166-044 Parliamentary Internship (Int.Students)

Students will only be permitted to take one Political Science internship as part of their BA.

This subject is available only to students undertaking the Parliamentary Internship (International Students) Program. For further details, please contact the School. Special entry conditions apply.

In this subject students will have active experience working for a Member of Parliament in the settings of Parliament, the Parliamentary Library, Parliamentary Offices and electorate offices. Each student will complete a research project for an MP on a topic of concern and interest to the MP. Academic supervision and support is provided by the School. Students should develop their research and interpersonal skills while learning about the representative role of MPs and Parliament and their tasks of policy making and enacting legislation. Students who complete this subject should have well-developed analytical, research, interviewing and report-writing skills; have practical skills enabling the provision of consultancy-type research services; and have high-level interpersonal skills developed through interaction with a range of people, including MPs.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of research reports;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through report writing and group discussion;

• be able to communicate knowledge economically through report writing and syndicated group discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading and the completion of essays and reports;

• be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

A research report of 6000 words worth 80% and a reflective essay of 2000 words worth 20% (both due at the end of semester.)