Programme overview This interactive, two-day programme is designed to provide Fellows with an overview of domestic and international policy processes, where to engage in those processes and the current humanities and social science (HSS) research landscape. The course will be delivered using a combination of tutor-led discussions, interactive simulations, practical sessions and a range of learning materials. Participants will have the chance to hear first-hand from a variety of influential experts with high levels of experience in their fields. Learning outcomes Fellows will have: developed their knowledge of the structure and functions of government departments, Parliament and the wider public sector enhanced their understanding of the complex maze of interactions between decision makers in central and local UK government, and the organisations seeking to influence those decision makers increased their ability to interact with and contribute to decision making processes developed their awareness of where power and influence lie in the policy development process deepened their understanding of how and when research can be influential in the policy process extended their toolkit for engaging policy makers with their research Learning objectives On return to their workplace Fellows will be able to: · utilise their increased knowledge of the policy making and research processes to identify opportunities for offering their services · work more effectively with policy making professionals by having a deeper understanding of the challenges that face them · improve the reputation and standing of the British Academy by delivering higher quality advice that matches the objectives of the policy makers · Programme outline Day one 08:30 Registration Opens: Tea & coffee in the Cornwall Room 09:00 Welcome and introduction (Reading Room) The UK policy/strategy environment A comparative examination of government departments’ policy models, where the power lies, who makes the decisions and what this means in terms of policy outcomes. Including: · Who runs the UK? – a practical exercise creating a map of the UK governance landscape, looking at all tiers of government from central to local · An overview of how policy is currently made within Government, where decisions are made and the themes that are driving modern Government policies · The role of the key players – Ministers, Civil Servants, stakeholders 10:30 Tea & Coffee Break 12:00 Working with others How the British Academy works with a wide range of partners to promote cooperation between academics in the UK and overseas. What led to today’s oral question in the House of Lords: Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the conclusion of the British Academy's report Languages: the State of the Nation, published in February, that the United Kingdom will be unable to meet its aspirations for growth and global influence unless action is taken by them, businesses and in education to remedy the deficit in foreign language skills. 12:45 Lunch 13:30 How to influence the wider international political landscape Discussion followed by Q&A covering: · The International Policy Framework · The current political environment · Influencing the EU decision making process · Horizon scanning for future trends 14:30 Parliamentarians and their interaction with the policy process Discussion followed by Q&A covering the interaction between politicians and Civil Servants and the political influences on the policy process. Guest speaker– John Whittingdale OBE MP, Member of Parliament for Maldon and Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee 15:00 Tea & Coffee Break Practical exercise: Developing a policy A practical case study session illustrating the learning points from the day. This will take a case study to the stage of defining the outcomes before further work on day two. 17:00 Close of day one Optional evening event Whitehall Crawl: Walking tour of Whitehall, including a quiz revealing the hidden secrets of Whitehall. The tour will explain what goes on behind closed doors (and underground). It will end in Parliament where participants will see the Commons and Lords in action. Day two 08:45 Registration Opens: Tea & coffee in the Cornwall Room 09:00 Welcome and recap of day one (Reading Room) 09:30 Policy development and research Building on lessons from the previous day, this session will examine the relationship between policy and research, including: · influencing policy through research · when to influence · knowing your audience: who to engage with, and how Exercise: Discussion of research design based on real-life, relevant case study scenarios 10:30 Tea & Coffee Break Formulating recommendations Presentation and discussion: knowing your audience and making persuasive recommendations. 12:30 Lunch Practical exercise: formulating persuasive and relevant policy recommendations Understanding how to formulate persuasive and relevant policy recommendations. 14:00 A view from the inside A relevant policy lead provides an inside perspective on how policy decisions are scoped and defined from the centre. How do government departments take research into account? Guest speaker : Richard Harries, Head of Innovation, Department for Communities and Local Government 15:00 Tea & Coffee Break Practical case-study simulation: communicating with impact A practical role-play bringing together all of the lessons from the two-day course. Action planning An opportunity for delegates to assess what they have learnt over the two-day programme and identify opportunities for further development. 17:00 Close of programme Evening event Networking dinner (Music Room): with special guest: Jenny Dibden Deputy Director of the Delivery Directorate and Chief Research Officer, Department for Work and Pensions; Joint Head of the Government Social Research Service; Policy Fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy Delivery partners Westminster Explained Westminster Explained is the learning and development division of a group of companies, under the umbrella of the Dods Parliamentary Communications group. The company was formed fifteen years ago because of demand through our sister company, The House Magazine (UK Parliament’s internal journal), for training workshops on the workings of Parliament and government. Since then, we have expanded our product range and established our reputation as the leading provider of learning and development on Parliament, governance and policy making. In April 2012 the Government revised the way training is delivered for the UK Civil Service and chose a handful of training companies as primary suppliers. Civil Service Learning (a division of the Cabinet Office), working through the prime contractor, Capita, chose Westminster Explained as the supplier of face-to-face workshops on ‘Policy’ and ‘Working in the Civil Service’. NatCen Learning NatCen Learning has an established reputation in the applied policy research field for delivering high quality research and training. NatCen researchers provide top class insight and have helped a range of organisations to develop their knowledge of key methodological issues and core research skills, as well as raising general levels of research literacy. NatCen Learning offers specialist training based on the methodological and substantive knowledge and research techniques, which we utilise in our own research and evaluation.