Parliament for PhD students – how to engage with the UK Parliament

This training session is aimed at PhD students, and explores how to engage with the UK Parliament at the start of your research career. It gives an overview of the UK Parliament and how Parliament uses research, and covers ways to work with the institution as a researcher including details on select committees, the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries, and POST. It also explores working with individual Parliamentarians.

Parliament for PhD students: online training session

This is a recording of an online training session, delivered on 9th December 2020 by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit.

The session focuses on practical information and advice, with tips on what parliamentary engagement you could do with your limited time and how to be confident in your own expertise. The main presenter is Dr Laura Webb, Knowledge Exchange Manager, UK Parliament.

You can access other training sessions too, including how to engage with Parliament as an academic, early career researcher or knowledge mobiliser, plus how to work with select committees, and how to write for a parliamentary audience.

Training resources

Here are the training slides used in the session.
Here is a transcript of the session.

Useful links

The links below accompany information presented in the training session.

General advice on engaging with Parliament as a researcher

Here is a webpage of ‘how to’ guides, including:
- Infographics on research impact at the UK Parliament and getting research into Parliament
- Guidance on submitting evidence to a select committee
- Tips on writing a policy brief
Here is a “what shall I do next” webpage to help you think through the next steps of engaging with the UK Parliament
Here is where you can sign up to email alerts on topics which you choose (this will include select committee inquiries and other opportunities and news)
If you are interested in engaging with Parliament around the COVID-19 outbreak and its impacts, please see this COVID-19 researcher engagement webpage outlining the most targeted, impactful ways that researchers can engage at the moment
Here is more information about Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit, including contact details for further queries

Engaging with select committees

Here is the A-Z list of all UK Parliament select committees
Here are all current open calls for evidence from UK Parliament select committees

Engaging with the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries

Here is the House of Commons Library website, including information about the Library and research briefings published by the Library staff
Here is the House of Lords Library website, including information about the Library and research briefings published by the Library staff

Engaging with POST

Here is the POST website, including upcoming briefing topics, newsletter sign up and contact details for specialists
Here is more information on academic fellowships from the UK Parliament (this includes PhD fellowships and those for academics later in their career)

Engaging with All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs)

Here is a full list of UK Parliament All Party Parliamentary Groups (click on the most recent register)

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