All posts tagged: programme

lessons from the ESRC policy fellowship programme – Evidence & Policy Blog

lessons from the ESRC policy fellowship programme – Evidence & Policy Blog

Published by skeptic

Jessica Benson-Egglenton and Matthew Flinders This blog post is based on the Evidence & Policy article, ‘Understanding the dynamics of research policy fellowships: an evaluative analysis of impacts and ecosystem effects’. An early evaluation of a major UK policy fellowship programme reveals both promising impacts and significant challenges in bridging the research-policy divide. This blog post is based on research evaluating the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Policy Fellows scheme (2021-2023). In 2021, the ESRC invested £2.5 million in placing 24 academic researchers within government departments for up to 18 months. This ‘Research to Policy’ (R2P) fellowship programme aimed to inject research expertise directly into policymaking while helping academics better understand how government works. Our evaluation of this pilot programme reveals three key findings. First, the fellowships achieved significant short-term impacts across multiple levels: Individual level: Fellows gained crucial insights into policy processes, while civil servants developed new analytical skills and research awareness. As one fellow noted, “I know now how to approach them [officials]. I know now how to understand their problem. How …

The One Show is the most unapologetically weird programme on the BBC

The One Show is the most unapologetically weird programme on the BBC

Published by skeptic

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter What do Mike Leigh and Steven Bartlett have in common? Very little, surely. I can’t see the octogenarian auteur behind Bafta-winning films like Secrets & Lies and Vera Drake kicking back after a long day’s shoot with a nourishing glass of Huel and a motivational episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast. Their incongruence is so overwhelming that there’s only one cultural force powerful enough to bring these two men together on the same sofa. And that cultural force is The One Show.  Since 2006, the 7pm weeknight slot on BBC One has belonged to the broadcaster’s premier something-for-everyone-and-no-one grab bag of a magazine show. The delirium-inducing theme tune – trumpet fanfares accompanied by someone shouting “ONE… ONE… ONE!” at increasing volume and pitch – heralds the start of a televisual rollercoaster, presided over by the perma-cheery Alex Jones, alongside whichever reliable BBC stalwart has been rostered in to be her …

£10m behaviour hubs programme to end – but what next?

£10m behaviour hubs programme to end – but what next?

Published by skeptic

Ministers are ‘considering different ways on how to build the programme’, but it will end in its current form soon Ministers are ‘considering different ways on how to build the programme’, but it will end in its current form soon More from this theme Recent articles The government’s £10 million behaviour hubs scheme will end in its current form in March, the Department for Education has confirmed. Ministers are “considering different ways on how to build the programme”, a spokesperson told Schools Week. It is the latest hubs scheme to face the chop as the Labour administration takes the axe to Conservative-era initiatives to save cash. Among options being considered is “build[ing] school support for behaviour and attendance into the new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams”, which are being rolled out from this month. Launched in 2021, the behaviour hubs programme matches “lead” schools and MATs, known for having an “exemplary” culture, with “partner” schools looking to improve behaviour. Behaviour is worsening The move to end the scheme comes despite a surge …

Labour cost-cutting spree now hits STEM programme

Labour cost-cutting spree now hits STEM programme

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Labour has continued its cost-cutting spree by binning a long-running programme to boost take-up in physics – despite Keir Starmer this week pledging to make Britain an AI superpower. The prime minister unveiled his vision to “unleash” AI across the UK to deliver a “decade of national renewal”. One of the commitments was to “facilitate significant and sustained progress on improving the gender balance across digital education”. But it has emerged the Department for Education will cease funding for the Stimulating Physics Network (SPN) when its contract ends in March. Running for 16 years, it helps get more girls studying the subject. Funding to help science teachers attend “high-impact training” at the National STEM Learning Centre has also been slashed. Meanwhile, computing and science hubs have already been axed. ‘Undermining decades of progress’ Severine Trouillet, CEO of STEM Learning which runs the schemes, said it was “a significant blow to education in critical enabling areas” that could have aided the government’s AI vision. She added cuts “undermine decades of …

Start Up Loans programme reaches £25m milestone for Hampshire

Start Up Loans programme reaches £25m milestone for Hampshire

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Small business founders in Hampshire have benefitted from over £25 million (m) of loans since 2012 from Start Up Loans, the government-backed small business lending programme, it has emerged. The scheme has delivered 2,292 loans in the southern county, with an average loan value of £11,172. Louise McCoy, commercial managing director of small business lending at the British Business Bank said: “Reaching the £25m milestone in loans to entrepreneurs in Hampshire is a testament to the diverse and vibrant business landscape of the region.” Meanwhile, across the South East region as a whole, more than 12,200 aspiring entrepreneurs have taken out a Start Up Loan since 2012 amounted to over £130m in funding, with an average loan value of £10,690. Based on analysis for each of Hampshire’s parliamentary constituencies, Portsmouth was shown to be an entrepreneurial hotspot with the highest number of Start Up Loans being handed out in Portsmouth South (217) with Portsmouth North (163) in third place. Southampton Itchen came in at second place, with 152 loans made worth around £1.9 million. Loans …

Space South Central programme aimed at bridging skills gap now open

Space South Central programme aimed at bridging skills gap now open

Published by skeptic

Tech professionals are being urged to join a programme to help secure the future of the UK space sector. The course called ‘Securing the Future of Space: Space Software and Data/AI Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme‘ is delivered by experts from the Space South Central partnership of universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Surrey and is now open for a second round. READ MORE: Portsmouth Uni debuts branch medicine model to address GP shortage Space South Central is the UK’s largest space cluster and connects business and academia to encourage innovation, collaboration and growth across the thriving space sector in Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight. The course, funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), aims to address the critical skills gap in the sector by empowering mid-career professionals with expertise in software, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) – supporting the UK’s growing £16.5 billion space industry Dr Louise Butt, director of Space South Central, said: “Our region has a long-standing heritage of space innovation and expertise. However, skills gaps, shortages, and recruitment challenges pose …

Pupils saw standards slip on £10m programme

Pupils saw standards slip on £10m programme

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More from this theme Recent articles Pupils in schools supported through a £10 million government scheme to improve behaviour say it actually got worse, an interim evaluation report found. However staff reported much more “positive” changes in behaviour, and also felt “more supported” after the scheme. Schools in the poorest areas also benefitted more, the Department for Education-commissioned report, released this morning, showed. Staff positive, pupils less so Launched in 2021, the behaviour hubs programme, led by government tsar Tom Bennett, matches “lead” schools, which are known for having a good culture, with “partner” schools looking to improve. Tom Bennett More than 650 have been given support either through a “core” 12-month offer, a one-year “extended” plan for those needing personalised help or a two-year course for MATs wanting to implement change across several academies.  When comparing the results of surveys conducted in the first term of the programme to those received towards its end, pupil reported a “negative but small” change in behaviour. Overall, the proportion “rating behaviour positively decreased from 27 per cent …

Bristol arts organisation awarded £127,000 for major international arts programme

Bristol arts organisation awarded £127,000 for major international arts programme

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A significant funding award from Arts Council England will help Bristol-based Spectroscope expand its collective of exceptional artists and producers and deliver a ground-breaking, two-year programme of immersive artworks and installations around the world. Conceived and founded by acclaimed deaf curator Cathy Mager in 2022, Spectroscope has announced the appointment of Cat Roberts as its new head of programme & production to support its expansion. Cat is known as ‘a powerhouse of the music events sector’; her 15-years experience includes managing Bristol’s largest and critically acclaimed event spaces and venues, management and production roles for Glastonbury Festival, Boomtoom Fair, Forwards Festival and Love Saves the Day, and production manager for the award-winning film led by Cathy Mager, BBC Sign Night. Joining Cathy and Cat as part of the wider associate team are some of the most exciting artists emerging from Bristol, including Ngaio Anyia, whose colourful portfolio career includes artist, singer, DJ, writer, broadcaster, and inclusion & diversity consultant. Ngaio has worked with the likes of Boomtown Festival, Shambala and Artspace Lifespace, and previously collaborated with …

Oxford Instruments NanoScience joins quantum computing partner programme

Oxford Instruments NanoScience joins quantum computing partner programme

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Oxford Instruments NanoScience, an Abingdon-based provider of cryogenic systems, has joined the newly launched Novera QPU (Quantum Processing Unit) Partner Programme. The programme aims to create a collaborative network of industry leaders who’ll be able to work together on new quantum computers using the Novera QPU from Rigetti Computing. Oxford Instruments NanoScience joins the network as a cryogenics partner. Cryogenic systems like the company’s Proteox dilution refrigerators are crucial for maintaining the ultra-low temperatures required for quantum computing operations. Proteox is unique for its modular design with removable secondary inserts that can be exchanged between compatible systems, allowing for pre-tested modules to be deployed quickly and shipped globally. Oxford Instruments NanoScience and Rigetti are longstanding technology partners. Earlier this year they jointly announced the successful completion of a three-year project funded by Innovate UK to build and operate one of the first quantum computers in the UK using a ProteoxLX dilution refrigerator. Dr Subodh Kulkarni, CEO of Rigetti, said: “We welcome our trusted collaborator Oxford Instruments NanoScience to the Novera QPU Partner Programme. “The team’s world-class expertise …

Harwell Campus launches QuBIC programme to support quantum startups

Harwell Campus launches QuBIC programme to support quantum startups

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A new business incubation programme has launched at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, designed to help quantum technology startups succeed in global markets. The Quantum Business Incubation Centre (QuBIC) is supported by the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Three early-stage companies spearheading new technologies have already joined the programme. The first is Applied Quantum Computing, which is developing ways to make healthcare smarter. It aims to save the NHS money by using a mix of classical and quantum computing to develop solutions to complex problems, such as optimising patient allocation on theatre operating lists. Secondly, Finchetto is developing a pioneering optical network switch to enable faster, more sustainable computation. This world-first technology could boost performance across various sectors, such as data centres, HPC, AI and telecommunications networks. And finally, OpenQuantum is looking to democratise access to quantum computing for the global community of scientists, software engineers and developers. It provides a complete open-source blueprint for a low-cost hardware and software platform used to control and manipulate ultracold atoms. The QuBIC …