Workshop: Education, Poverty and Economic Development in Wales. The Institute for Social Change is implementing a series of 12 interactive Knowledge Exchange Trial workshops (KET), across the UK, to bring together academics, policy and program stakeholders to facilitate the exchange of ideas, expertise and research.

The Institute for Social Change implemented a series of 12 interactive Knowledge Exchange Trial workshops (KET), across the UK, to bring together academics, policy and program stakeholders to facilitate the exchange of ideas, expertise and research.

Focus of the workshops

The workshops raised awareness of the policy-making process, how research can influence policies and how academics can engage and collaborate with the ‘user community’ in policy and program development and implementation, for demonstrable impact.

Presentations by leading academic, and practitioner and policy experts highlighted case study examples of their experiences, as academics and policy stakeholders, including:

  • The importance of understanding the policy process, research application in policy design, how research can influence policy development and show demonstrable impact;
  • Working alongside policy-makers and academics, the communications, opportunities and challenges in differing practices and incentives between the professions, and lessons learned; and
  • The importance of diverse collaboration between academics and policy stakeholders for mutual sustainable benefit

Education, Poverty and Economic Development in Wales:

9:30    Coffee and registration

9:45     Welcome and context – Professor Ian Rees Jones, Director, WISERD, Cardiff University

9.50     Introduction to the KET Program – Zamila Bunglawala, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Manchester

9:55     Overview of the policy-making process – Simon Brindle, Program Director, Social Services, Welsh Government

10:10   Engagement with policy – Professor Steve Martin, Public Policy Institute for Wales

10:25   Poverty in Wales: Policy, Academic & NGO/Practitioner Presentations

  • Professor Calvin Jones, Professor of Economics, Cardiff Business School
  • Maureen Howell, Deputy Director and Head of the Tackling Poverty Division, Welsh Government
  • Michael Trickey, Wales Advisor, Joseph Rowntree Foundation

11:10   Q&A

12:00   Lunch & Networking

13:00   Education in Wales: Policy, Academic & NGO/Practitioner Presentations

  • Jo-Anne Daniels, Interim Director, Infrastructure, Curriculum, Qualifications and Learner Support Group, Welsh Government
  • Lizzie Swaffield, Centre Manager, Wales Centre for Equity in Education, University of Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David
  • Christine O’Byrne, Policy and Research Lead, Chwarae Teg

13:45    Q&A

14.30   Summary

14:45   Close