Tagged / policy influence

BU policy influence digest newsletter – 09/10/2024

BU research, Impact, parliament, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, policy

Read the latest edition of the BU policy influence digest newsletter. It is drawn from several sources including directly from UK central and devolved administrations, newsletters from Parliament Knowledge Exchange Unit, UPEN and others.

Items this week include;

  • New consultations and inquiries for policy impact – 08/10/2024
    • New opportunities to respond to consultations and inquiries from the UK and globally
  • Behind the scenes of the government’s areas for research interest
    • Who’s using the government’s new ARI database, and how are different government departments engaging with the researchers who get in touch?
  • Ten things we heard at the Labour Party Conference – HEPI
    • At the Labour Party Conference, higher education was highlighted as essential for addressing economic growth, skills development, and widening participation, with a strong focus on funding, partnerships, and embracing AI in education.
  • Research Professional – Five things we learned from the Labour conference
    • And the big question that universities are still waiting to have answered
  • How evidence-informed policymaking works in a Union of 27 states
    • This event will shed light on the work of The Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) and how the European policymaking process works.
  • A Policymaker’s Perspective: The Value of Arts and Humanities Research in the Policy Landscape
    • From UPEN – In this blog, Dr Domonique Davies, University of Reading reflects on the value of arts and humanities research on policy and shares insights from policy makers actively looking for researchers to engage with them.

If you’d like to receive future editions of this digest by email, sign up in two clicks (BU login required).

DWP In-House Research Unit – Academic Secondment

Impact, policy, Uncategorized

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 carrying out qualitative research across a range of populations. Successful candidates will collaborate with a range of internal customers and use the latest technical, methodological and analytical approaches to provide robust evidence to support decision-making in policy and operational development. They welcome applications from experts across a broad range of fields, who have expertise in qualitative research methods. They will be recruiting for up to 5 positions. For more information contact the BU policy team (policy@bournemouth.ac.uk) who have the candidate and application packs or email research.inhouse@dwp.gov

The deadline for application is 18 June. 

Humanities research to inform UK policy

Impact, 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 engage with humanities research and researchers. This seminar is for you if you would like to understand better:

  • how humanities research contributes to the design or scrutiny of UK public policy,
  • how your own research could be relevant to current and anticipated needs of UK policymakers, as well as,
  • channels open to humanities researchers to communicate their evidence and expertise to UK policymakers

More information about the session is available here – all are welcome.

Parliament for Researchers – exploring select committee evidence

Impact, policy

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. The role of committee specialist advisors will also be covered.

It is hosted by the UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit with expert speakers from House of Commons and House of Lords select committee offices. The session is focused on practical information and advice, with opportunities for Q&A. The POST training sessions are highly recommended by BU’s policy team.

Book your ticket for Parliament for Researchers – exploring select committee evidence

The online training session will have captions available, images described and information sent in advance.  This session will be recorded and available on the Parliament website to watch after the event.

Support resources: You can also access recordings and resources from previous ‘Parliament for Researchers’ training sessions, including sessions tailored for researchers at different career stages and covering different topics such as select committees and writing for a parliamentary audience.

Call for experts in food insecurity and children’s health

Impact, policy

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 causes of food insecurity, its impact on children’s physical and mental health and to describe interventions to support access to healthy food for children. The event will last around 60-75 minutes.  In a panel of 4 (including 2 experts from different charities discussing the current situation of food insecurity in children and their experience in delivery programmes), 2 academic experts will be asked to give a 5-10 minute presentation and answer questions from the audience.

POST would like to find experts who could discuss one/any of the following topics:

  • malnutrition and the effects in children, focusing not only on childhood obesity but more widely on malnutrition as a whole, also from an undernutrition perspective
  • food insecurity and children’s health in vulnerable groups in the UK (perhaps with a more on social science/economics background) including discussion about the evidence base and evaluation of interventions

Please note that POST is looking for experts who have a very broad perspective on the field and are able to discuss the wider literature rather than their specific area of research.

POST welcomes contributions from a diverse range of researchers.

To put yourself forward, please complete this form by 5pm on Friday 28th May 2021.

 

Why should I engage? POST events are attended by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff to hear directly from leading experts. Speaking at a POST event is a good way of feeding your research into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial service, and speaking directly to Parliamentarians. Therefore your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research.

 Support resources: find more information about working with POST as an expert, and more information about POST events.

Expert request – Energy Sector Digitalisation

Impact, policy

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 system
  • benefits provided by ‘digitalisation’
  • disruptions to present methods of energy generation, transmission and use
  • applications of the most relevant digital technologies to the energy sector, and associated benefits
  • barriers to deployment across technical and policy dimensions.

Experts may be asked for an interview to share their insights, which would take place before the end of June.  They may in addition be asked to externally review a draft of the POSTnote once it is written, which would be in July.

To put yourself forward as an expert fill in this form before 5pm on Friday 28 May.

Why should I engage? POSTnotes are used by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff to navigate complex research. Contributing to a POSTnote is a good way of feeding your research into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication. All contributors are acknowledged online when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicize the POSTnote and your contribution. Therefore your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research. Contributing to a POSTnote may lead to research impact as understood in the context of REF2021.

Support resources: find more information about contributing to a POSTnote as an expert

If you are unsure about engaging speak to Jane Forster or Sarah Carter for support.

New select committee inquiries

Impact, policy

Responding to a select committee is an easy way to get your feet on the pathway to policy influence and impact.

Below are the most recently opened inquiries. There will be other inquiries accepting evidence too –  all inquiries currently accepting evidence are here  .

COVID 19: PPE Suppliers | Public Accounts Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Monday 17 May 2021

The Myanmar Crisis | Foreign Affairs Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Tuesday 18 May 2021

COVID-19 cost tracker update | Public Accounts Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Thursday 20 May 2021

Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Supply Chain for Battery Electric Vehicles  | Environmental Audit Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Saturday 22 May 2021

Pension stewardship and COP26 | Work and Pensions Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Friday 18 June 2021

An Equal Recovery | Treasury Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Monday 28 June 2021

Overview of costs in the English rail system | Public Accounts Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Thursday 6 May 2021

Liberty Steel and the Future of the UK Steel Industry |Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Friday 14 May 2021

The Navy: purpose and procurement | Defence Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Sunday 30 May 2021

Women in Prison | Justice Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Monday 7 June 2021

Implementing the Integrated Review in Nigeria | Foreign Affairs Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Monday 7 June 2021

UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure | Science and Technology Committee | Deadline for evidence submission: Wednesday 23 June 2021

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invite to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.

More information: all inquiries currently accepting evidence are found here 

Support resources: find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page  

Support: Please engage with BU’s policy team before submitting evidence to a select committee. We can provide guidance and templates for colleagues who are new to responding to inquiries and we read through a substantial draft before all colleagues submit their response. Contact us – policy@bournemouth.ac.uk

Call for evidence – forms of inequality

Impact, policy

The Treasury Committee have launched a new inquiry – An Equal Recovery.  

The inquiry will examine different forms of inequality that have emerged or that may have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and what HM Treasury can do to mitigate them. The inquiry will focus on disability, gender, race, regional imbalances, and intergenerational inequality, including housing.

They’re also interested to hear what measures to combat inequality the Treasury could consider when making departmental budget allocations.

You can read the call for evidence here: https://bit.ly/2PBjqPG

The deadline to respond is 28 June 2021.

Please inform Jane and Sarah within the policy team if you intend to respond to this call for evidence.

Committee Special Adviser – renewable energy

Impact, policy

Opportunity to apply to be a Specialist Adviser to the Scottish Affairs Committee for its inquiry into renewable energy in Scotland.

Application deadline – midday, Monday 10th May

The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee is inviting applications from individuals for the role of Specialist Adviser to the Scottish Affairs Committee for its inquiry into renewable energy in Scotland. The role is likely to run from May 2021 until September 2021.

The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 10th May. You can find out more about the role and how to apply on this webpage. You can find out more about the inquiry into Renewable energy in Scotland here.

 Contact Sarah or Jane in the BU Policy Team if you would like to apply for this role – policy@bournemouth.ac.uk

Opportunity – registering your research on parliamentary database (international/aid)

Impact, policy

International Development Committee announces its first Area of Research Interest: changes to the UK aid budget 

The International Development Committee is the first select committee to launch an area of research interest (ARI). Their ARI is focused on ‘changes to the UK aid budget’ and designed to help reinforce the Committee’s scrutiny of changes to the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, the Integrated Review and the forthcoming Development Strategy (which will guide UK aid from 2022 onwards).

How can I engage? Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in this ARI, add their existing research and any planned research in this topic area to the ARI repository, provide their insights, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking to the Government in the short, medium, and long-term.

Those who respond to the survey will be entered onto a database of experts who may be contacted by parliamentary staff in order to help them scrutinise government in this area of interest. 

If you have evidence or insights on the ARI you can add information about the research and your contact details to the repository.

If this area becomes a topic of scrutiny within Parliament, parliamentary staff may search the repository for relevant research and contacts.  

Colleagues wishing to influence policy now or in the future that have expertise in the above stated areas are strongly recommended to prioritise responding to this survey. The opportunity to have your research expertise recognised on a parliamentary database is rare!

More information: International Development Committee ARI: changes to the UK aid budget

Contact Sarah or Jane for support or information – policy@bournemouth.ac.uk

Specialist Adviser to International Trade Committee opportunity

policy, Uncategorized

The International Trade Committee (ITC) is calling for expressions of interest in becoming a Specialist Adviser to the Committee, to support its scrutiny of UK trade negotiations. The role is a rare opportunity to influence policy, broaden your research horizons, and create impact suitable for REF purposes. 

The role of the Trade Committee, within the House of Commons, is to scrutinise the spending, administration and policy of the Department for International Trade (DIT), and other associated public bodies. It is made up of the Chair (Angus Brendan MacNeil MP) and ten other MPs.

The Inquiry

The DIT is currently negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the US, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the Government is expected to apply to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Further trade negotiations are likely to begin soon, as the Government pursues its objective of having 80% of UK trade covered by FTAs within the next three years.

The ITC is conducting an open-ended inquiry into UK trade negotiations, as a means of scrutinising these FTA negotiations.

The Role

The Committee is seeking to appoint a number of Specialist Advisers with relevant expertise in trade policy and trade law to support the Committee with FTA scrutiny on an ad hoc basis. The successful candidates may be asked to:

  • work with the Committee secretariat to identify and analyse the relevant issues for the Committee raised by individual FTAs;
  • contribute to briefings and draft reports for the Committee and comment on drafts of written material produced by the Committee secretariat;
  • advise on sources of information and evidence, including potential witnesses; and
  • attend Committee meetings and provide oral briefings when required.

The role will involve attendance at Committee meetings. Currently this would be virtually, but may involve physical meetings in Westminster in the future, depending on circumstances. The Committee will meet the necessary expenses for attendance at meetings or other work related to the role. The names of Specialist Advisers, and any relevant declarations of interests, will be published in any reports with which Advisers have been involved.

There is uncertainty around the timescales for FTA negotiations. The Committee wishes to appoint Advisers now who will be available to advise it as and when required, as negotiations progress. The time commitment for an advisory role to a Committee is unpredictable however it is not expected to exceed 20 days in a calendar year. Advisers will not generally be required to work more than two days in any one week – but there may be times when short periods of very intense work are required. Advisers are paid a daily honorarium on the basis of work done.

The Committee is keen to hear from applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who have not previously engaged with Parliament or Select Committees.

Please engage with the BU policy team (policy@bournemouth.ac.uk) and seek permission from your Faculty before making an application. There is a contact at the Committee if you wish to find out more.

The deadline for application (a CV, covering letter (max 2 sides), and a declaration of interests) is midnight on Friday 5 March 2021.

Inquiry into Digital Trade and Data

Impact, policy

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 relevant legal frameworks.

The call for evidence is here: https://bit.ly/3oVcp8o

The deadline is Friday 12 February 2021.

Please contact policy@bournemouth.ac.uk in advance if you intend to submit evidence.

The Committee particularly welcomes submissions on:

  • What are the main barriers faced by UK businesses engaging in digital trade?
  • What opportunities does digital trade present for UK businesses?
  • How does the regulation of digital trade impact consumers?
  • What approach(es) should the UK take to negotiating digital and data provisions – including those concerning the free flow of data, protection for personal data, net neutrality, data localisation, and intellectual property– in its future trade agreements?
  • What does the UK-Japan Agreement indicate about the UK’s approach to digital trade and data provisions in future trade negotiations?
  • What approach should the UK take towards renewing the WTO’s moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions?
  • What objectives should the UK have when negotiating digital and data provisions during its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)?
  • Will the global increase in digital trade affect the environment in a positive or negative way? What steps can be taken to mitigate any negative environmental impacts of increased digital trade?
  • What domestic and international law is relevant to the Government’s approach to digital trade?

Biological science expert wanted to advice UKRI

Impact, policy

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 UKRI’s decision-making boards.

There are up to two positions available, both with a 3-year term, and a time commitment of 6 to 9 days per year each.

For further information on the role, you can find the recruitment call-out here: https://bit.ly/3ngMzLH

The closing date for applications in 10 January 2021. Start date is mid-February 2021.