Engaged Research for Policy Impact (ERPI)

Engaged Research for Policy Impact (ERPI)

The Engaged Research for Policy Impact (ERPI) study investigates how researchers interact with policymakers and intermediates in Ireland, the place for engaged research practices in these interactions, and aims to identify areas for capacity building among early career researchers to enhance their engagement in the policymaking process.

What we are doing

This study explores how researchers can help civil servants and politicians ensure policies are developed based on the best available evidence from research. This study is focused on individual researchers in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in Ireland, the challenges they face, and how they overcome these challenges to engage with policymakers.

In particular, we want to explore how engaged research practices can and or already do contribute to research-policy interactions. Engaged research describes research approaches and methodologies that emphasise working together with people and organisations beyond academia. The purpose of engaged research is to investigate, improve, or understand issues that affect society, such as major social issues and sustainability objectives.

What distinguishes engaged research is that it is conducted in collaboration with community stakeholders, not simply done on their behalf. These collaborative partners can include anyone with a stake in the research, such as people who use specific services or products, government officials, not-for-profit, community and voluntary groups, industry partners, everyday citizens, and other interested parties (Campus Engage 2022).

The objectives of this study are:

• To map the complex system of enablers and barriers for researchers in engaging in policy processes in Ireland, with particular focus on current initiatives and developments
• To identify specific barriers for researchers at different stages of their career and in different research areas for effective policy impact
• To explore and illuminate engaged research pathways through which research is translated into policy in Ireland
• To investigate the potential of engaged research methodologies and approaches in contributing to effective translation of research into policy into the future
• To develop, consult on and disseminate findings, insights and recommendations that are practical and pragmatic to Ireland’s research funders, policymakers, researcher community and public audiences

How we are engaging with researchers

Our research plan includes in depth interviews with individual researchers at HEIs in Ireland on the specific challenges and approaches they have when seeking to engage with policymakers. Alongside these, we will be interviewing engaged research leaders across Ireland to explore the place of engaged research practices in research-policy engagement. This will be followed by a national survey of academic researchers aimed at verifying emergent themes from the qualitative data. Finally, the ERPI study will conduct a range of consultations with interested parties (including civil servants, to gather their perspectives of how our findings relate to their experiences of engaging with academics.  Through our activities and findings, recommendations will be developed for how better to support the current and next generation of researchers and policymakers to engage more effectively.

Who we are

Meet the Team

Dr Brendan Dolan

Dr Brendan Dolan is a transdisciplinary researcher in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at University of Galway, specialising in research impact and evaluation, science advocacy, scientific leadership and principal investigator research, and ecological theory. Brendan is Principal Investigator on the 'Engaged Research for Policy Impact' ERPI Study, funded by Research Ireland. Previous to this, Brendan worked as postdoctoral researcher for the PPI Ignite Network @ University of Galway, and with the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, working on the research and SROI evaluation study of Rethink Ireland’s Education Funds. Brendan also served as the Science Advocacy Training development officer at CÚRAM SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, and was the lead postdoctoral researcher on the Principal Investigator Impact: Research in Medical Devices project.

Email: brendan.dolan@universityofgalway.ie

Prof. Caroline McGregor

Prof. Caroline McGregor is the Director of ILAS. Caroline is Senior Research Fellow at UNESCO CFRC and Director of Social Work at University of Galway. With over 27 years of experience in social work and academia, including a significant tenure as Personal Professor, Caroline is recognised for her contributions to social work education and research. Her expertise spans critical social work theory, child welfare, and family support. Caroline has extensive experience of academic-professional partnerships and has a particular interest in leading and advancing practice based and community engaged research in her role as Institute Director, furthering its mission to enhance human capacity and potential across the life course thereby impacting positively on knowledge, attitudes, policy and practice, internationally.

Prof. John Canavan

Prof. John Canavan is the Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the School of Political Science and Sociology. John’s research interests are Family Support, Evaluation theory, and connecting research, policy and practice. He has worked for many years with practitioners, service managers and policy makers in the children and families field, and is passionate about the role of research in improving children’s lives. John teaches at undergraduate, MA and Ph.D. levels in the School of Political Science and Sociology. John brings to this project extensive experience in theorising and planning system change in complex contexts, a focus on policy implementation and evaluation and a strong commitment to bridging research and policy for societal impact. 

Dr Fergal Lynch

Dr Fergal Lynch is a former Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (2015-2022) and Deputy Secretary General of the Department of Health (2012-2015). From 2022 to 2024 he worked with the University of Galway to help foster closer links between policy practitioners and academics in the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy.  Fergal maintains a close interest in public policy analysis. He is currently Chair of the National Council for Special Education, the statutory body for meeting the educational needs of children and adults with a disability, and a Trustee of the Katharine Howard Foundation, a voluntary body that supports services for vulnerable young children and families.

Ms Lucy Browe

Lucy joined the ERPI study in October 2025 as Research Assistant and brings project management experience from across the community and voluntary sector, public and patient involvement (PPI) in science engagement, and creative research dissemination practices. Lucy’s focus will be on qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, as well as communicating the project’s objectives and outputs to key stakeholders and the wider community.

Email: lucy.browe@universityofgalway.ie

Contact: erpi@universityofgalway.ie