Policy LINK, Dianna Smith and Hannah Barker

Policy LINK

PolicyLINK used interviews with academics actively engaging in policy and people working in policy to find out how academic research can be most effectively adopted in policy. Communication and co-development of research is central to this aim, and we have developed a series of actions that academics can follow to improve policy engagement with their research, whether it’s completed or at a planning stage.

Our intention is that more academic research will inform policy in the relevant settings, and that PolicyLINK will support this dissemination from research into practice. We want to see more academic partners in policy, and more policy partners in academic research to ensure our research can be easily translated into policy action.

PolicyLINK is focused on identifying good practice, through interviews, in how and when academics engage with those working in policy. Here, we are talking about two main groups: those making or informing policy, such as groups like Defra or WHO and those who are implementing policy, like people working in local government. Often there is overlap, where local government teams are also tasked with making policies in collaboration with local councillors.

Our main aim was to develop easy to follow actions that would encourage academics to engage early and engage often with these influential policy groups. Why? A lot of academic work is relevant to policy but needs to be better publicised and disseminated, and it is hard to know what means of communication work well and for your intended audience. Further, most academic work that would benefit from the input of these groups at early stages of funding bid development to consider how research outputs can be used to inform policies.

Our main findings are presented in a webinar, where we talk through the themes that emerged in the interviews with both academics and the people working in policy. We have also prepared a short briefing document to encourage researchers to think about how best to engage with policy for work that is already complete, and how to bring in people working in policy at earlier stages of our research. Part of this guidance also talks about formats such as what is the best way to get the attention of policymakers and local implemented

We planned to have two central outputs from this project: a set of templates for effective policy engagement that could be adapted for a range of research topics, based on what had worked well for our colleagues. We also wanted to add more names to the informal directory that Public Policy Southampton have which provides introductions/contacts for academics who want to engage with non-academic groups.

What we discovered, from both sides, (academic and policy) is the importance of personal relationships and flexibility. So, we have adapted our outputs to describe a process of engagement that will benefit early career researchers and more experienced academics as well. We have highlighted examples of good practice to demonstrate successful activities. Overwhelmingly, we found enthusiasm for these collaborations!  

Personal relationships are very important. We heard from several academics who spent time developing a working relationship with the groups they wanted to engage with, sitting in meetings and being available to answer a few questions from an academic perspective, and actively reflecting on what they learned. In some cases they worked together on small projects to support the needs of the policy groups, in others it was about going for a meal together – much of the engagement depends on the local setting (and by local we mean region, country!) and the expectations there. When there was an opportunity for academics to find an all-important non-academic collaborator, they were in touch with their policy contacts to ask what they needed or wanted from the general topic of the project. Crucially, academics sent messages, even short videos, or asked for meetings to summarise the general topic of the research proposal and asked- what would be beneficial to you that we can incorporate into this research? How can we do this best? The importance of true co-development of research cannot be understated.

Several colleagues talked about being trusted partners, so the people working to write or implement policy would come to them with ideas, or when academics asked for input into a proposal and letter of support, this was quickly in place. If you’re starting out in your career, use your contacts to become a trusted partner: your supervisor, local colleagues, Public Policy Southampton.

As academics, we need to think about research from the perspective of the all audiences and target our resources accordingly. Timelines were often mentioned, where other groups need evidence quickly, before it’s gone through peer review while in the University we work to much longer timelines. Talk about what is realistic for both groups

We hope that more of our academic colleagues will use the expertise and people at Public Policy Southampton to make these policy connections. In a way, they have done that first most difficult step for us! PPS have many contacts and can provide introductions to groups or individuals and set up meetings for you to share your research (have your elevator pitch ready) and find out how you can work together.

We also want to see more academics utilising the other ways we can put our work into the wider domain, using the press office and writing for informal options like The Conversation. Further, think about engagement throughout projects, whether it’s your PhD or your tenth research grant. Make sure your engagement activities are more than academic papers and conference presentations, and budget for short videos or activities where you can test any models or tools developed with your policy makers and implementer partners – and do this when there is time to modify what you’ve developed for use in ‘the real world’.

We would like to see our recommendations taken up across the University, with the result that non-academic engagement is a natural part of the research development process. When we work with colleagues who are tasked with taking academic evidence and turning it into policy, then our research will have a wider impact on populations as the research is informing these decisions. Most of all, such engagement improves our research by adapting research questions, methods, and outputs to reflect the needs of the policy makers who are looking after the needs of the population. This is an excellent outcome, as most academics are working to improve some part of the world, whether we are focused on the physical environment, public health or social equality.