In February, as part of the Building for the Future Initiative, I had the privilege of representing Warwick Think Tank at the On Think Tanks School for Thinktankers in Barcelona. Warwick Think Tank is a student-led organisation that provides opportunities for students to produce research and discuss a wide range of policy issues.
One of my key objectives was to better understand how we, as a student-led think tank, could maximise the impact of our work in the policy space. Scanning the programme, I was particularly eager for the session on Policy Influence and Partnerships for Change. However, by the very first day of the school, discussions on the role of think tanks across the policy ecosystem reshaped my perspective on success, raising a crucial question: what unique value can a student-led think tank bring to the table?
Defining think tanks and their functions
“What is a think tank?” This is a question frequently asked and the very starting point of the School for Thinktankers. The truth is, there is no single definition. Think tanks come in many forms, often labelled as research centres, public policy institutes, idea factories, or university-affiliated research hubs.
Rather than focusing on what think tanks are, it is more useful to ask: what do they do? At their core, think tanks generate research, shape policy debates, and provide evidence-based recommendations to relevant stakeholders such as advisors and policymakers. They also serve as platforms for discussion, offering spaces for deliberation on pressing policy issues. Understanding your think tank’s role and identity within the policy ecosystem is essential to recognising its value.
Reflections around the identity of a think tank
One of our sessions was a talk with Marc Garriga from the hosts of our school, Fundació Bofill. +. What stood out from the session was their process of redefining their identity, an exercise they saw as an opportunity to enhance the Foundation’s visibility, engagement, legitimacy, and social impact. Throughout this process, they continuously returned to a fundamental question: why?
Hearing from Marc made me realise that many of the challenges they faced mirrored the very questions I had set out to explore. The question of how to remain relevant and impactful. This session reinforced two important lessons: Regardless of a think tank’s size or years of establishment, the core challenges are similar for many, and it is never too late to reinvent your identity.
Identifying our value-add
One of the biggest challenges of our student-led think tank is that we produce a wealth of research, from blog articles to reports, yet we often struggle to have any tangible impact. This has raised a critical question amongst our team: What is the point of publishing research if it doesn’t drive change?
Reflecting on this question after the school, I realised that influencing policy is not the only measure of success. Our true value lies in the fact that we are a think tank of future talents. We provide a politically diverse space for the future generation of researchers and policymakers.
Unlike the average think tank, our success is not measured by legislative influence but by the opportunities we create for students. We help them get their foot into the door, providing a platform to develop and showcase their skills. For example, one of our analysts wrote an opinion editorial that was circulated on LinkedIn. As a result, she was offered a potential internship at a global newspaper company after a producer discovered and engaged with her article. And this is just one of many stories. Our impact may not always be immediate policy change, but it is tangible in the careers we help launch and the talents we empower.
What’s next
As we have seen from the various functions of think tanks and the Fundació Bofill case study, it is important to reflect on your identity. It ensures that we are tapping into the right potential rather than simply following the path of the status quo.
Generally, student-led think tanks stand out for their ability to foster a fresh flow of ideas, drawing from youth’s personal experiences and knowledge gained through academic study. In addition, as we have identified from our members’ experiences, joining a student-led think tank also serves as a valuable stepping stone for future researchers and policymakers. In other words, we serve as a ‘policy playground’ for new ideas and talents.
Therefore, to empower members, we aim to put greater emphasis on identifying strategic partnerships with established think tanks that align with our values. This article has demonstrated the significance of student-led think tanks across the policy ecosystem. Opportunities like the School for Thinktankers and the Building for the Future Initiative allow us to network, expand our perspectives, and explore new possibilities.