Doctoral Public Impact Programme

The Doctoral Public Impact Programme is a comprehensive, cohort-based programme that supports doctoral candidates across all disciplines to position their research to make a difference.

This one-year programme provides a powerful foundation for all doctoral candidates who are planning careers in policy and government, consulting and advisory roles, NGO leadership, applied research, or academia with public purpose.

You will be given opportunities to gain knowledge, skills and strategies to translate your research findings into meaningful real-world impact in the public interest.

Through fostering engagement with stakeholders, enhancing communication capabilities, and identifying pathways for practical application, you will develop the capacity and confidence to contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes.

Currently enrolled doctoral candidates whose candidature is confirmed BEFORE 30 June 2026 and who intend to submit their thesis AFTER 1 July 2027.

You can apply for a place in the programme by clicking on the link below. Please note that your application must include a letter of support from your main supervisor.

Places are limited. The closing date for applications is  Friday 19 June.

The core programme consists of 10 three-hour workshops which will be held between August 2026 and May 2027. This year's sessions will take place on Grafton Campus. The venue for next year's sessions is to be confirmed.

The workshops will always take place from 10am to 1pm on a Wednesday:

• 19 August 2026: Programme launch, whanaungatanga and orientation
• 23 September 2026: Understanding research impact
• 14 October 2026: Communicating complex research for policy and practice
• 4 November 2026: The art of listening and building relationships
• 2 December 2026: Media engagement and raising the profile of your work
• 10 February 2027: Understanding policy processes
• 3 March 2027: Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in research impact
• 24 March 2027: Systems thinking for wicked problems
• 28 April 2027: Research push or policy pull? What is your "why"?
• 19 May 2027: The role of researchers in society

Upon successful completion of this programme, participants will be able to:

• Articulate clear pathways from their research to societal and environmental impact
• Identify and engage effectively with diverse groups, including policymakers, iwi and hapū, NGOs and community organisations
• Communicate complex research findings to non-academic audiences with clarity and cultural sensitivity
• Navigate policy processes and understand the machinery of government and broader institutional landscapes
• Apply systems thinking and theory of change models to their research contexts
• Develop and implement participatory research approaches that centre stakeholder needs and perspectives
• Raise their research profile through strategic media and/or stakeholder engagement
• Critically reflect on their role as researchers and the ethical dimensions of research impact

You can apply for a place in the programme by clicking on the link below. Please note that your application must include a letter of support from your main supervisor.

Places are limited. The closing date for applications is  Friday 19 June.