A Policy Fellowship scheme for UK Parliament professionals to spend time in UCL research departments or institutes
The Pilot (2024)
During the UK pre-election period, UCL Public Policy facilitated a programme where sixteen parliamentary staff were embedded within various UCL research departments and centres for 2-4 weeks. These staff members, from the House of Commons Library, Committees, and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, collaborated with UCL researchers on a diverse range of topics, including prison education, urban planning, real estate economics, and child poverty interventions.
The Policy Fellows engaged in a variety of activities such as delivering presentations on their work in Parliament, holding one-on-one or roundtable discussions with researchers, participating in knowledge exchange events, and conducting secondary research. This initiative proved mutually beneficial: it enhanced the professional development of both the parliamentary staff and UCL researchers. The staff members gained new insights and skills to bring back to their organisations, while UCL researchers reported an improved understanding of policy contexts, processes, and rationales.
Outputs
- Produced a briefing report on critical minerals
- Co-author a Library Insight for Children’s Mental Health Week
- Meeting with POST about two potential topics for POSTnotes
- UCL academic to deliver talk to House of Commons Library Health and Wellbeing Hub
- Fellow to attend a careers day at UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education
- Fellow’s input into new Master’s degree in future regarding policy landscape
- Produced a report (tbc)
- Wrote a Blog post (tbc)
- Wrote a blog post on fellowship with the Insitute of Sustainable Construction
Fellows were hosted in the following UCL institutes and departments:
- Institute of Education, Psychology and Human Development
- Centre for Education and Criminal Justice
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction
- Institute for Sustainable Resources
- Social Research Institute
- Bartlett School of Planning
- Division of Psychiatry Department of Epidemiology and Applied Clinical Research
- the Department of Statistical Sciences
- UCL Laws
- Centre for Inclusive Education
- School of European Languages, Culture and Society
- Department for Learning and Leadership, Institute of Education
- Population, Policy and Practice Department
Fellows came from the following departments within UK Parliaments
- House of Commons Library
- Women and Equalities Committee
- Research and Information team
- Scrutiny Unit
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
- Devolution and Constitution
- Health and Social Care Select Committee
- Strategic Estates
- Home Affairs Committee
- Education Select Committee
- Justice Committee
- International Development Committee
- Business and Trade Committee
- Joint Committee on Human Rights