Introduction to government, policy & impact

This course explores different experiences of successfully engaging with policymakers, so that research evidence has a greater impact and influence. The course aims to be engaging, informative, interactive, and practical, with opportunities to share experiences from your research.

The overall objective of this course is to explore different experiences of successfully engaging with policy makers, so that research evidence has a greater impact and influence. Delivered by past ADR UK Research Fellows – all of whom have prior experience of working as researchers or advisors within government departments – the course aims to be engaging, informative, interactive, and practical, with opportunities to share experiences from your research.

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The course will cover the following themes:

• Understanding government, its current priorities, and the policy cycle
• Opportunities to influence and the role of evidence in policymaking
• How to communicate research evidence effectively
• Case studies: fellows’ experiences of engaging with policymakers through their ADR UK fellowships

The short lectures will be accompanied by interactive exercises, case studies, and the opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide their reflections.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at researchers who want their work to have greater policy impact and influence. It will be particularly valuable for:

• Researchers at any career stage (including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior academics) interested in engaging more effectively with policymakers
• ADR UK applicants, fellows, and alumni seeking to strengthen the policy engagement element of their research
• Researchers using administrative or government data who want to understand how evidence is used within government
• Policy-facing researchers and knowledge exchange professionals who support links between research and government
• Researchers new to working with government, or those who have tried to engage policymakers and want to learn what works in practice

The course is especially relevant for those with an interest in applied research, impact, and real‑world policy change, and for anyone keen to learn from the lived experiences of researchers who have successfully navigated government environments.

What you will learn

By the end of the course participants will gain an understanding of:

• The structure of the UK government and the policymaking community
• How policy is made and the opportunities to influence policy making through evidence
• Strategies to communicate research evidence effectively

Event details

When: 09:30-15:15, 11 November 2026

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Registration: Find out more and register on the Datacise Open Learning website.