Practice

Building collaborative practices and infrastructure for engagement between academia and policy. This work is part of UPEN Programmes, funded by Research England from 2025-2028.

A woman is standing on the left of a screen and pointing to an interactive map.

Building collaborative practices & infrastructure for engagement

‘Practice’ builds a connected and collaborative UK wide brokerage infrastructure. Led by UCL and Insights North East, it actively connects government and people in policy to experts and evidence, maps and supports the expertise landscape, and brings community voices into the conversation to address long-term challenges.

Led by

UCL and Insights North East

Connecting

Policy need with researchers

Trialling

Innovative practices

Areas of focus

Engagement ecosystem map

Three hands are pointing at an interactive screen, which displays circles with lines emanating from them. A middle bigger circle reads 'national academies' and the smaller circles around it list the specific academies. You can see other nodes of the map in the background, out of focus.

Our ecosystems map charts UK organisations, networks and initiatives which support evidence use in public policy, making it easier to see who’s doing what.

Explore the map

Expanding Areas of Research Interest

Areas of Research Interest are publications of an organisation’s research priorities and evidence needs. UPEN is piloting their use within combined and local authorities, establishing best practice methodologies for different policy contexts, and creating a peer exchange network.

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Knowledge mobilisation Community of Practice

Four people are around a table, the two on the furthest left and right are leaning over, and two people are sat facing the camera. They are looking at a spread of information on the table in front of them. One of then is gesticulating with their hand and talking to the others.

Our Community of Practice on Knowledge Mobilisation brings together people who connect research with policy. This peer-learning network aims to progress the practice of ‘knowledge mobilisation’, and advance the practice and its impacts through an open, inclusive space for shared learning.

Join the Community of Practice

UPEN Connect

‘UPEN connect’ will connect public policy professionals with expertise and evidence. It will trial a rapid response service for when expert synthesis and reviews are needed on tight timescales.

Community driven evidence

A ‘community policy academy’ and other pilot initiatives aim to build the skills and capabilities for community participation in evidence-based policymaking.

Our Practice work is a huge opportunity to build on knowledge brokerage and mobilisation practices from across the UK to build a solid and sustainable UPEN brokerage service. Strengthening connections is at the heart of our work – through the Community of Practice, through a co-designed offer for policymakers, and through our work with communities.

Liz Shutt Practice Co-Lead, Programme Director Insights North East

The academic–policy engagement landscape is ever-evolving, including the way we practice and innovate engagement. Through UPEN’s Practice work, we hope to deliver engagement that is accessible, practical, and transformative, enabling our network to be a space where policy and research converge to create meaningful outcomes.

Olivia Stevenson Practice Co-Lead, Deputy Director UCL Public Policy

Funding for UPEN members

During our funding period for UPEN Programmes from 2025-2028, we are offering funding for our members and beyond to participate in Programmes activities and propose new initiatives.

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