Humanities and the Public Good: influencing policy through
research
Training Opportunity
Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership Public Policy Engagement
Programme
Residential school, Durham University, 8 – 9 December 2015
Policy placements and fieldtrip, January – February 2016
About the Programme
The Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership invites applications for a public policy
engagement training programme aimed at doctoral students and early career researchers
in the arts and humanities.
This innovative programme will introduce participants to the public policy process: how
public policy is developed, who the key actors and stakeholders are, and what role
academic research should play in this process. Participants will learn how arts and
humanities research can inform public policy and how academic and policymakers can
collaborate, and will be encouraged to think creatively about how and where their own
research might feed in to public policy.
Designed to be as practical and immersive as possible, the programme includes a two-day
residential school, a fieldtrip to the Houses of Parliament, and the opportunity to devise brief
individual placements with a range of organisations.
The intensive December school will be led by Northern Bridge academics, policymakers,
and researchers from a wide range of organisations, including the Houses of Parliament,
the Northern Ireland Assembly, the NHS, the Local Government Association, the Rift Valley
Institute, the Museums Association, Volunteer Organisations Network North East, Durham
County Council, and others. Topics covered will include:
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An introduction to the parliamentary process
Engaging with policy development at the local, national, devolved, and international
level
The role of NGOs and think-tanks
Communicating for a policy audience
Collaborating with policymakers
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Using traditional and social media to reach policymakers
Following the school, participants will be able to arrange short placements or visits in early
2016 at the following organisations:
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Research and Information Services, Northern Ireland Assembly, Belfast
Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Belfast
Durham County Council, Newcastle
Newcastle City Council, Newcastle
Local Government Association, London
Museums Association, London
Northern Bridge has negotiated agreements in principle with these organisations, and
participants will be able to arrange specific programmes with the institution of their choice,
tailored to suit their interests. Participants will be asked to reflect on their experiences for a
public policy engagement toolkit which Northern Bridge is currently developing.
In addition, participants will have the opportunity to attend a day-long session in the Houses
of Parliament in January 2016, where they will meet with a range of Parliamentary staff,
tour the Houses and attend Commons select committee hearings.
Eligibility, funding, and how to apply
A maximum of twenty places are available for the residential school, visit to Parliament,
and placement opportunities. Eligibility is restricted to:
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Doctoral students and early career researchers in the arts and humanities who
are attached to Newcastle, Durham, Queen’s Belfast, Northumbria, or Sunderland
universities
Early career researchers must have either have completed their doctoral training
within the past five years at one of these universities, or be currently attached to one
Preference will be given in the first instance to students who are funded by Northern
Bridge
Up to five places have been reserved for early career researchers
The residential school is free for all to attend. Northern Bridge is able to provide travel and
accommodation bursaries for funded students to attend the school, the field trip and any
placements; students who are not funded by Northern Bridge, and early career researchers,
will need to find alternative sources of funding if necessary.
To apply, please complete the attached application form and send it to
northernbridge.admin@durham.ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 30 October
Professor Jonathan Long, Northern Bridge Director, Durham University
Professor John Thompson, Northern Bridge Director, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Anne Whitehead, Northern Bridge Director, Newcastle University