Policy engagement news

Writing for PoliticsHome, Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost, argues that the debate over whether there are too many university students misses the point: Britain needs not fewer graduates, but better-prepared ones with the skills, judgement and adaptability to succeed.

Writing in The Conversation, Dr Christian Emery (UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies) assesses the likelihood of the US reaching a comprehensive deal with Iran that adheres to its red lines.

The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded £6 million to establish two new research centres, both led by academics from the UCL Institute of Education.

Writing in The Times, Professor Geraint Rees (UCL Vice-Provost Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) argues the UK is underestimating universities’ economic potential, from spinouts to regional innovation ecosystems, and calls for policy changes to unlock their full impact.

A new report by the UCL Policy Lab outlines that UK universities must take the lead in renewing their civic and national role if they are to thrive in the years ahead.

The present system used to allocate billions in research funding was designed for a world without AI agents and may no longer be fit for purpose, two UCL researchers argue in a new analysis.

Citizens living in liberal democracies are far more likely to oppose economic liberalisation policies attached to IMF (International Monetary Fund) loans, while those in autocratic states tend to welcome them and embrace their reforms, finds new UCL research.

As 2026 marks the UK's National Year of Reading, Professor Samantha Rayner (UCL Information Studies) stresses the need for independent bookshops to receive tax support from government to maintain these vital community spaces and to keep the joy of reading alive.

Over the past 20 years, Sweden has become home to the super-rich, with the world’s highest ratios of dollar billionaires. Dr Miranda Sheild Johansson (UCL Anthropology) outlines the societal ramifications of the country's decision to abolish its wealth tax.

The failure of governments to agree with leading scientists on a major United Nations’ report “risks impeding timely action on environmental goals”, UCL and other academics say in a new article.

UCL President & Provost, Dr Michael Spence, writes about the need for universities to engage with their local communities and to serve society locally and nationally while listening to diverse views, in a column for The Conversation.

UCL President & Provost Dr Michael Spence outlines why the UK remains a top destination for Indian students and highlights the many benefits of maintaining partnerships between UK and Indian universities, as well as discussing the factors that inform students’ choices.

Dr Johanna Zetterstrom Sharp (UCL Institute of Archaeology) explores the emotions, politics and colonial past surrounding milk. Writing for The Conversation, she outlines her research into the milk industry and its symbolic role in culture, tradition and identity.

UCL made its mark at this year’s political party conferences, bringing academic insight, student voices, and policy innovation to the forefront of national debate.

The UK’s top scientific institutions, from the Met Office to the UK Health Security Agency, have inadequate institutional defences to prevent potential political interference, a new UCL Policy Lab report finds.