Professor Judith Phillips, Deputy Principal (Research) It is my pleasure to write the first post for the University of Stirling Public Policy Blog. The blog will be a centre of expert comment and analysis on matters of interest to politicians and policymakers in Scotland, the UK, and around the world. Drawing on the expertise of
Dr Fiona Barclay (Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Stirling) looks at how the decline in language uptake can be reversed. The recent publication of the British Council’s Language Trends Scotland report provides a welcome insight into the state of language teaching across Scotland. Produced by the team at Queen’s University Belfast – who
Lord McConnell, Chancellor, University of Stirling and Chair, Black Sea Special Interest Group University of Stirling Chancellor and former First Minister, Lord McConnell, discusses the significance of the Black Sea Special Interest Group, an innovation and engagement venture co-ordinated by the University of Stirling. The devastating war in Ukraine has focused global attention on the
Professor Paul Cairney, University of Stirling Professor John Boswell, University of Southampton Dr Emily St Denny, University of Copenhagen Paul Cairney, John Boswell, and Emily St. Denny explore the resurgence of the idea that ‘prevention is better than cure’ in UK Government rhetoric. If this idea has risen then fallen off the policy agenda so
Dr Regina Serpa, Lecturer in Housing Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling Migration has become “the most toxic issue” in British politics, driving intensely emotional debates that are often based on prejudice and misunderstanding. Similarly emotional is housing – a finite resource in high demand at a time of crisis. Throughout Europe, housing shortages have
Professor Robert Webb, Professor of Banking & Applied Economics, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling Professor Duncan Watson, Professor of Applied Economics, University of East Anglia The Liberal Democrats were the first party to unveil their manifesto and the first party to break ranks and declare increases in tax, or sort of. Ed Davey announced that they
Professor Peter Matthews, Professor of Social Policy and LGBTQ+ Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences One of the challenges of housing policy is that the decisions we make today have repercussions for decades, or even centuries, to come. As is widely reported in the media, across the UK we’re experiencing a housing crisis: rising numbers of people
Professor Judith Phillips, Professor of Gerontology and Deputy Principal (Research), University of Stirling Professor Judith Phillips discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with ageing and explores three priority areas the next UK Government should consider. A long, healthy and good quality of life is something to be celebrated, yet we have stalled in the longevity stakes.
Senior Lecturer, Communications, Media and Culture, University of Stirling A public interest ban on big oil and gas companies engaging with and influencing politicians could be in the pipeline as the European Parliament is hosting a hearing on fossil fuel lobbying on February 14. Something similar is already in place for the tobacco industry in order to
Professor Iain Docherty, University of Stirling, and Commissioner, Forth Valley Connectivity Commission There has been a lot of transport investment benefitting the Forth Valley in recent years. Following the reopening of the Stirling to Alloa line, railways serving Stirling, Falkirk, and Clackmannanshire were electrified, and now have high-quality, modern trains. The Clackmannanshire Bridge and completion
Professor Iain Docherty, Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Stirling Professor Jon Shaw, Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth. With Rishi Sunak scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2, Iain Docherty and Jon Shaw set out what the HS2 saga tells us about how infrastructure