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Run by the cross-government Open Innovation Team (OIT), the Policy Fellowship offers part-time mentoring support from academic experts to help civil servants answer a specific policy question over the course of six months. Fellows are matched with mentors from the OIT’s five partner universities: Brunel University London, the University of Essex, Lancaster University, the �ۿ۴�ý and the University of York.

The OIT was established in 2016 to bring external expertise into policymaking, helping officials across departments engage with leading thinkers, generate ideas and evaluate impact.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome new fellows to the �ۿ۴�ý,” said Lucy Hendon, Policy Engagement Officer. “This programme puts academic research at the heart of policymaking and facilitates mutual knowledge exchange, whilst giving our experts the chance to inform real-world decisions.”

This year’s cohort includes civil servants from departments such as the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Education and the Office for National Statistics, working on everything from the ethics of generative AI to restorative justice. 

�ۿ۴�ý students and early career researchers may also have the opportunity to engage with the fellows and gain insight into how research can shape public policy.

For more information about the Open Innovation Team and its Policy Fellowship Programme, please visit: 

To learn more about the research expertise at �ۿ۴�ý and opportunities for policy collaboration contact �ۿ۴�ý Policy Network at policyengagement@surrey.ac.uk