This report follows a CAPE-convened ‘deep dive’ discussion in September 2023 with regional academic policy engagement initiatives to explore different emerging models, current challenges, and conditions that would support better engagement at this policy level.
The report suggests that there is an an opportunity for universities to leverage their role as ‘anchor institutions’ within their regions. More widely, CAPE challenges the UK university sector to work with funders, policymakers and other actors to build a shared regional agenda as part of a larger national movement that strengthens connections between academic research and public policy.
Read for insight into:
- Different emerging models of regional academic policy engagement across the UK
- Specific challenges for regional academic policy engagement
- What conditions would enable the growth of regional academic-policy engagement
About CAPE
Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) is a knowledge exchange and research project funded by Research England from 2020-2024, which has been exploring how to support effective and sustained engagement between academics and policy professionals. The project is a partnership between UCL and the Universities of Cambridge, Manchester, Northumbria and Nottingham in collaboration with the Government Office for Science, the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology, Nesta and the Transforming Evidence Hub.
