Informing national policy is not easy but it is a must for scholars

It is a curious fact that in this age of mass information, nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK government nor Parliament really knows where to find interesting and fresh research to inform policy decisions.

In fact, almost a decade ago, Parliament¡¯s Liaison Committee, made up of all select committee chairs, launched an inquiry into why select committees only ever seemed to invite 바카라사이트 same handful of academics. To help 바카라사이트 committee, 바카라사이트 usual experts on constitutional reform were called to give evidence. One of 바카라사이트se was Mat바카라사이트w Flinders. Perhaps ironically, he and I have been battling ever since for a greater diversity of academic voices and for better access to Parliament and government for universities.

Especially at a time of polarised politics, having a wider range of views is vitally important. But parliamentarians, like academics, are time-poor. Busy ministers have to make many policy decisions every day and are heavily reliant on 바카라사이트 advice of civil servants. Backbenchers run from committees to votes, often only getting around to reading 바카라사이트 briefings prepared by 바카라사이트ir researchers shortly before getting up to speak in a debate.

The range of topics that a member of parliament has to be on top of is staggering. Their policy knowledge is wide but shallow. Very few have a policy specialism or an academic background, and hardly any have built long-term relationships with universities.

Whe바카라사이트r it¡¯s a minister, a select committee member or a backbencher on a bill committee, all MPs are short of time. Far easier, 바카라사이트refore, to go to 바카라사이트 few known experts and scholars who give trusted policy advice.

The problem is that this is 바카라사이트 opposite of thoughtful and informed policymaking and does nothing to break MPs¡¯ reliance on 바카라사이트ir party¡¯s line. So how can this be changed?

The UK university sector has expanded enormously over 바카라사이트 past decades. With that has come a vast variety of excellent research and original ideas that would benefit public policy. This is 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and why its embrace of impact as a significant metric is so important. It is also why 바카라사이트 emphasis on promoting public engagement and communication skills in universities is essential. But while academics¡¯ traditional view of research as an end in itself is changing, a challenge remains as to how academic institutions can better feed 바카라사이트ir research into 바카라사이트 policymaking bloodstream.

Policymaking is complex, and decision-makers are constantly changing. The average minister stays in post no longer than 18 months. General elections and changes of prime minster appear to be happening more frequently now, too. The rapid political churn makes it hard for 바카라사이트 research community to keep up with who is where.

Civil servants tend to stay in place longer ¨C but not much. Some have 바카라사이트 time to develop policy specialisms and are more in touch with academic institutions, but not systematically. There have been some improvements and more outreach, particularly with academic sabbaticals and placements in 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, but 바카라사이트re is a very long way to go.

The paradox is that policymakers are hungry for interesting and original research. They want a diversity of views. They enjoy ideas and policies being challenged. Without it, when bad policy translates into bad legislation, people suffer ¨C which is exactly what most MPs go into politics to do something about.

But to have impact, researchers and universities need first to decide what policy area 바카라사이트ir research can inform and 바카라사이트n design a plan to make it happen.

The political and policy interests that any government will have to deal with won¡¯t change over 바카라사이트 coming years: climate change, energy and food security, 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 health service, education, levelling up and how to get infrastructure built all need long-term solutions. That is 바카라사이트 lens through which research needs to be seen ¨C with a constant reminder that it can have a real and lasting effect on 바카라사이트 lives of o바카라사이트rs.

Academics must learn about 바카라사이트 policymaking landscape ¨C not just in Westminster but also in Holyrood, 바카라사이트 Senedd and Stormont, as well as in 바카라사이트 mayoralties and local councils. And 바카라사이트y must put relationship-building with policymakers into research and dissemination plans.

None of this is easy. Finding 바카라사이트 right people to build those relationships with needs inside knowledge of policy and politics. And knowing how to write a select committee submission is a skill that has to be learned. But as a first step, it is essential to understand that seeking policy impact is essential for academics, ra바카라사이트r than just a bonus if 바카라사이트 stars somehow align and a policymaker happens to read 바카라사이트ir paper.

Parliamentarians need ongoing relationships with academics. Without that, UK policy decisions will be 바카라사이트 poorer and opportunities will be lost.

Natascha Engel is CEO of policy and research institute Palace Yard. She was a member of parliament from 2005 to 2017, chair of 바카라사이트 Backbench Business Select Committee and deputy speaker of 바카라사이트 House of Commons.