Policy Advice, Outreach & Dissemination of Research SAPIENS Network Advanced Training PhD Course 6
On the days 5th – 8th of September, 2023, the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, hosted the SAPIENS Network 6th Advanced Training PhD Course. SAPIENS Network is the first international training network (INT) and academic research project concerning sustainable public procurement, funded by the EU under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
1. Introduction
On the days 5th – 8th of September, 2023, the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, hosted the SAPIENS Network 6th Advanced Training PhD Course. SAPIENS Network is the first international training network (INT) and academic research project concerning sustainable public procurement, funded by the EU under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. SAPIENS is also the first INT network in which the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, has been one of the beneficiaries with Center for Private Governance (CEPRI)’s Federica Muscaritoli as a Marie Curie PhD Fellow and Associate professor Marta Andhov as one of the steering committee members and lead researcher of the network.
2. The PhD Course
The ATC 6 brought together 14 SAPIENS Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) alongside guest PhD students from various universities. The primary goal of the training was to explore avenues for disseminating the knowledge garnered by the PhDs in their focused research areas and ensuring the knowledge is communicated and disseminated in the best way possible to ensure the best impact possible. Recognising the potential of PhDs research, the course aimed to bridge the gap between academic insights and real-world impact by engaging with experts from industry, academia, and government.
3. Overview of Content and Speakers
The course unfolded over four days, each designed to cover various topics.
Day one, hosted by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, and the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, delved into the potential of cooperation between government, industry, and academia for sustainable public procurement. Industry perspectives were shared by representatives from TDC and Nuuday, who emphasised the vital role of sustainability. Then, Director of Training for the SAPIENS Network, Professor Martin Trybus, underscored academia's transformative role, emphasizing research impact. The next point of the meeting included presentations of PhD researchers on topics ranging from collaboration's role in sustainability to AI's potential in public procurement. At the end of the meeting during the roundtable, the participants discussed sustainability's place in public procurement, shared opinions on mandatory environmental criteria, and the future of sustainable public procurement.
Day two started with the panel "Research Outreach", which shed light on the dynamic interplay between academic research and real-world applications. The panel featured insights from Associate Professor Alexandra Andhov, Dr. Roxana Vornicu, and Dr. Carsten Hansen, who have successfully navigated the bridge between academia and professional practice.
Next, in a workshop led by Professor Jørgen Dejgård Jensen and Professor Martin Trybus, participants delved into the art and science of crafting effective policy briefs.
During the next workshop, Ayanna Coleman introduced participants to types of blog post templates they can use to quickly transform an academic article into a general public interest piece.
Day two finished with the workshop "Engaging with Journalists Finding Stories in Your Research", led by Emil Tarp Vang from the University of Copenhagen, providing rhetorical tools to engage with different audiences.
Day three offered roundtables on Danish, European, and international perspectives on working with research and academia, including stakeholder collaboration and turning research into policy impact.
The first panel brought together representatives from prominent Danish organizations to discuss their collaborations with academic researchers. The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority, the Municipality of Copenhagen, and the Danish Chamber of Commerce provided insightful responses to a series of pertinent questions on how stakeholders typically collaborate with academic researchers.
The second panel offered a perspective on transforming research into impactful policy decisions. The panel featured Business Europe, European Trade Union Institute, and European Environmental Agency (EEA), each offering unique perspectives on the collaboration between researchers and policymakers.
The third panel delved into the significance of research within international organizations and banks, providing valuable insights into their approaches and challenges. Participants included the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization. The discussion aimed to uncover commonalities and differences in how these entities engage with research and the practical implications thereof.
Day four centered on project updates, a bi-annual Project Meeting, and a unique team-building activity focusing on sustainability and weaving.
4. What where the main takeaways? And where can I read more?
Participants found the course a treasure trove of insights and practical advice. Industry experts provided motivating narratives, underlining the power of storytelling and engagement. The workshop on policy brief writing was particularly highlighted as a valuable tool for effectively communicating research findings. The course's comprehensive approach, covering diverse aspects of translating research to broader audiance, left participants inspired and armed with actionable advice for their ongoing and future research endeavors.
For those seeking a more detailed exploration of each day's activities, a comprehensive overview is available on the SAPIENS Network website.