Queen’s Policy Engagement is the ‘front door’ for public policy engagement at Queen’s University Belfast
Supporting academics and policymakers in sharing evidence-based research and ideas on the major social, cultural and economic challenges facing society regionally, nationally and beyond. Our over-arching vision is to share the University’s independent expertise with policymakers so they can make informed decisions about the most effective and sustainable ways to tackle these challenges, now and in the future.
Latest news and views…
-
High Court ruling on UK withdrawal from the EU – a legal perspective
Following yesterday’s High Court ruling on the UK and Article 50, Professor Dagmar Schiek takes a look at the legal complexities behind the ruling and the reasons for the decision.
-
Americans Head to the Polls Holding their Noses
With a week to go before the US election, Dr Christopher Raymond reflects on a presidential race that has been devoid of policy but dominated by personality.
-
The spectre of a hard border is not just an Irish problem, it looms across Europe
Following the recent referendum on UK membership of the EU, negotiators aim to avoid a new “hard border” between Northern Ireland and Ireland. However, as Dr Katy Hayward suggests, their efforts will inevitably be shaped by a wider trend that has seen a tightening of border security around and within the EU.
-
How decent data can help African girls overcome second class status
Given the UN’s focus on gathering data on girls across the world, Dr Yassin Brunger looks at how in Africa, girl-focused and girl-relevant data is a critical tool for identifying the challenges that continue to disadvantage girls.
-
Water-retaining hydrogels – the unsung heroes of medicine
Dr Eneko Larrañeta Landa looks at how the ability of hydrogels to absorb and retain large quantities of water could be used to revolutionise medicine.
-
Protests in Jordan over gas deal with Israel expose wider rifts
Article first appeared on the Brookings Blog where Professor Beverley Milton-Edwards looks at the fall-out of the recent gas deal between Jordan and an Israeli supplier.
-
What is happening to healthcare in Northern Ireland prisons?
The NI Prison Service has been in the spotlight recently over its handling of serious incidents of self-harm and the potential for overdoses to occur through the use of prescription medication. Dr Michelle Butler highlights that less attention has been paid to the role of the health service in these events despite significant failings on…
-
Turf War: Iraq and Turkey go head-to-head over Mosul
Article first appeared on the Brookings Blog where Professor Beverley Milton-Edwards looks at the twin issues of territory and sovereignty with reference to the ongoing battle over Mosul.
-
Lessons from Northern Ireland: don’t put Islamist extremists in special prison units
Dr Michelle Butler looks at the UK policy of using specialised prison units to prevent radicalisation among Islamist extremists and challenges the wisdom of such an approach based on the use of such units for Irish Republican and Loyalist prisoners in Northern Ireland
-
Is protecting Mosul minorities an excuse for partition?
Article first appeared on Al Jazeera English on 17 October, where Professor Beverley Milton-Edwards highlights that while appearing attractive in the abstract, partition could make matters worse, not better, in fragile states.