Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

SGSSS Academic Placements

University of Edinburgh

Placement host: University of Edinburgh
Full time/part time: 3 months full-time
In person/remote/hybrid: Hybrid
Placement reference: C03_2

Project Title

Improving Policy Leadership Project

About the Host

The Improving Policy Leadership (IPoL) Project Team comprises Prof. Ailsa Henderson (Associate Dean of Research Impact, CAHSS); Dr Nkosana Mafico (Lecturer, Strategy), and Dr Shonagh McEwan (Policy Engagement with Research Manager).

The project is designed to improve the effectivenes of existing UoE policy leaders and to diversify the pool of emerging policy leaders. For our puposes, policy leadership includes holding board roles, public appointments or advisory positions within Scotland, the UK or internationally.

We co-led a Wellcome-funded project within the InFrame Culture Catalyst Programme, focussing in the first instance on staff in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) as well as the Vet School in College of Medicine & Vet Medicine (CMVM). This project ended in May 2026. The work aligns within the University’s strategic goals to build capacity for policy engagement as outlined in our Research & Innovation Strategy 2030. Work to date included a mapping of existing policy leaders, development training for new and emerging policy leaders, undertaking a literature review of motivations for, the characteristics of and skill set required to undertake policy leadership. Moving forward we will expanded this to the rest of CMVM as well as the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). As part of this work we will also build new collaborations within the HEI sector.

The continuation of IPoL will be looking for relevant strategic funding internal to the University and/or external funding to develop impact from this project. The SGSSS placement’s work and findings will be used to inform the IPoL Project Team’s decision-making in that regard.

Project Details

This placement will progress IPoL’s initial findings and outputs from its pilot phase. The overall objective for the placement is to support the expansion of IPoL to be an effective, sustainable University-wide initiative, in alignment with policy engagement commitments within UoE’s Research & Innovation Strategy 2030.  

A key focus of the placement will be to gather and analyse new information from the College of Science & Engineering (CSE), and College of Medicine & VET Medicine (CMVM) to inform IPoL’s expansion. 

The pilot phase of IPoL resulted in the following ouputs: 

  • A mapping of policy leadership in CAHSS and VET School, including roles, at which institutions and policy focus. 
  • Literature review on policy leadership 
  • A survey of CAHSS and VET School existing and aspiring policy leaders 
  • 3 x forum meetings with existing CAHSS and VET School policy leaders to inform the Improving Policy Leadership initiative, esp training, resources &  
  • 2 x training workshops designed and delivered by IPoL Team aimed at 1) aspiring and 2) existing policy leaders 
  • The launch of a Policy Leadership Community Of Practice 
  • Resources for leaders to develop their knowledge and skills for policy leadership 

The successful SGSS placeholder will play a key role in the next stage of data collection and analysis. This will include: 

  1. An expanded mapping of policy leaders at UoE, expanding whole institution following initial pilot phase. 
  1. Analysis and write up of survey data on aspiring and existing policy leaders. This will draw on existing CAHSS data as well as new survey data on CSE & CMVM will be available by September. 
  1. Presentation of findings to IPoL project team and/or any additional key internal stakeholders 
  1. Organise and co-facilitate one Policy Leadership Community of Practice session 
  1. Placement report: write up of findings across mapping, survey & any informal meetings with key stakeholders with summary of key findings and recommendations.

Work Plan

Three months Full-Time 

September 

Induction & orientation: week 1 

  1. Introduction to Research & Engagement Team, and IPoL project team 
  1. Familiarisation with existing IPoL information and resources 
  1. Understanding of university context, networks and people relevant to policy engagement with research 
  1. Any co-refinement of placement plan 

Mapping and analysis: weeks 2,3,4 

  1. Gather and collate information on policy leaders and their policy domains by desk-based research and informal meetings across the University, focusing on the College of Science & Engineering and rest of College of Medicine and Vet Medicine who were not involved in initial pilot work. This will on effective methods used in pilot phase with scope to innovate any additional methods.  
  1. Create a revised excel spreadsheet, showing all data from CSE, CMVM & CAHSS on university’s policy leadership 
  1. Analysis of all CAHSS, CMVM & CSE mapping data, making note of any significant trends, difference or gaps, esp in relation to University’s research strengths & strategic mission areas.  

Survey data analysis: October (weeks 5,6,7,8) 

  1. Analysis and write-up of new survey data from CSE & CMVM, and comparison with existing data from CAHSS & VET School. A survey promoted to CSE & CMVM academic colleagues will be completed by end of September, so data will be ready for PhD student to analyse.  
  1. Organising and conducting any informal meetings with key stakeholders on policy leadership support 
  1. Mid-project presentation of emerging findings to IPoL Project Team from mapping and survey data 
  1. Identify any gaps in resources and support for the University, based on mapping, survey data and any informal meetings with key stakeholders 

Community of Practice and write up of Placement Project Report: November (9,10,11,12) 

  1. Co-facilitation at Improving Policy Leadership Community of Practice, (including promotion of this to university networks before Nov). 
  1. Complete write up of placement, including with summary of findings and recommendations. 
  1. Final meetings with IPoL project team and discussion of findings. 

 Throughout placement: 

  1. Attending relevant university/team meetings and networks, potentially some attendance at meetings with Policy Engagement with Research Manager with wider key contacts on policy engagement 

This opportunity offers the following benefits for the student: ​

By becoming part of this innovative and new project on Improving Policy Leadership, the student will:

  • Gain unique insight into policy engagement with research in a large, research-intensive University. This will involve how key people in professional services and academic leadership work together to enable high quality potential for research impact on public policy and provide insight on HEI strategic policy in this area.
  • An opportunity to apply qualitative and quantitative research in a live, organisational setting to inform decision-making and support expansion of support for policy engagement with research
  • Experience of liaison and working alongside colleagues of mid-senior leadership within an organisation to support expansion of a strategic initiative
  • New networks and relationships with colleagues working in research engagement & impact, especially policy engagement with research
  • Gain an understanding of the wider support structure for research engagement and impact and the potential career opportunities it offers

Skills Required

Essential
  • Ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data, especially survey data
  • Ability to work under limited supervision, following project tasks to meet agreed timescales
  • Good organisational skills and time-management
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
Desirable
  • Demonstrated interest in evidence-informed policy making
  • Demonstrated interest public policy

Eligibility

Academic placements are open to SGSSS funded students whose ESRC funding began after October 2024 only.

Contact for Queries

Dr Shonagh McEwan, Policy Engagement with Research Manager, shonagh.mcewan@ed.ac.uk

How to Apply

Please submit an application via SGSSS Apply using placement reference number  C03_2.

The deadline to apply is 15 June 2026 at 4pm. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview.

For further information, please consult the Research in Practice Guidance for Students. If this does not answer your questions, please contact SGSSS: team@sgsss.ac.uk.

 

Submit application via SGSSS Apply
Download Placement Information Document
Download the Research in Practice Guidance for Students

Please contact team@sgsss.ac.uk if you require this information in another format.

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