From Campus to Cabinet

How to Turn Ideas into Action and Shape Government Policy

This interactive workshop will discuss policy - how it is created, and how it can be shaped and influenced - with former Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh.

This is the third instalment of our new series, Bridging the Gap between Policy and Research, which explores how scholarship in the Arts and Humanities can shape and inform public policy for the common good.

This event is designed to be of interest to anyone who wishes to explore how academic research can be more effectively integrated into national policymaking processes, with a focus on building sustainable, evidence-based partnerships between higher education and the State.

The discussion will look at the current disconnects between research outputs and policy implementation.

It will also explore lessons that can be learned from crisis-response models (e.g. COVID-19) where collaboration was immediate and highly effective.

The objective is to identify feasible pathways and frameworks that could help us better engage more directly with the policymaking process. 

In doing so, it will help us better understand who to approach when we have relevant research we wish to share, and how to go about shaping and influencing public policy. 

Joe McHugh is a former Minister for Education and Skills and previously served as Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs. During his time in public office, he held a number of senior ministerial roles and has been closely involved in European policy and governance at a national level.

 

Workshop
10 Mar 2026 / 10 Mar 2026 Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, Dublin More Info

Time: 18:30 - 20:00

Previous discussions available to listen to here