FCO Fellowship - Dr Edward Owen Turner
Lead Research Organisation:
Aston University
Department Name: College of Business and Social Sciences
Abstract
This call is limited to the FCO and designed to meet the distinct needs of the Diplomatic Service, which differ from many parts of the Home Civil Service. The FCO requires security vetting, the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality and agile, subject-specific advice. The FCO has an almost limitless demand for expert specialist knowledge of foreign countries, international institutions and global policy challenges.
This call will provide the opportunity for each intake of fellows to be seconded into the FCO to work alongside, advise and influence policymakers. Fellows will bring fresh thinking, depth and breadth of expert knowledge and apply their learning to policy challenges. This is not a call to support research projects about the FCO. It will build new capacity in the FCO and across the UK research base.
Fellows will report to a line manager either from the RA Cadre or the generalist body of the FCO. Additional support and mentoring will be provided by both senior Generalists (Directors; Ambassadors; Heads of Department; Deputy Heads) and by senior Research Analysts. Work-planning, as for permanent Research Analysts, will be a mixture of demand and self-tasking based on evolving FCO needs. An indicative list of tasks include: writing papers and shorter notes, oral briefings for senior officials and ministers, meeting external and cross-Whitehall partners, research visits overseas as well as organising and running masterclasses.
The individual fellows will acquire:
a) A deep, broad and practical understanding of foreign policy-making and Government work which will underpin their own research, research supervision and teaching over their careers;
b) Networks of trusted connections across Government and internationally on which they can draw throughout their career;
c) Opportunities for career development.
This call will provide the opportunity for each intake of fellows to be seconded into the FCO to work alongside, advise and influence policymakers. Fellows will bring fresh thinking, depth and breadth of expert knowledge and apply their learning to policy challenges. This is not a call to support research projects about the FCO. It will build new capacity in the FCO and across the UK research base.
Fellows will report to a line manager either from the RA Cadre or the generalist body of the FCO. Additional support and mentoring will be provided by both senior Generalists (Directors; Ambassadors; Heads of Department; Deputy Heads) and by senior Research Analysts. Work-planning, as for permanent Research Analysts, will be a mixture of demand and self-tasking based on evolving FCO needs. An indicative list of tasks include: writing papers and shorter notes, oral briefings for senior officials and ministers, meeting external and cross-Whitehall partners, research visits overseas as well as organising and running masterclasses.
The individual fellows will acquire:
a) A deep, broad and practical understanding of foreign policy-making and Government work which will underpin their own research, research supervision and teaching over their careers;
b) Networks of trusted connections across Government and internationally on which they can draw throughout their career;
c) Opportunities for career development.
Planned Impact
The main benefit anticipated from this call for the FCO will be more robust and better-informed foreign policy. The fellowship call will over time create a small group of highly-trained, specialised and policy-aware academics that will act as a resource on which policymakers can continue to draw long after the formal fellowship is completed. They will also, in the normal course of events, download their understanding of the FCO policymaking environment to students, cascading knowledge to others who may themselves in due course be channels for knowledge exchange.
People |
ORCID iD |
Edward Turner (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Description | This award relates to a part-time secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I have been embedded in the FCO throughout this time. Although there are limits to what can be said about the work, I have learned a great deal about: - The way the FCO works - Ways in which academics can help HM Government in its work, including in providing challenge - Effective ways to brief senior civil servants and ministers - Ways in which Research Analysts in the Foreign Office work - Ways in which the UK government pursues its objectives abroad In addition, I have worked extensively to provide insights to HMG into current German, Austrian, and wider European politics and how that relates to its objectives. This work has been disseminated in the FCO and wider government. |
Exploitation Route | We have now organised a rich seam of outreach events to speak with other academics about working with the FCO and wider HMG, with more to come: for instance, events took place in Edinburgh, organised by myself, and in Cardiff, which I also attended. We have formed a network of fellows past and present, which will help us disseminate lessons across wider academia. I have, since my fellowship, facilitated many introductions to UK-based and other academics to FCO officials. |
Sectors | Government Democracy and Justice |
Description | My work at the FCO has led to briefings on a range of topics for HM Government officials and ministers, helping them understand areas in which I have, through my research, particular expertise, and also in helping them develop links into my wider academic networks. Along with colleagues, it has also led to some new, commissioned work to develop training materials across government on Central Europe. |
First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
Sector | Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Aston University / FCDO partnership |
Organisation | Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Since the fellowship, I continued my secondment in a similar role for some months, funded by the FCDO. After leaving in mid-December 2020, I have continued my involvement, running jointly with a UK government official a network to deepen understanding of Germany in HMG, and also provide other materials in support of this work. |
Collaborator Contribution | This is a joint partnership between myself and HMG officials. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | FCDO seminar in Berlin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | We held a seminar at the British Embassy in Berlin with representatives from the FCDO, and think tankers from the V4 countries, on Germany's relationship with those countries. This stemmed from contacts forged during my secondment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Masterclass for FCDO |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Gave a talk to the FCDO on strategic positioning of countries in Western Europe - helpful continuation of links forged during my secondment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |