Student Placement: GOV.UK Open Innovation Team

Student Profile

Natalya Kovaleva – War Studies Department, King’s College London
PhD topic: Jazz in US Public Diplomacy Towards the USSR 1962-1972
Host: GOV.UK Open Innovation Team (OIT)
When: October – December 2024

 

Overview of the placement

Natalya undertook a three-month placement with the Open Innovation Team, a cross-government unit that connects policymakers with academic expertise. Her placement aimed to bridge the gap between academic research and policy-making, offering her the opportunity to apply her research skills to real-world policy challenges.

Key Activities and Contributions

  • Policy research & analysis: Natalya conducted expert interviews, literature reviews, and contributed to analysis sessions. She drafted findings reports for policy clients, including work for the Department for Education.
  • Workshop design & delivery: She helped design and deliver policy workshops and training sessions for students and academics from the University of Surrey, Essex, and Reading, enhancing their understanding of government policy processes.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Natalya facilitated knowledge exchange between academics and policymakers, contributing to the development of evidence-based policy recommendations.
  • Support for OIT training: Running training sessions for academics from other universities on helping academics maximise the impact of their research.

Impact on PhD and career development

The placement gave Natalya practical experience she couldn’t get from her PhD alone. She learned how policy is made and how research fits into that process. She also developed contacts in government, which will be useful for her future career.

“The placement helped refine my career goals and strengthened my employability post-PhD. It confirmed my aspiration of pursuing a career in policy, be it as a civil servant or a government consultant.”

Student’s reflections

Natalya strongly recommends the OIT placement to other students, citing its value in developing policy analysis skills, expanding networks, and understanding the real-world impact of academic research.

“The placement also helped me gain a deeper understanding of current governmental priorities, challenges, and strategic goals, informing my own academic research and urging me to think deeper about the impact of my work.”

PhD supervisor’s view

Dr Neville Bolt said the placement made a real difference. 

“The student emerged from the placement with a sharper sense of how research informs policy. They gained direct exposure to decision-making processes and refined their ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.”

Host’s feedback

Sophie Whitehead of the Open Innovation Team highlighted the strength and quality of Natalya’s work:

“She was diligent and curious when producing written work and was able to apply her excellent research and analysis skills to the projects she contributed to.”

The experience demonstrates that PhD skills are more transferable than students might think, and that government departments can really benefit from having researchers on their teams, even temporarily.