Research Influencing Public Policy From new mechanisms for public bodies to consult citizens, to the rights of women during pregnancy, and where to target investments in disease prevention, University of Southampton researchers are bringing research evidence and expertise to help shape regional, national and international policy. Bringing evidence into policy-making is not always a straight-forward process. Public Policy|Southampton is a small unit supporting researchers across all the different Faculties and disciplines in the University. Often directly costed into research grants, the team helps build a policy engagement strategy, mapping out key policy stakeholders and identifying how best to inform them of the research and its policy implications. They help researchers prepare policy briefs and build up relationships with policy-makers. The team has recently worked with Professor Will Jennings, Head of Politics & International Relations, to trial a new form of public consultation – a citizen’s assembly – on the issue of devolution in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Professor Jennings was helped by the team to share findings from the trial with Hampshire County Council. The work has led to further meetings with the Council, and some early discussions on developing a wider partnership between the University and the Council on a range of policy issues. Public Policy|Southampton has also supported Dr Elselijn Kingma, Associate Professor in Philosophy, in engaging with the Dutch government about the rights of women during pregnancy. The team helped Dr Kingma develop an engagement strategy, identify key stakeholders, and produce a policy briefing. Dr Kingma’s successful engagement in the Netherlands led to her work being discussed in the Dutch Parliament, and she was invited to meet senior civil servants at the Department of Health to discuss her policy brief. Dr Michael Head and colleagues in Medicine have developed a detailed analysis of research investments into infectious diseases by UK funding bodies. Combining multiple data sources and with new tools they have developed, assessments can be made of the relative balance of R&D alongside the global burdens and geography of infectious diseases. Public Policy|Southampton worked with Dr Head to identify the key national and international stakeholders – World Health Organisation,
14
Research and Enterprise e-News
government departments, funding agencies, etc – and to present the data and the tools at three workshops in London, Brussels and Geneva. When fully developed, this project could provide a key input into the assessment of future funding priorities. “Government departments, public bodies and Parliament have always sought evidence and expertise from universities like Southampton,” says Gavin Costigan, Director of Public Policy|Southampton. “With recent cuts to the civil service following the last recession, and all the new challenges associated with Brexit, this need in the public sector will grow. It’s a great time to be involved in policy-related research.”
For more information visit www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy
“
There can be a disconnect between policy-makers and researchers. They have different drivers, different assumptions and in some cases almost a different language. But our researchers want to change the world for the better, to see benefits arising from their work, and policy-makers want to develop the most effective policy using the best evidence and expertise. Our job is to help bridge that gap.
Gavin Costigan Director Public Policy|Southampton
”