The Institute for Social Change and CCSR is leading an open dialogue workshop to support the professional development of academics, providing key insights into how policy is made and the vital role and enduring role of research.

When and where:

This workshop will take place on 27 September 2012, 11:00 – 15:30, room 1.69/1.70 Humanities Bridgeford Street, Manchester University and is

Who should attend: 

Open to Manchester University academics and research staff who would like to learn more about the policy making process. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

What will be covered:

Social sciences generate high quality research and evidence which are of great salience for policy debate, policy makers and programme designers when addressing public policy issues. Academics are well placed to engage with policy stakeholders to apply their research and findings, and interactively support policy and programme development.

The challenge for academics is greater awareness of the policy process, knowing how and when to engage with policy makers to share their research findings, contributions and practical applications, for mutual and long-term benefit

The objective of this open dialogue workshop is to help academics better understand and directly engage with the ‘user community’, and learn from fellow academics that have completed policy commissioned research and communicated it effectively. Senior policy officials will share their experiences of academic engagement for policy formation, explaining how the policy process works, how best to engage with it and how it can endure. Leading academics will share their experiences of sharing their research findings, its practical applications and the lessons learned of how to endure this mutually beneficial relationship and contribute as both policy and programme advisers.

Agenda:

11:00 Arrival and Coffee
11:15 Welcome and Introduction – Professor Ed Fieldhouse
11:25 Overview of the policy-making process – Zamila Bunglawala
11:45 Policy Presentations –

  • Andrea Lee, Deputy Director and Head of Strategic Analysis, Department of Communities and Local Government
  • Kate O’Neill, Senior Policy Advisor on Social Mobility, Deputy Prime Minister’s Research and Analysis Unit, Cabinet Office

12:30 Q&A
13:15 Lunch
14:00 Academic Presentations

  • Professor Anthony Heath, Oxford University and Manchester University
  • Professor Stephen Machin, LSE and University College London

14:45 Q&A
15:30 Close

Registration: 

Please note that places are limited so an early response is advised. If you would like attend please email magdalen.faulds@manchester.ac.uk or paul.widdop@manchester.ac.uk.