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This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate ten years of the Newcastle University Policy Academy.
When the Policy Academy was established in 2016, the goal was to make policy engagement more accessible across the University, giving colleagues from all disciplines, job families and career stages opportunities to develop their skills, confidence and connections. We wanted to ensure that policy engagement was not limited to those who were already working closely with decision-makers but was accessible to anyone working with communities across the world, to help influence change.
From the outset, our ambition was to make policy engagement a routine and accessible part of University life. The hub was created to help colleagues understand, navigate and influence policy conversations, from local government and regional decision-making to national and international policy arenas. Inclusivity has always been at the heart of the Academy's approach, ensuring that voices from across our academic, professional services and postgraduate communities have opportunities to contribute to policy discussions and help shape change.
Ten years on, I am incredibly proud of how far we have come. What started as an idea has grown into a valued and established part of the University's civic mission and strategic identity, helping colleagues across the institution connect their expertise with real-world policy challenges.
Supporting colleagues to make an impact
Today, the Policy Academy offers a wide range of opportunities to support colleagues at every stage of their policy engagement journey. Through our Foundation Workshops Programme, year-long Fellows Programme, masterclasses and In Conversation events, we provide practical skills development, professional networks and opportunities to learn from policy and public affairs experts. Alongside this, we support an active NU Policy Community, produce a monthly Policy Bulletin and work closely with colleagues across the University, including Corporate Communications, Insights North East (INE), and the Policy Evidence Centre (PEC), to strengthen our collective policy impact.
Over the years, we have also expanded our offer through knowledge exchange events, bespoke policy engagement sessions and support for collaborative activity between researchers and policymakers through the QR Policy Support Fund. These opportunities have helped colleagues build and sustain partnerships, extend the reach of their expertise and contribute to evidence-informed policymaking.
From evidence to real-world change
One of the greatest rewards has been seeing the difference this work has made. Policy Academy Fellows have helped shape healthcare standards, contributed to city and regional strategies, informed parliamentary debates, supported international organisations including the World Health Organization and the United Nations, and worked together with communities councils and charities s to address complex societal challenges.
The impact is not only seen in policy outcomes but also in the people involved. Many colleagues have told me that the Academy has transformed the way they think about engagement, helping them communicate evidence more effectively, build productive relationships with decision-makers and communities, and better understand how research can influence change.
Looking to the future
As we look ahead to the next decade, we are excited about what is possible. The challenges facing society are becoming increasingly complex, and the need for evidence-informed policy has never been greater. The Policy Academy will continue to evolve, creating new opportunities for colleagues to share their expertise, influence decision-making and contribute to positive change locally, nationally and internationally.
Reflecting on the last ten years, we’d like to thank everyone who has been part of the Policy Academy's journey so far. Together, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when knowledge, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose come together. For a decade, we have helped turn expertise into influence and conversations into action. As we look to the future, our focus remains the same: making conversations count.
