Policy committees

The Academy’s public policy programme of work is overseen by the Vice-President (Public Policy), Professor Genevra Richardson FBA, drawing on advice from the Public Policy Committee (PPC). The Committee is chaired by Professor Richardson and includes Fellows as well as external stakeholders amongst its members.

Membership

James Bowler, external member

Professor Sir John Curtice

Professor Sarah Curtis 

Sharon Darcy, external member

Professor the Baroness (Ruth) Lister of Burtersett

Professor Rae Langton

Dr Helen McCarthy, external member

Professor Tariq Modood

Professor Genevra Richardson (Chair)

Ray Shostak, external member

Professor Fiona Stafford

Professor Sarah Whatmore

(Secretary: Anna Bradshaw)

The Research and Higher Education Policy Committee takes an overview of, and approves priorities for, the Academy’s research funding, HE and skills policy in the context of national requirements and overall strategy.

Membership:

Professor Michael Braddick 

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Professor Katharine Ellis

Professor David Feldman

Professor Matthew Flinders, external member

Professor Roger Kain

Professor Neil Kenny

Anne Kiem, external member

Professor April McMahon

Professor John Scott

Professor Simon Swain (Chair)

Professor Jane Winters

(Secretary: Harriet Barnes)

The Higher Education Policy Development Group shapes and informs policy projects in the area of research and higher education. Following strategic advice from the Research and Higher Education Policy Committee, the committee supports the policy team in developing high impact policy work ensuring that it has maximum impact.

Membership:

Professor Mike Braddick FBA (Chair), University of Sheffield

Dr Sean Adams, British Academy BARSEA recipient  

Professor Keith Brown, University of Manchester

Professor Claire Callender, Birkbeck, University of London

Mr Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI

Professor Sharon Huttly, Lancaster University

Professor Roger Kain FBA, Vice President (Research and HE Policy) 

Professor Steven Mithen FBA, University of Reading       

Professor Aletta Norval, Anglia Ruskin University                   

Professor Graham Reid, Uuniversity College London

Professor James Wilsdon, University of Sheffield

Professor Michael Worton, University College London

These forums bring together senior representatives across organisations that fund, use and commission social science, arts and humanities research, in order to facilitate discussion about the major issues and challenges facing these disciplines. They provide an arena for debate at the highest level, to enable the needs of the social sciences, arts and humanities to be addressed and tackled.

The forums have four key aims:

• To enable high-level information exchange between heads of representative bodies, major funders and other organisations working in arts, humanities and social sciences
• To discuss recent relevant government policy developments
• To share information about relevant priorities and forthcoming activities of member organisations
• To identify common messages which make the policy and resource case to government for the importance of arts, humanities and social sciences and to harness evidence which will support this

The forums aim to meet at least once a year and may meet more frequently. The agenda for each forum is constructed to enable strategic discussion about topical areas of shared interest or concern.They do not inhibit individual organisations’ freedom of action but will facilitate coherent initiatives and policy positions when appropriate.

Strategic Forum for Social Sciences

The Forum was established in 2001, originally hosted by the Economic and Social Research Council. Since October 2009 the British Academy has convened the Forum.

Recent themes have included:

• The demand for and use of social science research by government
• Research infrastructure for the social sciences
• The Research Excellence Framework and the Knowledge Exchange Framework
• Review of social science knowledge and skills needs
• International challenges and opportunities for social science research

Strategic Forum for the Humanities

The Strategic Forum for the Humanities was established in April 2017 in response to the longstanding success of the equivalent body for the social sciences.

Recent themes have included:

• The role of research infrastructure in the humanities
• Humanities engagement within government
• Open access publication within the humanities
• Diversity within the discipline
• UK-wide languages strategy

The Humanities and Social Sciences Learned Societies and Subject Associations Network is convened by the British Academy to bring together interested parties and academics from across the arts, humanities and social sciences in order to discuss a range of issues and policy developments pertinent to these disciplines. The network meets annually at the British Academy and includes invited speakers from relevant stakeholders to offer insight into areas of debate and policy activity.

Past topics for discussion have included subject and careers guidance for schools to encourage study of AHSS subjects; the future infrastructure of AHSS research; updates to the Researcher Development Concordat and what this means for AHSS subjects; and equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives being undertaken by some learned societies and subject associations.

The network is also used to disseminate information of relevance to learned societies and subject associations, as well as to collect input on the Academy’s policy work by email in between meetings.

Any learned society or subject association wishing to join the network should contact Joanna Thornborough, Policy Adviser (Higher Education and Skills), on 020 7969 5318 or [email protected]

Existing members wishing to update contact details or notify us of other relevant changes should also contact Joanna Thornborough using the details given above.