Campus by Times Higher Education Campus podcast: The secrets of effective policy engagement - from two academics who have worked in government
May 14, 2025
David Garcia, a public policy expert and former gubernatorial candidate from Arizona, teams up with Michael Sanders, Professor of Public Policy at King’s College London and former Chief Scientist in government. They discuss the vital link between academic research and government, sharing strategies for academics to engage effectively with policymakers. The conversation highlights the importance of building relationships, utilizing unexpected alliances, and simplifying complex ideas for better policy impact. Their insights underscore the need for proactive engagement and collaboration in shaping public discourse.
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Transcript
Episode notes
Engage Early and Face to Face
- Get started by engaging face to face with decision-makers and community groups.
- Build many small interactions steadily to influence policy outcomes effectively.
Leverage Trusted Intermediaries
- Use trusted intermediaries to vouch for your work before meeting policymakers.
- This increases trust and opens doors more effectively than a cold approach.
Motivation Behind Policy Impact
- Academics often seek policy impact to change communities or see tangible results from their work.
- Both early-career and senior researchers find motivation in making a real-world difference.