Devolution Learning Week for Civil Servant Capability Building

For the second year running, PolicyWISE has delivered training for Devolution Learning Week, the annual UK-wide event for civil servants.  

Our team led, and took part in sessions, to improve the understanding of why cross-nation administration work is important, how to navigate the challenges, and lessons on four-nations policy terminology. We presented to over 250 people across the two sessions, sharing practical tips, advice and PolicyWISE tools to support all civil servants navigate these complexities. 

Working 4-Nation 

Our Director Dewi Knight was a panellist alongside other policy experts from UK-wide organisations, sharing the lessons of cross-nation working outside government. BBC Wales discussed how to maintain a UK-wide identity whilst serving a Welsh audience with relevant news and content. The British Council linked the cultural and education diversity of the UK with its international work across nations and continents. 

Dewi shared his lessons from working in universities and public policy, and how these inform PolicyWISE’s work as a cross-nation research initiative. He emphasised the importance of relationships, respect and robustness in thinking and acting in a four nations way. 

Through Wise in 5s, policy cluster working and Mind Your Policy Language, Dewi explained how PolicyWISE takes practical steps to support relationships and knowledge across UK nations. He particularly emphasised the importance of getting language and terminology right when operating across the UK, noting practical actions around identity, geography and politics. 

PolicyWISE Devolution Tools 

In the dedicated PolicyWISE session, Catherine (Senior Communications and External Affairs Manager) and Eira (Research Associate) explored PolicyWISE tools and approaches, designed to inform and improve policymakers’ cross-nation and devolution capabilities. 

‘Wise in 5’ Briefings 

We presented the concept of our snapshot comparative guides for those who might know less about them. If policymakers need a speedy synopsis on national differences in key policy areas, these briefs take roughly 5 minutes to digest. They summarise the latest policy developments and research on issues such as palliative care, language learning in schools and geodiversity. We turned the spotlight on civil servants as the experts in their sectors, asking what devolved policy areas they think would benefit from a Wise in 5 briefs. 

PolicyWISE Clusters 

For those interested in hands-on collaboration, our new way of working across nations: PolicyWISE clusters. Our most recent cluster work has been on Active Travel policy, working with civil servants, policymakers and academics across the UK nations. Through workshops and evidence discussions, the cluster work can support opportunities for directed research, and build a platform for regular cross-nation engagement. These activities are a great example of the PolicyWISE mission, taking practical steps toward improved cross-nation policy working. 

Roundtable Events 

To progress with one of our core priorities to strengthen intergovernmental learning across the UK and Ireland, we hold in-person Roundtable events. We told participants how these are built, structured for policymakers and academics to examine challenges and progressions in cross-nation learning. At past events, participants have identified areas of need such as more data comparability across nations and stronger inter-parliamentary cooperation. The next roundtable of the series is coming up in Belfast next week, where discussions will focus on economy and skills. 

We owe a big thank you to the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, who invited us to speak at the event. You might be a civil servant, an academic, or another type of specialist looking to strengthen your devolution capabilities. Please contact us with any queries at: policywise@open.ac.uk