Andy Dunne is Policy Engagement Manager in the IPR and has been involved in the development of the Bath Policy Engagement Academy guides and resources. He previously worked in the press office at the University and is a graduate of the IPR’s MSc Public Policy. As of September Andy will start in a new role at the University as Head of Public Affairs.
Knowing how and where to start engaging policymakers with academic research and expertise can be a minefield. In which setting, at what time and via which routes can you reach the right people working in policy? What information do they need or want from you, in what format and where should you start?
As my recent blog explored, at a national level the new Labour government’s ‘missions’ offer an important backdrop to the issues and priorities likely to be occupying the in-trays of government Ministers, civil servants and the 300+ new MPs in the months and years ahead. These provide a steer to help frame research in response to current policy challenges.
Now, new guidance published this month by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean, offers helpful advice for academics when it comes to developing a policy engagement strategy to engage government over the course of their research.
These reflections complement the online guides we have been producing this year at IPR as part of the pilot Bath Policy Engagement Academy (BPEA). These aimed to demystify the policymaking process, but also offer practical steps to help academics start to engage policymakers across different topics and at different levels – from the local to international.
No one size fits all
At the outset, it’s important to note that there are multiple ways individuals or teams can engage government with their research. As Prof McLean puts it, ‘different routes may appeal to you, depending on the time you have available and the level of formal commitment you are able to make.’ When it comes to policy engagement: there is no one size fits all.
As we also highlight via BPEA, policy engagement is not a one-off thing and might happen at multiple stages. Successful policy engagement requires you to be proactive and agile in building and sustaining relevant relationships, but also an understanding of the different ways to communicate and position your research with relevant policy audiences.
Aligning research with government priorities
If you are just starting out with policy engagement, a helpful place to begin could be by exploring the Areas of Research Interest (ARIs). These are produced by Government departments, agencies and arms-length bodies and identify where evidence, collaboration and / or future research are valuable.
Prof McLean describes ARIs as a ‘catalyst for engagement between policy officials, analysts, scientific advisors, and high-quality UK research innovations.’ They can help to identify policy audiences (i.e. which Government Departments are interested in your areas) and can provide a mechanism to frame how your research might contribute to policy objectives.
Learn more about ARIs via BPEA.
Feeding in expertise via calls to action
Elsewhere, as new policy proposals are put forward, it is important to keep an eye on upcoming government consultations and calls for evidence. Each government department will consult on new policy proposals, and this offers academics a chance to input. Whereas consultations tend to be run once a draft policy proposal is in place, calls for evidence are more open, information-seeking exercises.
Most consultations remain open for 12 weeks and are normally timed at a point in the policy process where there is sufficient preliminary evidence available, yet still time and scope to make amends. It’s important to keep your input succinct, relevant and to meet all deadlines set out.
Learn more about government consultations and evidence requests via BPEA.
Feeding in expertise to established networks of experts
As Prof McLean highlights, academics might also identify relevant advisory groups and networks set up by Government Departments to provide expert advice used to inform specific policy areas. These range from Scientific Advisory Committees and Councils (SACs), through to What Works Centres.
Examples of advisory groups include the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) which became prominent through the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) has also developed a network of global science and technology experts from across sectors and welcomes academic input.
‘What Works Centres’ are established by UK Government Departments to undertake research trials, synthesise evidence and collate toolkits about specific policy challenges. They can be an important interface between research and policymaking with opportunities for academics to contribute.
Prominent examples include the Centre for Ageing Better (which focuses on improving quality of life for older people), Foundations (which focuses on children and families), and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (which evaluates health and social care policies).
Learn more about What Works Centres and routes to input via BPEA.
Getting first-hand policy experiences
Some of Prof McLean’s advice also touches on the direct experience academics obtain working within government through placements, internships, or longer Fellowships. These include UKRI’s Internships for doctoral students, or UKRI’s Policy Fellowships for early- to mid-career researchers.
Such ‘academic policy-fellowships’ – as we also identify in our BPEA guides - give researchers first-hand experience of working with policymakers in areas aligned with their research. In addition to opportunities available via UKRI, researchers might also undertake POST Fellowships within Parliament.
As our case studies from Bath researchers who have undertaken secondments or placements explore — see Dr Jo Daniels, Dr Poornika Ananth, Dr Steve Allen and Lois Player (PhD) — these experiences offer individuals unique insights into how policymaking works but also a chance to develop a network of key policy contacts that align with their areas of expertise.
Learn more about academic – policy fellowships and placements via BPEA.
Get in touch with IPR
As we move into autumn and the government’s full programme gets underway, we hope the BPEA guides are useful in helping to navigate the different ways in which your research and expertise can help. If you’d be interested in learning more or would like to discuss specific policy engagement activities with the IPR, please get in touch.
Find out more - https://www.bath.ac.uk/teams/bpea-team-and-how-we-can-help/ .
All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the IPR, nor of the University of Bath.
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