Mandatory course in research-based policy support
Policy support is an important part of AGRO’s and TECH's activities and a way in which we bring our research to use. In TECH's committee on policy support, we proposed to the faculty leadership last fall that the course in policy support be made mandatory for everyone, both new and experienced scientific staff. Recently, I got a taste of my own medicine.
The course consists of a half-day online session and a two-day module where we met in Fredericia from all corners of AU. Rumors had already set high expectations for the course – and it certainly lived up to them and more. We covered legal aspects, quality management systems, interaction with stakeholders, and communication with both authorities and the press. It was a really good course, organized and executed by TECH's dean's office plus advisors, legal experts, and communication staff from DCA and DCE.
Participants' experiences with policy support ranged from brand new employees to highly experienced individuals, including a couple of aging professors and a single head of department. This provided insights into policy support tasks across TECH and, of course, an exchange of countless anecdotes within an area that receives significant attention from industry, interest groups, the press, and society. Very entertaining, very varied, and very useful – I fully endorse the decision to make the course mandatory for all with policy support tasks.