Applied Policy Sciences Unit (APSU)

APSU’s mission is to make an original and independent contribution to policy and its implementation. Under the APSU’s auspices, the University undertakes academic research and dissemination in the field of political science. Currently, this work has a special focus on public value management and governance in the context of a ‘World Risk Society.'

In addition to UCLan staff involved in political science research and dissemination, the APSU also engages, as advisors, individuals who are professionally involved in academe, policy, and government from organisations involved with public, private and social sectors.

There has been a political science research unit at the Westlakes Science Park in Cumbria for almost three decades. This unit builds upon and develops work in governance architectures and institutions, and belief and value systems.

This long engagement in applied policy science has given the APSU a distinctive perspective on public value and interactions between citizens and communities in a globalised economy, and in the importance of individual values and beliefs, and community-level interactions in addressing issues confronting contemporary society.

In support of its mission, APSU’s objectives are:

to facilitate and undertake applied research into policy problems confronting public, private and social sectors
to make an independent and original contribution in the field of applied policy and political sciences
to combine rigorous academic enquiry with the insights of experienced policy practitioners
to act as a catalyst for the development and implementation of policy
to disseminate the results of research through teaching, publications, seminars and conferences

Levelling up: Creating public value in a ‘World Risk Society’ – 10 May 2022, QEII Centre at Westminster

This one-day conference, held in Westminster, discussed how the concept of public value provides important insights to help address key issues confronting society and constituting a ‘World Risk Society’. The conference programme embraced the developing and developed world with contributions from sectors including energy, space and satellite communications, higher education, health, tourism and regional development. Speakers shared insights into how to act to address some of the most intractable issues confronting society today including climate change, Covid-19, energy and waste, new labour markets and diversity between and within regions.

Photographic Allegory “One World Real Lives”. A copy of this was given to all delegates at this conference.

ACHIEVING PUBLIC VALUE: INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN FOR DIALOGUE AND DECISION – 19 November 2019

This roundtable, organised with London think tank Policy Network, was held in Westminster and built upon a successful Convention in May 2019 at UCLan’s Westlakes Campus. The event showcased our research to an audience in the heart of policymaking in the UK and highlighted the practical outcomes of this collaborative work, drawing upon our partner organisations, the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), the Nuclear

Wylie, R., Godard, E. and Baldesi, G., 2021. Space, society and public value. In A Research Agenda for Space Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing

Wylie, R. ed (2020) Public Value Management: Institutional Design and Decision for the Common Good. London, Rowman and Littlefield International.

Wylie R (ed) 2018 Higher education and regional growth: Local Contexts and global challenges London, Rowman and Littlefield International

Wylie, R (2014) Human Space Colonies: Towards a Governance Architecture. In The Meaning of Liberty Beyond the Earth, ed. Charles Cockell. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing.

Wylie, R. European Union Framework six project ‘Community Waste Management in practice REPORT D2-3 / D Final research report “Defining an Affected Community”

Rick Wylie, Stephen Haraldsen & Joe M. Howe. A two-stage approach to defining an affected community based on the directly affected population and the sense of community. Journal of Risk Research, 2014

Risk perception and nuclear facility siting

Oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology – 25 January 2012 Dr. Rick Wylie submitted written evidence and was called as a witness to give oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology’s inquiry into nuclear energy. - written and oral evidence

Community Waste Management in Practice

The Applied Policy Sciences made an input into the Community Waste Management in Practice EU Framework Six programme, conducting research into the definition of an affected community, the payment of benefits to host communities, and contributed to EU level guidelines. This project was undertaken under the auspices of Westlakes Scientific Consulting. This project involved extensive fieldwork in West Cumbria and in Caithness.

Applied Policy Sciences Unit (APSU)

Events

Publications