POLI7012 Parliamentary Internship

2018

4.5

1 x 3-hour seminar weekly

POLI3007 has been successfully completed

This topic is available as an elective in the Political Studies Honours Program and the Public Policy Honours Program. Students will be advised by email in June who their supervising MP is and meet in seminar early in the second semester at Parliament House.

Statement of assessment will forbid students researching a project similar to that selected for their Honours thesis.

Available in the Political Studies Honours program and Public Policy Honours Program as an elective and convened in conjunction with POLI3007 South Australian Parliamentary Internship and convened with University of Adelaide and University of South Australia.

Under the formal supervision of a member of the academic staff, the topic enables students to undertake an internship within the South Australian Parliament or with South Australian member of the Commonwealth Parliament. Students undertake reading and research in association with their supervising MP and academic supervisor.

Research projects require approval by both the academic convener and the Member of Parliament or an officer/s of the government agency or organisation. Students can expect assistance from their academic supervisor regarding how to approach the project.

The formal class contact for the topic is minimal, consisting of two seminars introducing students to the program's expectations and research study skills. Assessment consists of one report of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 words. If students wish they may also give a brief oral presentation of research findings at a workshop session held in the Old Parliament House building scheduled for late in the semester.

The topic aims to provide upper-year students with the oppoqtunity to work closely with a member of the South Australian parliament or SA representative in the Commonwealth Parliament. The topic seeks to develop the capacity of students to undertake independent applied research on social, economic, and environmental policy issues, and contemporary political issues. These may involve comparing Australian practices with those in other countries and/or other Australian States. Students are able to experience the working life demands of a researcher employed by an organisation engaged with canvassing policy options and drawing conclusions to inform future stategies. This experience also offers students unique access to some of the resources and networks not usually available to them.

Students present a report for lodgement in the parliamentary library [or with the supervising organisation] where it may inform debate on the issues that ultimately shape legislation or policy development.

On successful completion of this topic, students should be able to:

1. Appreciate the demands of applied research and problem solving.
2. Understand a brief set by their supervising MP or agency officer and the making of public, social, economic and environmental policy in a contemporary setting.
3. Conduct independent research and critically evaluate issues in responsive and accountable ways.
4. Pursue research questions creatively and learn to build networks required to inform original research.
5. Produce a major report articulating the key issues and making recommendations for action while respecting scholarly conventions and integrity.
6. Verbally communicate their analysis and findings to fellow interns, academic supervisors and supervising MPs and/or agency officers.