Guidance and resources

Public policy engagement can be formal or informal. Formal policy engagement approaches and opportunities, particularly in the UK, are developing rapidly, and can include government consultations, parliamentary inquiries, delivery of evidence synthesis, partnerships, and fellowships and placements.

Informal policy engagement often focuses on the development and maintenance of productive networks and conversations between researchers and policymakers, informal advice, and the ad hoc engagement of government.

These pages provide links to useful guidance notes and documents, as well as audio and video resources to support policy engagement.

How can I engage with policymakers?

Links to resources developed by the University of Oxford and other organisations, covering general approaches to policy engagement and skills such as evidence synthesis.

How does UK Government work and what do policymakers look for?

Links to lists of the UK Government's thematic departments, Arms Length Bodies, and Areas of Research Interest.

How do I engage with the UK Parliament and how do parliaments work?

Links to resources developed by UK Parliament to help understand how parliament works and how to engage with parliamentary processes.

A team discuss their project with the use of multiple post-it notes

How do I build policy engagement into project design?

Links to useful guidance on how to design policy engagement approaches into research project design.

A close-up, colourful photograph of multiple international flags hanging side by side

How do I engage with policymakers internationally?

A series of guidance notes designed for researchers who are interested in engaging with national and sub-national governments across the world, and with the international organisations who exert influence on national policies.

A group of three women sit at a table, smiling during an informal meeting. One is holding a cup of coffee, another is holding a pen. There are flowers on the table.

How do I monitor, evaluate and learn about policy engagement?

A series of guidance notes, tools and other resources, primarily for researchers and research support staff, to help them monitor and evaluate engagement with public policy, and learn from it.