Professor Robert E. Wright, Department of Economics, has been appointed to the Methods and Infrastructure Committee, one of the three policy committees of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The main responsibilities of this committee are overseeing and setting policy for data services, surveys, research methods and information environment that deliver both scientific and economic impacts.
He has also been appointed to the International Expert Network, whose membership is from the ESRC Council and the Policy Committees. The responsibilities of this committee are to identify and share best practice, link activities, identify collaborative opportunities, champion these areas of work across the portfolio and facilitate international collaboration. Professor Wright said, "My appointment to the ESRC puts Scotland and the University of Strathclyde at the centre of social science policy making at the UK level."
Another appointment is with the Advisory Board of the Economic Network. As a result, Professor Wright now has a national advisory role in the teaching of economics with the Network, whose main aim is to enhance the quality of learning and teaching throughout the higher education economics community. It is one of 24 subject networks that promote high quality learning and teaching through the development and transfer of good practices.
Two further appointments are to the International Advisory Board of the Centre for Microfinance and Development at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, and the Advisory Network of the recently established Social Justice Foundation. The former board's objectives are to carry out research and provide training needed for the successful execution of global microcredit programmes. The board is chaired by Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. The latter foundation is an independent, non-partisan policy unit whose mission is to research and to provide solutions to the critical societal issues facing Scotland and the UK. Professor Wright will be primarily responsible for advising on how demographic impacts on key issues of interest.