Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

📑New resource alert! Collaborative funding can be a valuable tool for stimulating engagement between researchers and policymakers. Our new toolkit, "Awarding Funding for Collaborative Academic-Policy Projects" supports greater understanding of the value of collaborative projects in academic-policy engagement, and how to set up a funding stream to make such awards. You’ll find practical advice and ready-to-use templates to help you: ✅ Integrate collaborative techniques into project design and delivery ✅ Understand what a good application to a collaborative funding scheme looks like ✅ Build a funding process, from applications to evaluation ✅ Develop tailored application forms and scoring criteria Download: https://lnkd.in/efDRRaem This toolkit is based on CAPE's experience of delivering the CAPE Collaboration Fund from 2020-23 in which we awarded £424,000 for 20 collaborative projects and was co-written by CAPE team members Robyn Parker Dr Olivia Stevenson Sarah Chaytor Rafael C. Hana Morel Daisy Forster from feedback from our collaboration funds awardees.

Areas of Research Interest (ARI) are public expressions from policy organisations of research priorities and evidence needs. Find out how CAPE has supported their use in Parliament, the Senedd, The Scottish Parliament and beyond. Featuring CAPE Policy Fellows Nicola Buckley, Rob D., team member Jenny Hasenfuss, and colleague Hannah Johnson, working across POST, UK Parliament, Senedd, The Scottish Parliament,The North East Combined Authority

New event! 🆕 This masterclass with Dr Andy Mycock (University of Leeds) and Stephen Meek (University of Nottingham) will explore the multiple challenges that researchers and knowledge brokers face in navigating an ever-changing complex political landscape. This workshop should be of interest to all those within the multi-level governmental landscape of the UK, particularly to early and mid-career researchers, and knowledge brokers who have not experienced working in the context of significant political change. Participants will go away from the workshop with a greater understanding of the importance of political change in shaping university policy engagement. 📍 5th Feb, 1-2pm https://lnkd.in/eUd356XG

Are you an Arts and Humanities researcher looking to engage with policy makers? In this online, interactive session classicist Prof Arlene H. Vice-Chair of UPEN (Arts and Humanities) and Professor of Public Policy at Durham University highlights benefits the academic policy engagement. The session will: -    Share routes into policy engagement for researchers in Arts and Humanities disciplines -    Provide the chance to ask questions and design a strategy for getting started. -    Part two (2-3pm) will showcase the newly published case study report ‘How does Arts and Humanities Research influence public policymaking?’ by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson and Laidlaw Scholar Luke Sewell (both Durham University) 📍 29th Jan, 1-3pm Sign up: https://lnkd.in/gtn493xX

New Event! The first session from the Government Office for Science will explore how they “put excellent scientific advice at the heart of decision making” for UK Government. In this event, you'll learn more about how GOS achieves their mission and the routes to engagement with government they support and advertise.   📍 21st Jan, 15:30 - 16:30 (Online)   https://lnkd.in/erxjApYH

New blog! 🆕 Jade Harris, Events and Communications Policy Officer at UPEN reflects on the lessons learnt during her internship at UPEN, her interest in academic-policy engagement and her experience as someone new to the sector. https://lnkd.in/gtTfyfVf

Welcome to the first edition of Policy Innovate! Explore insights from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) program on tackling place-based challenges, driving sustainable growth, and reducing regional disparities. Dive in for research, events, and more! https://ow.ly/t8mw50UoS7b

We are pleased to announce that the UPEN 2025 Conference: Evaluation and Impact in Academic-Policy Engagement, will be hosted by the University of Surrey on the 10th and 11th of June. We are opening a call for contributions to the main conference and our members meeting on the 10th and 11th of June. See the below ways to get involved: - Join our conference planning committee (Deadline Dec 18) - Submit an expression of interest for your organisation to showcase itself in a planned exhibition (Deadline Jan 15) - Submit a research abstract, workshop or panel idea (Deadline Jan 31) Find the forms to submit here: https://linktr.ee/UPEN18   Take a look at our website to get in touch and find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/et2XgsPz

New resource for policy organisations alert from CAPE - Capabilities in Academic-Policy Engagement: "Areas of Research Interest - A Practical Guide". Designed for policy professionals, this guide should be of particular relevance to combined and local authorities and other organisations who want to articulate their evidence needs to the academic community. It walks organisations through the stages of setting up Areas of Research interest, includes case studies from leading examples, and practical tools to support the process. Download ➡️ https://lnkd.in/euXvHpbV

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking for a new Chief Scientific Adviser to lead on science advice for the Department. More information about this exciting role here: https://lnkd.in/e-CqCgHg