Policy advice
The RSE provides independent and authoritative evidence to help inform public policy decisions and legislation. Using the wide-ranging expertise of our Fellowship, we provide advice across important national and global issues. Our contributions support policymakers in the Scottish and UK parliaments and governments.
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Latest advice papers
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Public service reform in Scotland: how do we turn rhetoric into reality?
Read MoreThe report seeks to move beyond diagnosing the well-established challenges to providing realistic and impactful solutions that benefits all citizens.
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Post-school education and skills reform legislation
Read MoreThe RSE provides recommendations for the role of funding bodies in the post-school system including a delay to reform amid funding challenges
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The role of the quality infrastructure in scaling net zero
Read MoreThe report highlights several ways quality infrastructure can support innovation and accelerate progress towards net zero.
Projects
We run projects on a range of policy issues at global, national, and local levels with our Fellowship playing a key role in sharing knowledge to policymakers and elected officials.
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Constitutional Futures Initiative
Read MoreAn impartial and expert reflection on Scotland’s constitutional options and how these have been reshaped by Brexit and Covid.
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Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission
Read MoreThe RSE Post Covid-19 Futures Commission was established to support Scotland in emerging as positively as it can from the current pandemic.
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Rethinking policy impact
Read MoreGathering experts across higher education institutions, funding organisations and government for a UK-wide conversation on the principles, goals and approaches that should guide the policy…
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Scotland-Europe Initiative
Read MoreThe RSE's Scotland-Europe Initiative will examine Scotland’s and the UK’s relations with the European Union post-Brexit.
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Tertiary Education Futures
Read MoreThe Tertiary Education Futures project was a ‘blue-skies’ thought experiment to stimulate continued creative thinking about how post-school education might evolve over the next few…
Networks
Connecting with shared values for the betterment of society.
Latest policy advice news
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A new report highlights where action is needed to transform Scotland’s public services, published by the RSE and Audit Scotland.
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The review highlights a year shaped by the inaugural delivery of a new strategic plan, focused on the mission of ‘knowledge made useful’ to address key societal issues. It includes forewords from RSE’s President, General Secretary, and Chief Executive, discussing the progress on these strategic priorities and notable achievements and impacts across research support, policy influence, international collaboration, and public engagement.
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A new report published by the RSE highlights how quality infrastructure can accelerate progress towards net zero.
Latest policy advice resources
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Scotland stands at a pivotal moment for women in entrepreneurship, there is an urgent need for systemic change to unlock the full potential.
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Poonam Malik explores how targeted policies can reignite productivity, driving economic success and prosperity for future generations.
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Scotland’s college sector is on the brink, says City of Glasgow College CEO Paul Little.
