A national engagement project co-led by the University of Leeds is ramping up efforts to support and improve public policymaking.
The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) provides a platform for decision-makers to access relevant academic research as they seek to improve services for the public.
That work can now be scaled up following a £5 million award by Research England to ten UPEN universities, including Leeds.
The investment will see UPEN evolve from a voluntary network into a sustainable organisation that connects policymakers with researchers from more than 110 university members.
The funding is supported by an additional £582,000 from UK Research and Innovation and £300,000 from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Professor Andrew Brown, Professor of Economics and Political Economy at Leeds University Business School, is one of three UPEN co-chairs.
With a renewed government focus on an evidence-based approach, UPEN will unite the research and innovation ecosystem
Over the next four years, UPEN will undertake a programme of work including:
- Improving UK universities' ability to engage with policy organisations and policymakers.
- Supporting place-based policymaking by strengthening engagement between universities, regional and local policy organisations.
- Embedding citizen engagement and community-driven approaches to policymaking.
- Creating more sustainable and resilient engagement models.
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, said: "The need for reliable evidence which can inform public debate and policy has never been greater.
"With increasing pressure on public finances, it is also vital that local and central governments can be confident that their policy interventions will be effective and successful – and academic expertise has a crucial role to play in that process."
Professor Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, said: "This funding will further support our community of researchers to work with policymakers to generate the evidence base required to address the complex challenges facing society today.
"With a renewed government focus on an evidence-based approach, UPEN will unite the research and innovation ecosystem, offering a wealth of academic insight and experience to inform policy decisions and improve outcomes."
A key pillar of UPEN's work, focusing on 'Place', will be co-led by the University of Leeds and University of Birmingham, working in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Teesside University.
Universities collaborate
The investment sees the University of Leeds work collaboratively with the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Durham, Huddersfield, UCL, Nottingham Trent, Southampton, Teesside, Insights North-East and the Wales Centre for Public Policy at Cardiff University.
UPEN will also work with the Institute for Community Studies, the Institute for Government and Yorkshire Universities. The organisation will bring together partners involved in the Yorkshire Policy Engagement Research Network (Y-PERN) and the Yorkshire Policy and Innovation Partnership (Y-PIP).
Members of the UPEN National Executive Committee include Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett, Senior Programme Manager at Y-PERN and Dr Andy Mycock, Y-PERN Chief Policy Fellow.
