Interview Jamie Slater, European Centre for Development Policy Management
By Lisa Schipperijn
Would you like a career in European affairs, but not directly in an EU institution? Maybe a career in research is something for you! Blue&yellow journalist Lisa got the chance to speak with Jamie Slater, a junior policy officer at the European Centre for Development Policy, to discuss his work and career trajectory.
Jamie Slater completed his bachelor's in History and French in the UK. An experience volunteering in refugee camps in France inspired him to focus on migration issues, leading him to pursue a master’s degree in Migration Studies at Leiden University. After finishing this degree, he continued doing research there as a trainee on the relationship between the EU and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) states. Eventually, he answered the call to Brussels, where he joined the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and then the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), before finding his current position at the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM).
ECDPM: Bridging European and African Policy Interests
ECDPM is an independent think tank dedicated to fostering policies that promote good cooperation between Europe and Africa. The organisation has offices in both Maastricht and Brussels, where Jamie is currently based. He works in the migration team, focusing on labour migration, climate-related mobility, and migration and digital technology. Jamie notes the differing interests of Europe and Africa regarding migration, making research and policy advice crucial for fostering collaboration and understanding between the regions.
Work at a Think Tank
What is it like to work in a think tank? According to Jamie, the field is fascinating because it blends research with policy analysis. ‘’Normally I’m doing research, which mainly means reading a lot of different research reports and talking to people,’’ Jamie shares. Talking to people is an essential part of the job according to Jamie: ‘’I do a lot of interviews with people from all over different European countries, but also in African countries, people from government, NGOs, other researchers. There's only ever so much you can learn by just reading. You have to talk to people.’’
Most university students are rather familiar with doing research during their studies, but why continue it as a career in a think tank rather than staying in academia? Jamie highlights a key difference between academic and think-tank work: applicability. ‘’It's more applied in the sense that you talk to people more, but also it's more applied because you're working on policy issues, whereas in academia you aren't always looking at policy,’’ he explains. Having studied migration at university, Jamie now finds purpose in translating his knowledge into actionable, policy-oriented research. ‘’As a researcher, you're trying to work towards a change in policy—whether that happens is another issue,’’ he laughs.
Working in a think tank also offers a level of intellectual freedom and collaboration that Jamie values. ‘’I really value the intellectual freedom that I have to think about a topic and decide to work on it,’’ he says. ‘’Research is usually an individual kind of activity. However, more often than not, I work in a team on a research project. I like working in a team and the many opportunities to exchange with colleagues and discuss content issues together.”
Translating research to the world
Making research accessible to the public is crucial when working in a think tank. ‘’‘All think tanks present their information to make it more understandable and applied to the real-world issues and policy questions they seek to address’’. However, Jamie notes that measuring the impact of one’s research is challenging, especially in development policy.
In this area of research, on development policy, Jamie emphasises that diversity in research is essential. ‘’At ECDPM we have decolonisation as part of our strategy. So how to decolonise development, but also the research that we do,’’ Jamie explains. He emphasises that they are trying to understand how as a researchers, you may reproduce certain knowledge biases, and how that affects the research done. ECDPM is therefore trying to develop more equitable research partnerships. ‘’We make sure that we not only interview people in Africa, but also to try and partner with researchers in Africa.‘’ Jamie explains that ECPDM has lots of contacts with different think tanks, within Europe and Africa, but also with the rest of the world.
Challenges in migration policy research
Despite the fulfilling aspects of his job, working in a think tank has its challenges. Jamie emphasises, that one of the most difficult parts lies in working on the topic of migration: ‘’working on the issue of migration is demoralising because the general direction of policy on migration is quite clearly in one direction.” He especially experiences this in the current state of European politics. “I think it's really worrying to see the direction of European politics on migration. So, it can be really difficult to be in a position where I know what the reality is and what is happening on the ground in terms of migration, but see how far this reality is from the way migration is talked about in politics, in the media and in terms of public opinion,’’ he reflects.
Think tank research, the right career path for you?
Jamie’s advice for those wanting to enter the field of think tanks on European affairs? ‘’The Brussels bubble can be tough as you will probably need to do many internships before landing a job’’, Jamie says. More importantly, Jamie stresses that to become a strong researcher, you need to explore different disciplines, beyond just research. ‘’What I benefited from was doing research in university and then turning to advocacy. Trying out these different practices and disciplines - as well as volunteering - has been really helpful because I got to find out what I like and what I’m good at,” he elaborates.
Jamie’s experience highlights that for those interested in European affairs with a policy-focused perspective, a research-oriented path offers a way to tackle pressing issues while contributing to meaningful, sustainable change. While challenges are inevitable—especially in the complex field of migration policy—the work remains essential, aiming to bridge policy with the diverse realities and needs of Europe and Africa.
