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).

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Select committee inquiries launched in the last week (since 14 September 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 petitions launched in the last week (since 14 September 2023)

Petitioning against the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill | Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill – Commons Select Committee | Monday 16 October 2023

A select committee has been set up to oversee the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill. The committee provides individuals and bodies directly and specifically affected by the Bill with the opportunity to object to the Bill’s specific provisions and to seek its amendment. This can be done through submitting a petition against the Bill. 

You can submit your petition against the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill until Monday 16 October 2023 here.

Select committee inquiries launched in the last two weeks (since 7 September 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.

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”.

Increasing academic engagement with the Northern Ireland Assembly

An exciting opportunity has arisen with our friends in the Northern Ireland Assembly to work as a Knowledge Exchange Professional increasing capacity for academic engagement with the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The main focus of the role will be to support the further development of knowledge exchange between the research community in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly. This will build on existing initiatives such as the “Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series” (“KESS”) – a unique formal partnership between the Assembly and the three universities located in Northern Ireland. The post holder will draw on, and contribute to, existing research on good practice in Knowledge Exchange.

The role is based at Queen’s University Belfast and funded by UKRI’s Economic and Social Research Council. It is a full time, fixed term post available until 30 November 2025 (part time hours also considered).

Why should I engage? Working embedded in the Northern Ireland Assembly affords unique insight into the inner operations of a legislature and the importance of devolved matters. It will allow you to make new contacts and relationships both within the Assembly and the wider university sector, experience leading projects to build capacity, and help to evolve processes and shape projects. 

More information: Find out more about the opportunity here. 

Coming soon: new Parliamentary Academic Fellowship opportunity

We’re pleased to let you know we will shortly be launching a new opportunity for research colleagues and knowledge exchange professionals to join us as a Parliamentary Academic Fellow. Look out for an update by early October in the round-up and on the KEU website. 

In the meantime, if you want to find out more about the Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme, you can watch a recording of our 2022 information session. Please note, this recording relates to an earlier call, so some aspects of the process have changed, as well as the key dates.

And you can read a blog former Parliamentary Academic Fellow, John Oliver, wrote for UPEN about his experience as a Parliamentary Academic Fellow.  

Wine or Yoga?

There are 772 All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) within Parliament!

APPGs are informal, cross-party groups of MPs and Members of the House of Lords who share a common interest for a particular policy area, region or country. APPGs are not official parliamentary committees, however, these groups can be influential because of their non-partisan and bicameral approach to an issue. APPGs are sub divided into country groups (there are 139 country APPGs) and subject groups (633 subject APPGs). The subject APPGs are diverse and range from Jazz to Marine Energy, from Multiple Sclerosis to Policing and Security, and from Religion in the Media to Scotch Whisky.

So what? 

Understanding APPGs is helpful for a researcher. There may be several relevant to your research area and you may be able to join a mailing list or follow their work. Many APPGs have a web presence and may look into emerging topics or publish reports of interest. Drawing on the listed officers of an APPG provides a researcher with a list of parliamentarians who share an interest in their research area. 

Find APPGs in your research area on the register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups