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Political Internship Programme with the Scottish Parliament
Spring 2007 Course Handbook


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Letter to Interns

Dear Intern

You’ve chosen one of the most exciting periods in Scottish politics for your Internship. The elections on 3 May are looming large and will provide, among other things, a very interesting time for you. So, welcome to Edinburgh University, welcome to the Parliamentary Internship Programme, and welcome to Edinburgh – UNESCO’s first World City of Literature! We hope you will have a rewarding time here, be it at Chisholm House, working in the new Parliament building at Holyrood, or becoming part of the campaign in the ‘hot phase’ of the election campaign (which, of course, coincides with the 300th anniversary of the Union of Parliaments).

During the first five weeks of your semester here we will do our best to give you a grasp of British and Scottish Politics and culture, in three complementary courses (courses page):

Then you will spend ten weeks in close co-operation with an MSP/candidate and his/her staff in the Scottish Parliament and out on the stump, working on an agreed research project and – hopefully – gaining some valuable insights into the Scottish Political Process. No better time for this, of course, than during an election campaign.

Please read this course handbook carefully, as it gives you all the basic information you need to know – about your classes and the internship. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Fiona Mackay, Charlie Jeffery, David McCrone or myself.

We all hope you will enjoy your stay with us.

Eberhard Bort
Director of Studies

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Requirements and Assessment Information

Internship Requirements
Students will complete three five-week courses and a ten-week placement with a Member of the Scottish Parliament. Note: From the beginning of April MSPs will cease to be parliamentarians and become candidates for the May 3 elections.

Course Work
Students are required to take three courses: Scottish Politics, British Politics and Scottish Society & Culture, 10-12 on Monday, 10-12 on Tuesday and 10-12 on Wednesday respectively. On the same days, up to two hours in the afternoon will be used to deepen the topics dealt with in the morning sessions – by visiting institutions, having guest lectures, and through other guided activities led by the Interns Tutor, Emre Tarim. Thursday evenings (Chisholm House / 6 - 8 pm) are reserved for videos/films complementing the courses)

Placement
Students will work with a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and their staff for the duration of the ten-week placement (from April onwards with a candidate), on a research project agreed between the intern, the MSP and the Director of Studies.

Please make sure that you are around Monday to Friday for the two weeks preceding the start of the parliamentary leg of the internship – as those are the weeks when interns will be introduced to their MSPs.

Assessment
Assessment for the internship takes three forms: course requirements, a report and journal. The academic course work will count 40% towards the final mark; the Report and journal will make up the other 60%.

  1. After the completion of courses students are expected to complete either an exam or a 2,000-3000 word essay which will be assessed by the course lecturer. Deadlines are to be kept - extensions will only be given if requested with good reason and in advance. Handing in course work late will result in penalties.

  2. At the end of their internship placement students are responsible for submitting a report. The topic and length of the report (usually c5,000 words) will be negotiated between the MSP, the interns' Director of Studies, and the intern. The report is to be submitted to the MSP as well as to the Director of Studies.

  3. In addition, students are expected to submit a journal on their placement activities and observations at the end of placement. The journal should include at least one page per week of the placement, detailing observations of the political process, outlining questions or frustrations, or discuss anything the students find relevant. The impressions and expectations of the internship placement are of particular interest. Students may wish to include copies of newspaper articles, lists of activities and accomplishments, notes of meetings, speeches or political events.

Grading
Grading of essays, briefings and exams will be according to Edinburgh University standards.

===============================================================

% US Grades
Average % of successful candidates normally achieving the grade
70-100 %  = 1st (A) Excellent A (A+)
10%
60-69  %  = 2.1 (B) Very Good A-/B+
55%
50-59 %  = 2.2 (C) Good B/B-
25%
40-49 %  = 3 (D) Satisfactory C
10 %
below 40 = Fail (E,F,G) D/F


As you see, the Edinburgh system of grading may seem harsher than at some American colleges. But it is University policy to apply the Edinburgh grading system across the University.

 

Additional Information

Office Space
Students will be provided with office space on the 3rd floor of Chisholm House, High School Yards. Depending on their placement, students may be provided with office space at the Parliament.

Computer Access
Students will be provided with access to five computers in Chisholm House and a university e-mail account. With a university account students will be able to log in to any of the additional university computer labs.

Computing facilities are available in the Appleton Tower and the University Library in George Square. Depending on their placement, students may gain access to the parliamentary computers.

Parliamentary Passes
There have been problems, due to the international security situation, which may delay the issuing of passes. It is expected that an initial meeting with the host MSP will take place during Weeks 4 and 5 of the internship. It is therefore imperative that all interns are in Edinburgh Mon-Fri on those two weeks. Meeting MSPs has absolute priority over travel plans and other activities.

Books
We have a lending library installed at Chisholm House, looked after by Margaret MacPherson in the ground floor office, containing all major text books needed for the course. Students may borrow books for up to one week. Please do not mark books - if you have to read with pen or pencil, do buy your own books!

Weblogs
Please note that weblogs about the student's placement in Parliament should only be kept with the explicit agreement of the intern's MSP.

Lecturers/Tutors
David McCrone is Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Institute of Governance. Fiona Mackay is a Lecturer in Politics. Charlie Jeffery is Professor of Politics and Head of the Politics Department. Paddy Bort (Lecturer in Politics and Academic Coordinator of the Institute) is the Director of Studies of the Internship Programme. The afternoon activities for Scottish and British Politics are organised by Interns Tutor Emre Tarim.

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Information on Courses Page:
Timetable
Government and Politics in the United Kingdom
Scottish Politics
Scottish Society and Culture

Other Information Page:
Essay Writing Guidelines
Resources
Activities Programme
Weekly Media Review
Other Events
Scotland at a Glance

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Contacts

Institute of Governance
Chisholm House
High School Yards
1 Surgeon's Square
Business Manager: Lindsay Adams
Ph. 0131 650 8093
Email: ladams@ed.ac.uk
Secretary: Margaret MacPherson
m.macpherson@ed.ac.uk

Alex Baker
Visiting Students/Administration
Email: alex.baker@ed.ac.uk

Paddy Bort
Academic Co-ordinator / Director of Studies
Chisholm House
Ph. 0131 650 2458
Email: ebort@ed.ac.uk

Charlie Jeffery
Adam Ferguson Building
George Sq.
Tel: (0131) 650 4266
Email: charlie.jeffery@ed.ac.uk

David McCrone
Chisholm House
Ph: 0131 650 2459
Email: d.mccrone@ed.ac.uk

Fiona Mackay
Adam Ferguson Building
George Sq.
Tel: (0131) 650  4244
Email: f.s.mackay@ed.ac.uk

Emre Tarim
E-mail: emreve@hotmail.co.uk

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