In a world flooded with information from a multitude of sources, providing, managing and making sense of knowledge to build more robust policies is highly challenging. Using evidence in policymaking is a complex task demanding a set of distinct skills and mutual understanding between researchers and policymakers.

This is particularly relevant for the policies addressing, or influenced by, migration and demographic changes: a key strategic area for the future of Europe. Evidence informing policy discussions in this domain is often confusing and contested, which can further complicate the challenging policymaking process.

To address these challenges, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, together with INGSA and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, is organising a third Evidence and Policy Summer School. This professional development training offers policymakers and scientists the opportunity to meet each other and together develop skills in using evidence for creating robust policy solutions. Using the lens of migration and demographic change as a common domain of policy interest, participants will be challenged to identify and address universal issues in data and evidence gathering and communication to policy makers and the general public.  It is important to note that the workshop is not intended to present either the latest science or specific policy solutions in this domain, but to provide the tools and approaches to better inform the policy making process. Thus, the main focus rests on developing capacities in procuring, producing and using relevant evidence.

This year, we will meet in Slovakia with policymakers and scientists from Central and Eastern Europe and selected EU neighbouring countries. The programme is carefully co-designed with the Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography, and will be of particular interests to scientists and policymakers working in this thematic and regional context.

Call for applications open until 25 June 2017

Eligibility criteria

• At least 2 years of work experience in science or policy addressing, or affected by, migration and demographic change (or continued interest in using such data in related fields);
• Strong motivation to use and provide evidence for policy;
• Citizenship of an EU Member State or one of the following EU Neighbouring countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine;
• Proficiency in English;
• Commitment to participate in the event for the whole duration of the seminar.

Concept note and draft programme is available here.

Source and further information: EC