Academic research can have a crucial role in the formation and scrutiny of policy. One of the ways in which academics can engage with the Parliament’s scrutiny role is through the Scottish Parliament’s Academic Fellowship Scheme which is managed by SPICe.
This blog outlines what the scheme is all about and gives a short overview of some of the work which academics have carried out over the years.
What are the aims of the scheme?
The Scottish Parliament’s Academic Fellowship Scheme was set up in 2016. It aims to:
- provide the Parliament with specialised resources which it wouldn’t otherwise have access to
- increase the use of academic knowledge, skills and research within the Parliament
- promote knowledge of the Parliament within the academic sector.
How does the scheme work?
The scheme is open to academics from all disciplines, including those at an early stage in their career. Candidates are normally expected to have a PhD and must have the right to work in the UK. Calls for applications are normally posted in the spring and as and when work is needed. This includes projects specified by the Parliament as well as an “open call” which allows academics to propose their own projects.
The Guide to the Scottish Parliament Academic Fellowship Scheme includes more details on how the scheme works.
What are the benefits of becoming an academic fellow?
The scheme is of great value to the Parliament and gives lots of opportunities for academics to expand their knowledge and to further their careers. Some of the benefits from becoming a fellow include:
- increased knowledge of the Parliament and the political process
- research impact – e.g. research being part of the Parliament’s scrutiny processes
- increased experience of writing for and presenting to politicians and lay people
- publications – e.g. parliamentary briefings and blogs, and peer reviewed articles based on fellows’ research
- a larger network – e.g. among parliamentarians, parliament staff and other academics (academics who successfully complete a fellowship have access to an alumni network which includes fellows from other parliaments in the UK)
- new career avenues and research agendas.
As an example Dr, now Professor, Filippo Fontanelli notes in a testimonial on the Parliament’s website that:
I had a terrific time at SPICe. I received a lot of help from the SPICe staff, who supervised my work and helped improve it. I also appreciate how much working with SPICe has nudged me outside the academic comfort zone, helping me address real issues and strive for clear answers that did not presume technical knowledge on the part of the audience. I would certainly recommend any researcher to consider joining this programme, and I am thankful for having been part of it
What kind of work have fellows carried out over the years?
The Parliament’s first fellow was Kirsteen Shields who wrote a key briefing on ‘Human Rights in Scotland‘ between 2016 and 2017.
Since then, the Parliament has hosted more than 30 academic fellows.
The focus of fellows’ work is agreed at the outset, but generally includes:
- a SPICe briefing and often a blog separate to any academic publications
- presentation of the work in the Parliament (e.g. to a parliamentary committee or at a seminar or other event).
In addition, as parliamentary business can be varied and fast-changing, fellows are expected to be able to give advice within their area of expertise, for example in producing committee papers or answering enquiries. Overall, the aim is to give fellows a rich and rounded experience of the parliamentary environment.
As outlined in the table below, which summarises current online publications by fellows who have successfully completed their fellowship, work has ranged across disciplines and policy areas. This includes both secondary and primary research as well as research aimed at improving parliamentary processes.
| Fellow | Project scope | Briefing | Blog |
| 2017 | |||
| Alexandra Wright, University of Edinburgh | Health policy Implementation | SPICe briefing | |
| Arianna Andreangeli, University of Edinburgh | Competition and consumer policy | 3 SPICe briefings | |
| Hugh Bochel, University of Lincoln | Gender and committee witnesses | SPICe briefing | |
| Paulina Trevena, University of Glasgow | Attracting and retaining migrants post Brexit | SPICe briefing | 3 SPICe blogs |
| Maria Gannon, University of Glasgow | The social impact of the local government budget (3 year project) | SPICe briefing 2016 SPICe briefing 2017 SPICe briefing 2018 | |
| 2018 | |||
| Chris Gill, University of Glasgow | Constituency casework | SPICe briefing | |
| Emma Cave, Durham University | Informed consent in healthcare | SPICe briefing | |
| Eve Hepburn, University of Edinburgh | Brexit and immigration policy/the EU settlement scheme | SPICe briefing SPICe briefing | Blog Blog Blog Blog |
| Filippo Fontanelli, University of Edinburgh | Trade policy and Brexit | SPICe briefing | Various SPICe blogs |
| Mark Livingston, University of Glasgow | Private rented housing reforms | SPICe briefing | |
| 2019 | |||
| Annalisa Savaresi, University of Stirling | Environmental governance in Scotland after Brexit | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Annie Yang, University of Edinburgh | Scottish woodlands | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Hannah Bows, Durham University | Review of proposed reforms on victimisation of older adults | Report for Session 5 Justice Committee | |
| Kevin Orr, Sabina Siebert, Universities of St Andrews and Glasgow | The Parliament building and the workings of the institution | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Melanie Simms, University of Glasgow | Social dialogue in the area of skills and training | SPICe briefing | |
| 2020 | |||
| Adelyn Wilson, Robert Taylor, University of Aberdeen | Brexit statutory instruments | SPICe briefing SPICe briefing SPICe briefing | |
| Darrick Evensen, University of Edinburgh | Green recovery from Covid-19 | SPICe briefing | |
| Simon Roberts, Nottingham University | Scottish social security and Brexit | 3 briefings – linked to and summarised in this SPICe blog | |
| Norin Arshed, University of Dundee | Impact of Covid-19 on female entrepreneurs | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Paul Adams, University of Strathclyde | Initial teacher education | SPICE briefing | |
| Sarah Govan, University of Edinburgh | Integrated land use | SPICe briefing | |
| 2021 | |||
| Yvette Taylor, University of Strathclyde | Covid-19 and LGBT+ life in Scotland | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Rob Watts, University of Strathclyde | Human rights budgeting | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| 2022 | |||
| Tom Caygill, Nottingham Trent University | Post-legislative scrutiny | SPICe briefing SPICE briefing | SPICe blog SPICe blog |
| Fiona McKay, Robert Gordon University | Audit of how women are represented and participate in the Scottish Parliament. | Report to the Parliament | |
| Stephen Knox, University of Stirling | Supporting creative enterprises | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog SPICe blog SPICe blog |
| 2023 | |||
| Chirsty McFadyen, Allison Catalano, University of Strathclyde | Disability employment gap | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Hannah Randolph, University of Strathclyde | Economic inactivity and ill health | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Ruth Lightbody, Glasgow Caledonian University | Public participation in the Scottish Parliament | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Adam Chalmers, University of Edinburgh | Tracking public engagement through the parliamentary process | SPICe blog | |
| Gemma Davies, Durham University; Helena Farrand Carrapico, Northumbria University | Impact of Brexit on Scotland’s criminal justice system | Report for the Criminal Justice Committee | |
| 2024 | |||
| Joy Edwards-Hicks, University of Edinburgh | Ageing research and policy | ||
| David Meir and David Scott, University of the West of Scotland and Abertay University | Barriers to physical activity | SPICe briefing | SPICe blog |
| Katie Dow, Principal Social Scientist Environment Agency | Links between Health, Social Care and Climate Change | SPICe blog | |
| Elizabeth Lawson, Newcastle University | Water policy challenges in rural Scotland | SPICe blog | |
| Dan Fisher, University of Glasgow | Scotland’s response to the integration of Ukrainian refugees | SPICe briefing | |
| Seemab Farooqi, University of Dundee | Employability funding allocation in Scotland | SPICe briefing | |
| Cara Broadley, Glasgow School of Art | Applying participatory action research and/or arts-based methodologies to the Parliament’s committee scrutiny process | Research report for the Parliament | SPICe blog |
| Clementine Hill O’Connor, University of Glasgow | Lived Experience as part of the Scottish Parliamentary process | SPICe briefing Case study volume | SPICe blog |
Who has been appointed in 2025?
Following a very successful call for proposals in April and a competitive process, the following academic fellows have been appointed in 2025.
Fellow | Project scope |
Dr Claire Perier, University of Edinburgh | Good food nation: options for innovative scrutiny, collaboration, and policy coherence |
Dr Coree Brown Swan, University of Stirling | Devolution and the UK Internal Market Act |
Dr Eleanor Kirk, University of Glasgow | Employment advice in Scotland: need, provision and distinctive models |
Dr Emma Stewart, University of Glasgow | Impact of cash and in-kind transfers on child health and health inequalities |
Dr Francisco Perez-Reche, University of Aberdeen | Extracting and summarising content from NHS Board reports using artificial intelligence |
Dr Lewis Forsyth, University of Glasgow | Council tax and the Scottish Approach to Taxation |
Dr Dely Elliot and Professor Sajjad Hussain, University of Glasgow | Impact of job cuts on the Scottish university sector |
Dr Alisdair Macpherson and Professor Burcu Yüksel Ripley, University of Aberdeen | Digital Assets in Scots Law |
Dr Mustapha Douch, University of Edinburgh | Using data to identify legal aid hotspots and gaps across Scotland |
When is the next call for applications likely to take place?
The next call for applications will take place later than normal in 2026 due to the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election. Late summer/early autumn is the likely date.
If you’d like to find out more about the other strands of our work with academics see: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/research-prepared-for-parliament/academic-engagement
Angus Evans
Senior Researcher (Civil law), SPICe academic engagement team