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).

Jump to:

Select committee inquiries launched in the last week (since 13 July 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 two weeks (since 07 July 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”.

Call for experts on Ofsted’s work with schools

The Education Committee is currently holding an inquiry into Ofsted’s work with schools. The inquiry will look at how well Ofsted is fulfilling its role in inspecting schools and whether and how it could be improved, to inform the work of the incoming His Majesty’s Chief Inspector.

The Committee’s secretariat is looking for researchers with expertise in this area, including in:

  • The impact of Ofsted judgements on schools;
  • The usefulness of inspections for schools and parents; and
  • The wat in which the Ofsted approach has changed over time.

If you have expertise in one of the above areas, or know a researcher who does, we would really appreciate you sharing a few details on your expertise on this short form, or forwarding it on to them to complete themselves, so that parliamentary staff conducting work in this area can more easily draw on your expertise and research.  

The form asks you or the researcher to outline their expertise (100 words maximum), provide a link to their university profile and to provide their contact information.

The opportunities for researchers to feed into Committee’s work include:

  • Submitting written evidence
  • Giving oral evidence
  • Working as a Specialist Adviser for the Committee.

The deadline for expressing interest in being a Specialist Adviser is Friday 18 August 2023.

Register your expertise on Ofsted’s work with schools

Why should I engage? Making yourself known to committee and Library staff can lead to opportunities to contribute your expertise and insights to Parliament. These may include being called to give oral evidence, contributing to a briefing, or participating in a roundtable or seminar. 

More information: Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.   

Apply for a UKRI Policy Internship

Applications are open for the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Internship scheme. The scheme gives PhD students an opportunity to work in a policy environment, and gain experience of converting research outputs into policy.

Fellows at POST will typically produce a POSTnote or POST brief, which are impartial, in-depth peer reviewed research briefings. However, it may include a secondment to a select committee or to the House of Commons or House of Lords libraries.

By the end of their time at POST, fellows will have learned how to write for policy-makers with balance, impartiality and succinctness. They will also have developed a unique understanding of Westminster, forged important relationships with key stakeholders, and delved into a novel and exciting topic of research.

More information about the UKRI Policy Internship at POST can be found on the POST website.

UKRI Policy Internships are available at 25 host partners, and if POST is your first host choice and you’d like the opportunity to contribute to a POSTnote, please make that clear in your application.

The internship scheme last three months and will take place during 2024.

This scheme is open to doctoral students funded by the Research Councils of UKRI. Doctoral stipends and fees should continue to be paid by the research organisation throughout the three month internship period.

The closing date for applications is Monday 2 October 2023. 

Full information about the UKRI Policy Internship Scheme – including guidance on how to apply – can be found on the UKRI website.

Why should I engage? POST’s PhD fellowships offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside. By the end of their time at POST, fellows learn how to write for policy with balance and impartiality. They also develop a unique understanding of Westminster and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research. Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to.

More information: Find out more about POST fellowships. Watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience. 

Reminder: Call for experts on young disabled people and work

The House of Lords Public Services Committee is currently seeking experts on the challenges young disabled people face accessing work, including in:

  • The transition from education to work;
  • Government support schemes for disabled people and employers;
  • Best practice within and beyond the public sector on recruiting and employing young disabled people; and
  • Enforcement mechanisms where relevant duties are not met.

If you have expertise in one of the above areas, or know a researcher who does, we would really appreciate you sharing a few details on your expertise on this short form, or forwarding it on to them to complete themselves, so that parliamentary staff conducting work in this area can more easily draw on your expertise and research.  

The form asks you or the researcher to outline their expertise (100 words maximum), provide a link to their university profile, provide a link demonstrating their public speaking (optional), and to provide their contact information.

The opportunities for researchers to feed into Committee’s work include:

  • Submitting written evidence
  • Giving oral evidence
  • Working as a Specialist Adviser for the Committee. For the Specialist Adviser role, the team are looking specifically for people with expertise in disabled people’s experience of transitioning from education to employment

 The deadline for expressing interest in being a Specialist Adviser is Monday 21 August 2023.

Register your expertise on young disabled people and work.

Why should I engage? Making yourself known to committee and Library staff can lead to opportunities to contribute your expertise and insights to Parliament. These may include being called to give oral evidence, contributing to a briefing, or participating in a roundtable or seminar.

More information: Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.   

Parliament’s out (ish) for summer 

On Thursday 20 July the House of Commons and the House of Lords will rise and the summer recess will begin. A Parliamentary recess is a break in the Parliamentary session (year) in which neither the House of Commons or the House of Lords meets to conduct business. This includes debates and select committee work. 

However MPs will continue to work during the recess, engaging with their constituents and gathering research and information for future speeches and Parliamentary work. 

So what?

During recess you can contact your local MP to share your research and to raise awareness on a topic. As well as your local MP, you can also contact MPs who you think may be interested in your research. The Hansard website – the official Parliament report – has transcripts of all Parliamentary debates and you can use the search functionality on the page to find MPs who have spoken in debates related to your research. 

Select Committees are also still collecting evidence during the recess, and Committee staff will be able to answer any questions you have about open inquiries. 

And finally the Knowledge Exchange Unit will also be hear to provide guidance on engaging with Parliament and sharing your research with Parliamentarians. Please feel free to email us at keu@parliament.uk