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Four Years of the Political Internship
Programme

by Paddy Bort

June 2003

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Since the first session of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, nearly a hundred interns, mostly from the US, but also from Canada, Australia and Germany, have passed through the very successful internship programme run by the Institute of Governance, and over fifty MSPs have so far hosted interns.

The contribution of the interns has 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 the recent 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 politicians.

But it is also a highly attractive programme for the students. Most of them find the Scottish Parliament and its MSPs open, accessible and easy to work with. The Parliament, now in its second term, is still a very young institution; its structures are still evolving. 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 preceding entry to 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 the twelve research issues of Spring 2003:

  • 'Why does Scotland have no plumbers?!?' An Investigation into Scotland's Skills Shortage

  • Beyond the Numbers: Female Representation in the Scottish Parliament

  • Business and Educational Achievements by the Scottish Executive and their Communication

  • Class Size isn't Everything: A Study of Class Size Reduction Policy in Scotland

  • Comparative Analysis between American and Scottish Election Campaigns

  • Controlling Firearms in Scotland

  • The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 and its Effects on the Criminal Courts

  • Suicide in Scotland: The Need for a Hotline

  • A Study of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) in Scotland

  • Connecting with young People: Labour Approaches to Democratic Engagement through the Scottis Parliament

  • Comprehensive View of Scottish Higher Education

  • What's the Scottish Parliament ever done for me? A Study on the Awareness of Scottish Parliament Policy Amongst Older People.

"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 resume, 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."

For the autumn 2003, we expect a 'cohort' of over 20 students eager to follow in the footsteps of the first Parliament's interns. With six parties represented after the 1 May elections, the Scottish Parliament's promise of excitement is in no danger of diminishing.

 

(Published Online: 11 June 2003)

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