Aberystwyth University research on rural youth migration presented to MPs at Evidence Week

As part of Evidence Week in Parliament, Professor Woods highlighted key factors shaping young people’s decisions to move away from their local areas and shared recommendations for policy interventions that can help more young people to stay. The findings were drawn from a survey of over 1,000 young people living in rural areas in Wales.

Professor Woods presented his findings to, amongst others, Welsh MPs Ann Davies, Ben Lake, Catherine Fookes, David Chadwick and Liz Saville-Roberts, and Welsh Peer Lord Davies of Gower, equipping them with vital information to inform the decisions they make on future policies.

Evidence Week is a unique annual event bringing together the public, parliamentarians and researchers from across the UK to discuss how evidence from frontline research can inform policymaking in Parliament.

Professor Woods also took the opportunity to inform MPs and Peers about his work with the Rural Wales Local Policy Innovation Partnership (Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales), which has been established to link research with policy for rural Wales. As well facilitating knowledge exchange as in Evidence Week, Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales is also collecting and analysing new data to address the evidence needs of policy-makers, running Innovation Labs to explore solutions to policy challenges, and helping communities to conduct their own research on local concerns. The development of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, which has received a £5m grant from UKRI, was supported by seed-corn funding from the Wales Innovation Network.

Professor Michael Woods, Director of the Rural Wales Local Policy Innovation Partnership, said:

“The challenge of young people feeling compelled to move away from rural areas for employment, education or housing is one recognised by all the politicians that we spoke to. Evidence Week was a great opportunity to discuss what research tells us about this trend with MPs and Peers and to share constituency-specific data with them. We were able to explain how targeted policies, such as improving public transport and promoting entrepreneurship, can help to give young people opportunities to stay. I would like to thank Sense about Science and the Wales Innovation Network for enabling us to take part in Evidence Week.”

Dr Lewis Dean, Head of the Wales Innovation Network, said:

“We are delighted to have supported Professor Woods in attending Evidence Week, where he presented his research on the out-migration of young people from rural areas - a critical issue impacting the vitality and sustainability of these communities. His study identifies the key factors driving young people to leave rural areas and explores potential policy interventions to reverse the trend. Connecting researchers and legislators enables decision-makers to develop inclusive policies that address the unique challenges faced by rural areas, reflect their specific needs, and ensure their long-term resilience and growth.”

Evidence Week, now in its seventh year, is run by the campaigning charity Sense about Science and the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST), in partnership with the House of Commons Library, House of Lords Library, Ipsos, the Office for Statistics Regulation and researcher institutions from across the UK. During the week, MPs meet with leading scientists to get the latest insights on pressing issues covering topics as varied as Artificial Intelligence, education, pollution, health, and rurality. It is an opportunity for the public, parliamentarians, and researchers to come together to share knowledge and insights. It empowers legislators to engage with evidence and equips them with the critical tools to handle uncertainty, identify bias and scrutinise underlying assumptions.

Tracey Brown, Director of Sense about Science, said:

“From the use of Artificial Intelligence in schools to the impact of light pollution in marine habitats, the quality of research and evidence used and presented affects whether policies and laws make sense. We are delighted that MPs have the opportunity to hear and learn directly from leading researchers across the UK about making better use of research evidence at Evidence Week in Parliament. Keeping up to date with the latest evidence and research findings are important for MPs, who have to pass laws, check up on government, and understand the issues that are affecting their constituents.”