These opportunities have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU).

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

These opportunities and resources have been sent to members of the KEU’s informal network for knowledge mobilisers, for circulation to the research community (find out more about the network).

Select committee inquiries launched in the last seven days (since 26 January 2023)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence.
Remember that you don’t have to answer every question posed in each call for evidence. And you can also explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence.

Select committee inquiries launched in the last three weeks (since 9 February 2023) 

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence.  

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation 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. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence. 

Support resources: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page. Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

ICYMI: New topics for POST briefings approved! 

In February the POST board approved ten new topics for Parliamentary briefings (known as POSTnotes). 

To produce POSTnotes, our advisers and fellows talk to stakeholders from industry, government, academia and the third sector to help identify important themes, point out critical literature and peer-review POSTnotes 

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 expertise into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication. All contributors are acknowledged when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicise the POSTnote and your contribution. Therefore your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research.  

More information:  Find out more about contributing to a POSTnote as an expert. For queries about POST or POSTnotes contact POST. 

Reminder: Contribute to the International Development Committee’s Area of Research Interests

The House of Commons International Development Committee has updated its Areas of Research Interest to support the Committee’s scrutiny of the UK’s international development strategy and funding. 

Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) are lists of policy issues or questions. They are a way for select committees to express interest in seeing more research evidence in certain topics.

This ARI comes with several specific areas of interest aiming to further break down the broad area. These include:

  • evaluating the impact of UK aid spending, as well as the UK spending through development finance institutions,
  • the availability and quality of data on the UK Government’s contribution to international development,
  • the impact of in-country refugee costs on wider UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) effectiveness. 

This updates the Area of Research Interest published by the International Development Committee in 2021, on changes to the UK aid budget. The information provided by academics and other experts on existing and forthcoming research, and suggested scrutiny questions, helped to inform the Committee’s work and subsequent inquiries.

Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in these ARIs, add their existing research in the topic areas to the ARI repository, provide their insights, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking the Government.

Register your expertise and research insights on UK International development funding

Why should I engage? ARIs, and the research and insights which you contribute in response to them, help to support committees’ scrutiny of government. When you register on the repository, parliamentary staff will be able to access your research to inform their work. They may also contact you when they are seeking experts to contribute to the committee’s work. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Find out more about the ARI on International Development Funding and register your expertise and research interests.

Opportunity to do a UKRI fellowship with GOVERNMENT (not us here in UK Parliament!)

We are making an exception in this week’s round up and publicising an opportunity from UKRI for you to conduct a fellowship with different parts of the Government. This is NOT our programme, as we work in UK Parliament (see the difference here)! However, UKRI have asked us to share this with you, and we think you might be interested in it, because whilst its not parliamentary engagement, it is policy engagement – just with a different policy stakeholder. Here’s what UKRI say…

The UKRI Policy Fellowships scheme led by ESRC in partnership with ADR-UK, AHRC & BBSRC, has announced 49 UKRI Policy Fellowships. Fellowship opportunities will be based with a host in 1 of 27 different UK government departments, devolved governments and What Works Centres.
 
The UKRI Policy Fellowships are designed to improve the exchange of specialist knowledge between academic institutions and policy, facilitating deeper, more enduring connections between researchers and policy makers. These exciting opportunities will allow fellows to undertake cutting edge research and inform decision-making on the most pressing policy problems of our time. The fellowships aim to support career development and enhance fellows understanding of applying research in government contexts. All fellows will become part of a cohort of academic researchers and receive training, mentoring and networking opportunities with likeminded individuals.
 
Fellowship opportunities will be organised around the UKRI strategic themes, which address national and global challenges, with an additional cross-cutting theme looking at data and evaluation. The strategic themes are:

  • building a green future
  • ageing and wellbeing
  • tackling infections
  • building a secure and resilient world
  • creating opportunities, improving outcomes
  • data and evaluation

 All fellowship opportunities are 18 months in duration and open to applications from researchers based at an organisation eligible for UKRI funding. Opportunities with a UK or devolved government host are aimed at early to mid-career academics and fellowships with a What Works Network centre host are open to all career stages. Depending on the fellowship, researchers will be in the economic and social sciences, arts and humanities or biotechnology and biological sciences; or be able to demonstrate the generation of interdisciplinary insights through combining these disciplines with other recognised academic disciplines. Full details can be found at UKRI policy fellowships 2023 – UKRI

A webinar including an insight from a current fellow, a current host, a What Works Nork centre, how to apply and a Q&A session is being held at 10am on March 14 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ukri-policy-fellowships-2023-applicant-webinar-tickets-560456750227

Why should I engage? The UKRI Policy Fellowship Scheme offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policymaking from the inside. During their fellowship, fellows will develop an insight into applying their research in a government context and writing for a policy audience. By the end of this fellowship, individuals will have increased skills and confidence in engaging with policy organisations, including UK Parliament. They also develop a unique understanding of Government and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research.

More information: Find out more about the UKRI fellowship scheme. Sign up to attend a webinar to hear more about the scheme and how to apply.

One book to guide them all 

To celebrate World Book Day 2023, we’re shining a light on one of the most important books for Parliamentarians: Erskine May. Often referred to as the ‘Bible of parliamentary procedure’, Erskine May is considered the authoritative work on the procedures and conventions of UK Parliament. Erskine May is regularly cited by MPs and the Speaker in the House of Commons Chamber, and by Peers in the House of Lords. Erskine May is also influential outside of the UK, particularly in countries which model their constitutional arrangements on the Westminster system. 

Thomas Erskine May published the first ‘Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament’ in 1844. It is now in it’s 25th edition. 

So what?
If you are interested in finding out more about Parliamentary procedure, and the conventions that Parliament follows, then you can access Erskine May on the UK Parliament website. Erskine May also charts the evolution of procedure, detailing how Parliament came to adhere to its current conventions. The UK Parliament website allows you to browse Erskine May by parts and chapter, helping you to find sections that are of interest to you and your research. Visitors to the site can also report any issues or errors in Erskine May online.