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Policy Engagement Kickstart Training

Date

The first full run of the programme is now open for registration. The course will run weekly between 10 May to 28 June 2022, taking approximately 2 hours per week.

This programme is aimed at University of Leeds researchers and research support staff who are new, or relatively new, to policy engagement and are interested in developing their policy engagement knowledge and skills.

The four modules cover:

  • The landscape of government and policy making
  • Policy making, evidence and engagement
  • Developing networks and building your profile
  • Communicating your research to non-academic audiences

Each module is delivered via a self-study Sway in the first week, followed by an interactive online workshop in the second week that builds on the self-study. The course has been developed in collaboration with the Institute for Government, and will be delivered by Juliet Jopson (Policy Leeds), Ged Hall (OD&PL), and Camilla McCartney (Leeds Social Sciences Institute).

For full programme details, including a link to the registration page, please see our Policy Engagement Kickstart Sway here (you may need to sign in with your University credentials to view).

Programme overview

The overall aim of the programme is to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to engage with policy maker

The programme consists of four modules, each containing a self-study module and a workshop. You will get the most from the programme if you complete each self-study guide prior to attending the associated workshop.The four modules are:

  1. The landscape of government and policy making
  2. Policy making, evidence and engagement
  3. Developing networks and building your profile
  4. Communicating your research

After completing the programme, you will:

  • Be able to articulate the impact your own research could have on policy making
  • Understand the landscape of UK government at central, devolved and local level
  • Appreciate how policy is made, from ideas through to implementation
  • Learn how academic research is used in policy making
  • Know the different routes to engagement with policy makers that are open to you, and the benefits and challenges of each
  • Map your networks and learn how to expand them
  • Get tips on increasing the visibility of your research through use of articles and social media
  • Be able to talk about your research in ways that are understandable and compelling for non-academic audiences
  • Be able to plan for impact right from the start of research projects

The programme has been developed for the University of Leeds by the Institute for Government, supported by Research England QR SPF funding. The course tutors will be: Juliet Jopson (Policy officer, Policy Leeds); Ged Hall (OD&PL); and Camilla McCartney (Policy and public engagement officer, LSSI).

Who is this for?

This programme is aimed at researchers and research support staff who are new or relatively new to policy engagement, and are interested in developing their policy engagement knowledge and skills.There are spaces for 21 participants.You need to:-

  • Be a researcher (postgraduate level or research staff) or professional research support staff at the University of Leeds
  • Commit to all the workshop dates (see below)
  • Complete the self-study modules prior to attending the online workshops

What will it involve and what will I get out of it?

You will be expected to complete one self-study module a week prior to the accompanying workshop.We anticipate the self-study taking approximately 2 hours per module on average, with the first two modules being longer than the later modules. Online workshops will each be 2 hours.The self-study and workshops will take you through practical exercises to build a policy map related to your research area, a policy engagement plan, simple steps to develop your visibility to policy makers, and building a theory of change for how you get from where you are now to the policy impact you want to achieve.

Online workshop dates

Self-study material will be made available 3 May and the course will start on 10 May with the first self-study material.The workshops will be held online via Microsoft Teams on:

  • Tuesday 17 May, 10:00 - 12:00 hrs: Workshop 1 - The landscape of government and policy making
  • Tuesday 31 May, 10:00 - 12:00 hrs: Workshop 2 - Policy making, evidence and engagement
  • Thursday 16 June, 10:00 - 12:00 hrs: Workshop 3 - Developing networks and building your profile
  • Tuesday 28 June, 10:00 - 12:00 hrs: Workshop 4 - Communicating your research

I'd like to register for this programme

To register to attend the May - June 2022 programme please use the Eventbrite link below. (If you can't make the dates but want us to contact you about future dates please use the form under the heading 'I am interested in attending in the future')

Register for your place here