The seminar “How to Write a Policy Brief” offers a
practical exploration of the drafting concise and impactful policy documents.
It highlights the specific role of policy briefs within decision-making
processes, the importance of understanding one’s audience, and the different
dimensions that structure a well-developed brief. From a critical and applied
perspective, the objective of the seminar is to equip students with the
skills to design, write, and present their own policy briefs, while
reflecting on the broader issues addressed in their academic programme. A
rigorous and reflective approach requires both methodological clarity and
concrete practice. Therefore, alongside theoretical insights, the seminar
places strong emphasis on hands-on exercises: students will first acquire
general knowledge about the function and structure of briefs, before moving
to the elaboration of their own written work. The final stage of the seminar
will be dedicated to oral presentations and mock briefings, simulating
professional contexts of policy communication.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- identify the different parts and purposes of a policy brief and apply them in practice
- write a clear, well-structured, and properly referenced policy brief on a topic of their choice
- present and defend their brief orally in a simulated policy environment
- work collaboratively through discussions and group work while contributing to a constructive learning atmosphere
- Teacher: du Bus Manon