17/09/2017 PhD Workshop: Exploring the Potential of Academic Research for Policy Making and Policy Advocacy

PhD Workshop

Exploring the Potential of Academic Research for Policy Making and Policy Advocacy

A program offered by the International Metropolis Project, the City of The Hague, and the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES) at the University of Amsterdam, as part of the International Metropolis Conference 2017

Call for participants

For the first time, the International Metropolis Conference (www.metropolisthehague.org) in collaboration with the City of The Hague and the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES) at the University of Amsterdam will offer a special program for PhD students. The program will start on Sunday evening, September 17, and will adjourn just before the opening of the Conference on Monday afternoon, September 18. The aim is to bring PhD students together to support the development of their international networks and to offer them a platform to discuss, with policy officials and civil society organizations, the value of their research for policy. There will be space for 25 students who will be selected on a first come, first served basis subject to them meeting criteria detailed below. Those who are accepted will be offered dinner on Sunday evening, lunch on Monday, a waiver for the registration fee for the International Metropolis Conference (September 18-22, 2017), and accommodation free of charge from Sunday September 17 until Friday September 22. Students who wish to sign up should send an email with information about i) their affiliation, ii) the title and topic of their PhD project, iii) details about their policy related activities, iv) a CV, and v) two letters of recommendation from their supervisors to phdmetropolis@gmail.com

 

Contents

The PhD workshop aims to engage PhD students and prominent policy makers in a dialogue about the role of migration research in non-academic settings. We intend to foster a debate about how academics can support the policy making of international organizations, national and local governments, and non-governmental organizations dealing with migration and refugee issues. We also wish to encourage participants to reflect on how academic researchers can become more involved in the policy process, either policy development itself or advocacy. For these purposes, we will invite organizations and institutions whose focus is on the design, approval, and critical analysis of migration policy. These may include national and local governments, local welfare agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

 In practical terms, we will help PhD students to present their research to non-academic audiences and how to apply their analyses to the work of specific organizations.  Participants will discuss the trade-offs that translating academic research for a non-specialist and practice-oriented audience implies. We will also bring policy makers and policy advocates to reflect on the role of research within their organizations, on how they draw on different types of research in their day-to-day operations, and on how academic research can improve the policy-related work of their organizations.

Aims and objectives?

–  Bring young scholars into dialogue with policy makers and policy advocates and in so doing offer them access to knowledge and know-how from policy-makers and policy advocates about the role of research in their daily organizational work;

–  Provide a venue where policy makers and policy advocates can reflect on the role of research in their daily work, drawing on the research presented by the PhD students;

–  Reflect on and discuss how academic research can be translated in policy-development, policy-analysis and policy-making;

–  Enhance young scholars’ ability to carry out and communicate research of relevance to the policy field.

Who can apply

Criteria for the selection of the PhD students:

Required:

o   Involvement in refugee, migration- or integration-related research projects (preferably at a relatively advanced stage);

o   Involvement in a research project with direct or indirect impact on public policies, or with a direct or indirect connection to design, execution or evaluation of existing public policies.

Desirable:

o   Previous related work, internship, or volunteering experience.

 

Provisional Program

§  Sunday September 17, 2017

18h00 to 21h00

Informal dinner for PhD Participants – Networking opportunities offered by the City of the Hague

§  Monday September 18, 2017

8h30 Registration for 25 participants

9h00 Elevator Pitch about the PhD student’s research project and its relevance for public policy

11h00 Coffee Break

11h30 Panel of policy makers and policy advocates

13h00 Lunch

14h00 PhD students can select one of two panels when registering.

o   Roundtable panel 1: Refugee reception and relief

o   Roundtable panel 2: Shaping, implementing, and contesting migration policy

16h00 Closing remarks

16h15 Adjourn

§  Monday September 18, 2017

18h00 Welcome Ceremony of the Metropolis Conference

 

Costs

Generous support from the City of the Hague covers the participation of 25 PhD students for the entire conference (from Sunday afternoon until Friday afternoon). Food, accommodations, and registration costs are provided to those selected participants. PhDs are asked to be involved during all the conference, including the cultural program, lunches and dinners.

PhD students have to cover their own transportation costs to and from the Hague, any necessary visa costs or any other personal expenses.

Application

Students who wish to register should send an email with information about i) their affiliation, ii) title and topic of their PhD project, iii) details about policy-relevant activities, iv) CV, and v) two letters of recommendation from their supervisors, policy professionals with whom they have worked, and/or other relevant professionals to phdmetropolis@gmail.com. Please create one pdf file for the entire application including attachments