Abstract:
Policymaking is a core task for government. But to make policy well government needs to be open to external ideas, including from academics. Through the REF and new funding streams academia has been focusing on how to improve the impact of research, including on public policy, but what steps has government made to improve how it engages with academia and what does this mean for academics who want better links?

Dr Catherine Haddon will present the findings from the Institute for Government’s research into this question, based on interviews in 10 government departments. She will also discuss the work that the Institute does with academics and research councils to support academic engagement and also the way in which the Institute approaches engagement itself.

A sandwich lunch will be provided at the seminar, please advise us of any dietary requirements in advance.

Speaker profiles

Dr Catherine Haddon Catherine Haddon is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, which she joined in 2008 after a career in academia. She has led the Institute’s work on Whitehall reform, managing changes of government and general elections, evidence and policy making and now also runs their professional development and ministers programme. Her areas of expertise include the history of government, civil service reform, how to improve policy making, the role of the Cabinet Office and No.10, UK constitutional governance issues, national security and crisis management.

She advises and gives evidence to parliamentary select committees, has featured on radio and at party conferences, and is regularly cited in the press. She has written articles for numerous publications including the BBC website, The Guardian, Civil Service World, Total Politics, as well as academic publications.