Research England launches Transparency Programme for HE providers

I hope this new initiative will help to capture and demonstrate the full value of this sort of funding, including its crucial role in building institutional capacity to maximise the public benefits of university research and to support engagement beyond the academy, including with communities and with policy actors. We know how important this is in the academic-policy engagement space - as Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)’s report into the use of the Polocy Supprt Fund showed (https://lnkd.in/dMB2CKU8)

🎓 Bridging Disciplines: From Sport Science to Public Policy This summer, Dr Sven Messing, Marie Curie Research Fellow at the University of Limerick’s Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, presented at the 7th International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP7) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. His contributions focused on: 🔹 Integrating social equity into the PA-EPI, a tool to assess the implementation of physical activity policies (IMPAQT) 🔹 Analysing the landscape of monitoring and evaluation tools in physical activity promotion (PLATO) His key takeaway: Interdisciplinary learning - especially from political science - is vital for physical activity policy research. 📢 Interested in exploring these intersections further? Apply for the International Winter School on Public Policy (2–6 February 2026, French Alps) Or plan to attend ICPP8 in Rennes, France in summer 2027. 🔗 Read the full reflection on our blog: https://lnkd.in/d4eKYPq3 #PublicPolicy #PhysicalActivity #HealthEquity #MarieCurieFellowship #ICPP7 #InterdisciplinaryResearch #PolicyEvaluation #SportPolicy #ULResearch #IPPA

Seven leading researchers from Northumbria University have been selected to support the official panels for the 2029 Research Excellence Framework (REF), confirming the University’s reputation for excellence in research. The four UK higher education funding bodies have announced the appointment of panels for the criteria-setting phase of REF 2029. REF is a major national exercise for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. Having taken place in 2014 and 2021, the next exercise is planned for 2029. Each panel member will play a key role in shaping the forthcoming REF by providing expert guidance to ensure a rigorous and trusted assessment of research quality across the UK. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e2WktzNZ

University College Cork (UCC) has renewed its long-standing cooperation agreement with Future University in Egypt (FUE), extending a successful partnership that has strengthened pharmacy education at FUE in Egypt for over a decade. The renewal was marked at an official ceremony hosted at FUE, attended by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The agreement was signed by Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC, and Professor Ebada Sarhan, President of FUE, alongside Professor Brendan Griffin, Head of UCC’s School of Pharmacy. “This renewal underscores UCC’s commitment to international collaboration and to advancing education, training, and research on a global scale,” said Professor John O'Halloran, President of UCC.

We are pleased to announce that Professor Jo Applin, Walter H. Annenberg Professor in the History of Art at The Courtauld, has been appointed as an expert sub-panel member for REF2029. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK's system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research. The REF is a process of expert review, carried out by sub-panels focused on subject-based units of assessment (UoAs), under the guidance of overarching main panels and advisory panels. For the first time, panel members were appointed through an open application process, rather than by nomination, designed to reduce barriers and attract a broader, more inclusive pool of candidates. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5ArJ57u

European Representative Laurence Farreng answers to #NewsTank academic: What elements of your report on the alliances do you consider the most important to highlight, and why? — First, the aim of the own-initiative report was, even before the presentation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) by the European Commission on 16/07/2025, to raise awareness about the success of the European Universities alliances. This initiative remains little known to some policymakers, even though they are the ones making budgetary choices. Highlight their strong competitiveness » Second, it was important to highlight their strong competitiveness and their distinctly European dimension, their capacity to build the European Education Area, because this is still a rather “unidentified object.” There were two main messages: The future of the European Universities alliances does not necessarily lie in endless expansion. At the start, Erasmus+ 2021-2027 had planned for 20 alliances. Today, there are already 65, well beyond the targets. The challenge is not “always more,” but consolidating the funding. Their enormous potential must be highlighted. We can see that networking works: joint curricula are emerging among universities of different sizes but coherent structures, grouped around shared themes. In the long run, this approach could become a strategic structure for European sovereignty, deepening key sectors and strengthening research and technology transfer. In short: raise awareness, consolidate what exists, and improve funding, rather than multiplying alliances

Fifteen academics from Cardiff University have been appointed as panel members for the criteria-setting and assessment phases of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029. https://lnkd.in/ep88MPPN The appointments, made by the UK higher education funding bodies, are based on a rigorous, open recruitment process and reflect the expertise and standing within subject disciplines of those selected. Each panel member will have a key role in shaping the REF to support the higher education sector by providing a meticulous, trusted assessment of UK research. #CardiffUniversity #PrifysgolCaerdydd

University College Cork is the leading university in Ireland for research income derived from industry in 2024, according to Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI)’s 2024 Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey. UCC also ranked number one for invention/software disclosures (IDFs) received, as well as the total number of Licences, Options and Assignments (LOAs) executed in 2024. The Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey, published annually by KTI and supported by Enterprise Ireland, provides a detailed report on knowledge transfer activities across Ireland. The survey, which draws on data obtained from Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes, includes insights from eight Universities, five Technological Universities, two Institutes of Technology and two Colleges. The survey also incorporates contributions from Teagasc, the Marine Institute and Irish Manufacturing Research. More: https://lnkd.in/eWcSqV98

How do students themselves think and write about honors, inter- and transdisciplinary education? And what do teachers value about their programmes? --> The newest issue of the journal Talent & Education, is now complete! Filled with inspiring notes and insightful research articles: https://lnkd.in/eCc-pNfC This issue collects contributions from the INTED Oslo honors conference in October 2025, the international honors conference in Enschede (June 2024), the international conference on Transdisciplinary education ITD24, as well as research that ties in with these events. Combining authentic first-hand written accounts with rigorous research, this issue from the journal of the European Honors Council presents multi-layered insights in some of the most dynamic fields in higher education.

Are you an academic new to applying for funding calls or looking to sharpen your approach? Check out our latest blog: What We've Learned from Reviewing Grand Challenges Proposals — and How It Can Help You Since the launch of our refreshed programme in 2023, UCL Grand Challenges has invested £2.4 million into projects that showcase the breadth of UCL’s research and innovation. As we reflect on the diverse proposals, funding calls, and successful projects we've supported, our team — Max Gillingham, Ethne James-Souch, Jade Hunter, and James Paskins — share key insights in a new blog post to help you strengthen your future funding applications. Read the blog to discover: https://lnkd.in/egcCkcs3 ▶️ How we design and run interdisciplinary funding calls ▶️ The wide-reaching impact of our funding across UCL ▶️ Practical tips for writing compelling proposals Valuable read for UCL researchers aiming to take their projects further and secure future funding. You can find our current open funding calls on our webpage: https://lnkd.in/etdBpskq