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Since the mid 1990s, Social Anthropology staff have provided expert advice as part of UK asylum procedures. Impact has taken two main forms:
Through engagement by Ministerial invitation as a member of successive UK Government advisory groups on Country Information (IAGCI) from 2007 to 2013 and based on expertise arising from research conducted at City University London, Dr Christopher McDowell has contributed to the acknowledged improvement in the quality of asylum decision-making. He has guided the UK Home Office Country of Origin Information Services (COIS) in developing academically-rigorous research and review procedures. The adopted methodology based on his research has contributed to the generation of more accurate, up to date and fully referenced human rights information that forms the basis of the legal determination of asylum and human rights claims. The United Nations, the UK's Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency and the British Red Cross agree that as a result of the work of the IAGCI the UK now has the most accountable and robust Country Information system in the EU, achieving fairer decisions and providing a model which is likely to be replicated across EU member states.
In recognition of his expertise on the socio-economic and cultural dimensions of involuntary resettlement occurring as a result of infrastructure development projects and land acquisition, Dr McDowell has also led or participated in several international evaluations of shelter and resettlement operations; and made recommendations for improvement in policy and practice. This includes his engagement as an International Resettlement Specialist by the Inspection Panel (IP) of The World Bank to investigate the social and resettlement aspects of a highly-controversial, multimillion dollar landfill project in Accra, Ghana. As a result of this engagement, The World Bank, accepting the IP's findings that both the pre-construction impact studies and community consultations with residents were insufficient, froze the project loan, enabling time for full consultations and impact assessments. The investigation resulted in an important new World Bank requirement that comprehensive Zone of Impact Assessments are undertaken in all future projects as part of loan preparations.
This case study covers two research projects undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) which had unprecedented access to the immigration appeals system, both impacting on asylum policy. The first project focused on family visitor appeals and showed that the introduction of a fee was not a significant deterrent to accessing the appeals process. The second project on asylum appeals made a number of recommendations concerning the handling of appeals by the Tribunal, and the reporting of its decisions.
The research on family visitor appeals was the basis for a Ministry of Justice consultation paper in 2010, and was directly cited by the government when introducing fees for immigration appeals. The research on asylum appeals has influenced policy and thinking within the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), with particular regard to the Tribunal's management of its country guidance system. More recently, following a presentation of this research to Tribunal members, a new `Guidance Note' on the reporting of cases was produced.
Of the over 300,000 applicants seeking asylum in the European Union each year, 85% enter the EU through Greece. A landmark legal case relied on EU-wide research, the UK component of which was led by University of Glasgow, to show that Greece was not implementing minimum EU standards in processing asylum claims. The research and the Judges' finding challenged the assumption, made by the UK and other states, that asylum applications were treated in an equivalent manner across the EU and the requirement, based on that assumption, that applicants make their claim only in the country through which they entered the EU. The findings and the legal action shaped widespread calls for asylum reform in Europe, leading to an `Action Plan on Greece' from the EC's European Asylum Support Office.
A series of projects which examined judicial reception of evidence and enabled development and uptake of guides for best practice in asylum determination has contributed to international good practice in a field where it is difficult to ensure objective and fair decision making. The projects included analysis of: gender guidelines; medical evidence; Country of Origin Information (COI); and best practice where children are subject to the asylum process, including COI and evidence relating to age assessment. The research has stimulated and contributed to debate among practitioners. Further, medical evidence guidelines proposed by the research team have been adopted by the International Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ) affecting judicial activity internationally. In addition, research into reception of evidence surrounding COI led to a position on an Advisory Board and development of a further best practice guide.
Looked after children (children in public care) generally have poorer outcomes in educational achievement and mental health than the wider population. The `Letterbox Club' improves the educational attainment and well-being of looked after children in the UK, and now involves nearly 6,000 children and 130 supporting organisations each year. Each child is sent a parcel of books, number games and stationery once a month for six months, addressed to them at their home. Evaluation consistently demonstrates above-predicted average gains in reading and number skills, high levels of enjoyment, and improvements in educational support provided by foster carers. The scheme has led to changes in policy and practice at local and national levels.
The multi-media exhibition and publication Border Country (2007-2010 and 2007) by photographer Melanie Friend, with its research focus on the experience of asylum-seekers at the point of their incarceration in UK Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), have contributed to national and international public understanding of standards of well-being and human rights in relation to asylum detention, challenging assumptions about national detention practices and their impact on individual detainees. It has also informed campaigning materials and training sessions for immigration centre visitors and lawyers working with immigrants and detainees. Border Country's impact is on-going: its images and text continue to be shown six years after the first exhibition.
The findings from this research on noticing and helping neglected children are contributing to shaping effective responses by practitioners. In high income countries neglect is the most frequent category of child maltreatment. In the UK as many as one in ten children may experience neglect and yet systems here, and other jurisdictions with similar models, struggle to provide an effective response. The research at Stirling is improving practitioner knowledge and confidence with the development of comprehensive training materials and follow-on knowledge exchange work with multi-disciplinary groups of practitioners in England. It has contributed to policy development in England and Scotland.
Four staff align with impact in the interdisciplinary field of Childhood Studies; Broadhead, Brock, Moss and Potter. Their research examines different, related aspects of early to late childhood. The impact is evident in several domains. Research has contributed to policy and professional development in relation to the early years and autistic spectrum disorders. It has enhanced pedagogies in schools concerning play and children's social participation. It has improved communication with children through the development of play approaches and approaches for those children diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. It has contributed to childhood workforce skill enhancement in relation to the early years and men's professional and familial involvement with children. This research has also informed public awareness of children's perspectives and experiences through the use of media and other forms of public engagement.