Review of the DWP Areas of Research Interest Workshop
Published: 23 October 2023
Event recording, How to
Dr Serena Pattaro gives an overview of the Department for Work and Pensions Areas of Research Interest workshop at the University of Glasgow.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Areas of Research Interest (ARI) workshop was held at the University of Glasgow on 4 October 2023.
The aim of the workshop was to better integrate the DWP into academic research and the wider research community, discuss cutting-edge methods to address DWP analytical priorities, help to generate new perspectives surrounding DWP research questions, and build successful collaborations and working partnerships across sectors.
The workshop covered a range of topics, including labour market participation, health and disability, poverty, and children and families. Discussions focused on both emerging research ideas and opportunities in the context of a diverging social policy system in Scotland, compared to the rest of the UK.
Professor Nick Bailey, Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) Co-Director at the University of Glasgow, who co-chaired the event, said:
"With rising levels of hardship in the UK and continuing debate about the levels of support which we, as a society, provide through social security and pensions, good evidence on the effectiveness of welfare policies has never been more important. We hope that the dialogues started by this event can continue and that they strengthen the role that research plays in this crucial policy area."
One of the highlights of the workshop was the cross-sectoral connections that were initiated. Participants from different backgrounds were able to come together and share their insights on some of the most pressing social policy issues facing the UK today.
Dr. Serena Pattaro, Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and Co-Investigator at SCADR, who co-organised and co-chaired the event, said:
"We had a successful event as we were able to bring together many researchers and analysts from different organisations across Scotland and England to discuss ways in which research can help to inform government’s knowledge gaps and policy priorities. Discussions focused on fair work and wellbeing, the mental health impacts of social security policies, the factors driving economic inactivity, and the hidden welfare realities of low-income families with children. One of the highlights was the cross-sectoral connections that were initiated by engaging with the things that really matter for the UK and devolved governments and for society as whole."
The workshop is likely to lead to new research projects and initiatives that will help to inform government policy and improve the lives of people across the UK.
Read more about the workshop outcomes on the SCADR website
First published: 23 October 2023
More information
This document summarises the most important research questions facing DWP over the next 5 to 10 years. The purpose of the DWP Areas of Research Interest publication, is to raise awareness amongst the external research community of the things that matter to DWP analysis.