Since the first session of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, twenty cohorts of interns have passed through the Programme: way over 300 students, mostly from the US, but also from Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany (and a number of other countries, albeit through American schools). More than half of the 129 MSPs have participated as hosts in this very successful scheme.
The contributions the interns have made have been most positive. Their research has helped MSPs in their committee work, in responding to the daily challenges in parliamentary politics, proposing bills, and formulating mid- to long-term strategies, not to speak of campaigning in elections and by-elections! Interns are far more than additional office clerks; they can make a contribution to the policy process itself. This is acknowledged by the MSPs and has made the programme a very attractive one for the students as well as the politicians.
The students find the Scottish Parliament and its MSPs open, accessible and easy to work with. Those who have interned before, particularly in the US, marvel at the opportunities to get involved, to become part of the small team surrounding an MSP, and at the work they are entrusted with.
Brian Gilbert, part of the programme in 2008, summed up his impression: "This program has been nothing short of amazing. I've gained so much insight into the happenings of both the Scottish Parliament and politics in general. The friends that I've made, both in and out of the program, will stick with me throughout the rest of my life. I've done things that I've only ever dreamed of. I've written a comprehensive paper on a subject that now feels like second-nature to me. …. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience and I am so happy to have done this."
The Parliament, now in its third term, is still a very young institution; its structures are still evolving. Since 2007, the new experience of having a minority government and the first SNP government to boot has been added into the mix. This exciting atmosphere is, no doubt, conducive to the overall experience of the interns. Equipped with the basic knowledge conveyed in the five weeks of academic tuition (plus two weeks of exam-preparation and essay-writing) preceding full-time engagement at the Parliament, they gain a unique insight into the politics and culture of Scottish society and government.
To show the amazing range of topics the interns have tackled, covering education, economic policies, the environment, social policy, health, housing, transport, tourism, crime, etc., and many of these in a comparative setting, let's just take a sample of research projects:
"I feel I've made a meaningful contribution and am proud and have learned a lot," was one intern's comment: "It has been a wonderful experience and I wouldn't change it for anything." "The environment is fun and exciting and open to arguing about politics with the people who make it and help to make it," is how another intern put it: "While it is never as exciting as an episode of the West Wing, it certainly stimulates the brain and senses." Another concluded: "The ability to watch and work with a politician…was an ideal experience. I would recommend the entire experience to any person who has an ounce of drive and desire to work or understand the Parliamentary system. This was not just an internship that will polish up my resumé, but a work experience that I will always be aiming to duplicate." And yet another summed it up thus: "This has been an amazing experience and definitely something I will never forget."
The present group of fifteen interns brings the tenth year of the Programme to a close. It has been going from strength to strength, averaging at 20 students per term in the past few years. For most of them, their time in Edinburgh has been more than just a memorable experience. Some have become seriously addicted to Scotland. And that cannot be a bad thing.
(Published online: March 2009)
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This page was published on 2 July 2010