practices and misconduct must be addressed through effective, fair investigation. The research community is responsible for honestly reporting concerns and fully supporting the process. Annex A includes the Concordat’s definitions of questionable research practices and research misconduct. 
  5. Accountability and continuous improvement in research integrity: This is a collective endeavour requiring leadership and accountability to continuously improve responsible practice. It involves upholding trust in UK research and actively seeking opportunities to implement, reward, and share good practices and learning.

You can view the full details of the commitments on the UKRIO website: The Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

For a summary of the key changes introduced in the 2025 version, please consult the official briefing document: UKRIO Briefing doc on 2025 Concordat.

Bournemouth University’s Statement

Our new Research Integrity Statement adopts the principles of the revised Concordat and details the institutional mechanisms, policies, and training we have in place to support our research community. This document reaffirms our dedication to an environment where all researchers can conduct their work responsibly and with confidence.

Read the full statement.

This commitment is central to our mission, as highlighted by Dr Fiona Knight:

“Bournemouth University is committed to embedding research integrity across all aspects of our research. Through our Research Concordat Steering Group and comprehensive training programmes, including guidance on AI and mandatory ethics modules, we support our researchers in conducting responsible and ethical research. Oversight is provided by our Research Ethics Committee and specialist panels, with additional assurance for NHS-related research through our Clinical Research Adviser. Together, these systems promote a positive and transparent research culture.” – Dr Fiona Knight, Head of Research Excellence & Governance

Join the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference – Wednesday 3 December 2025

Knowledge Exchange, PG research

17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference: Register now

Register now to attend the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, hosted by the Doctoral College.

Join us for a day of showcasing some of the excellent research taking place across BU by our postgraduate research community. This event provides a platform for our postgraduate researchers to present their research, share insights, and engage in meaningful discussions with peers, university colleagues, and external partners.

Date & Time: Wednesday 3 December, 9am-4:30pm

Location: Fusion Building, Talbot Campus

This year, the Poster Exhibition will take place in FG04 & FG06, Fusion Building, with viewings taking place in the morning and during the lunch break. Oral presentations hosted in Share Lecture Theatre in the Fusion Building.

Whether you’re a researcher, academic, colleague, or just interested in the cutting-edge work happening at BU find out more and book your place here 

The detailed programme will be available soon.

Exciting Opportunities for Early Career Researchers

Knowledge Exchange, Training

We are delighted to share upcoming events from the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN) Southwest & South Wales cluster. These are fantastic opportunities for networking, skill development, and engaging with key topics relevant to ECRs in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

SWSW Connect Online Community Meeting: Research Culture and Excellence Frameworks

Date & Time: Tuesday 11 November, 12-1pm

This is a monthly online meeting for ECRs in the humanities and social sciences. It is a space to network, share knowledge, and support each other across the region. November’s session will focus on how ECR research can contribute to the research culture environment and to key UK frameworks: Research Excellence (REF), Knowledge Exchange (KEF), and Teaching Excellence (TEF).

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Reaching Out: Forming Interdisciplinary Connections

Date: Tuesday 18 November, 10am-4pm

Location: University of Exeter

This in-person workshop is for ECRs who want to work together on research projects that cross different disciplines. The goal is to teach ECRs how to find partners, start these interdisciplinary projects, and gain better insights and funding advice from experienced researchers.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Development Fund Workshop: The Impact of the ‘Impact Agenda’

Date & Time: Thursday 27 November, 10:30am-5:30pm

Location: The British Academy, London

This workshop will examine the effect of the ‘impact agenda’ on the professional development and career paths of ECRs in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. It will bring together ECRs, senior academics, and policy actors to develop practical recommendations for improving impact training and career progression.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

SWSW Webinar Series

The SWSW Webinar Series brings monthly knowledge and skill-based content from engaging expert speakers.

Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation

Date & Time: Thursday 4 December, 11am-12pm

Directors of the University of Exeter’s SHArD 3D Lab will present an overview of successful Knowledge Exchange initiatives. They provide specialised training, workshops, and research solutions for the heritage and emergency services sectors. The presentation highlights insights from their experience in departmental business engagement and impact leadership.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Research Impact Culture: AHRC and ESRC Impact Accelerator Accounts

Date & Time: Friday 5 December, 10am-12pm

This workshop introduces Impact Accelerator Accounts (IAA): research council funds provided to universities to develop a research impact culture. The session will cover the concept of research impact, examples of IAA-supported projects, and the aims of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) IAA programmes. Participants will learn about available internal IAA support and funding to help researchers translate their work into real-world impact.

Find out more and book here

Stay Connected

We encourage all Early Career Researchers to join the BA ECRN Portal and ECRN platform for continuous updates on events, funding opportunities, and other resources relevant to your career development.

Our Researcher Development Hub is now available as your dedicated space to easily find resources and development opportunities for your research career stage.