Over the past few years, a more concerted effort has been made to encourage
academic researchers to engage with UK's Parliament. Parliament’s Knowledge
Exchange Unit (KEU) runs training sessions and provides advice, guidance and
support for academics on engaging with Parliament. At the same time, there has also been an increased focus on the need for
Parliament to help ensure greater equality, diversity and inclusivity in offering
opportunities to engage. For example, since late 2019, the KEU has been
consulting on the barriers faced by women researchers, researchers from
minority ethnic communities and disabled researchers in engaging with
Parliament; this process has produced a number of suggestions for encouraging
greater inclusivity in this regard.
But when it comes to encouraging greater diversity among committee witnesses
in the higher education sector, what do academic researchers themselves think
are the important steps? What barriers to participation do they perceive? In
order to help answer that question, in May and June 2021, UPEN carried out an
online survey of academics and researchers working or studying in UK
universities. The survey questionnaire sought respondents’ views on the extent to
which a number of potential factors posed a barrier to academic engagement
with UK Parliament committee inquiries and calls for evidence, and the extent to
which a number of proposed measures might help encourage engagement.
Space was also provided for additional suggestions and comments. A total of
790 responses were received from across the UK. This briefing presents some of
the main findings.
Authors
- Published in
- United Kingdom
