Queensland Parliament Research Internship

The Queensland Parliament Research Internship provides students from selected universities with the opportunity to work with a member of parliament, or a senior officer of the parliament, to undertake a mutually agreed research project.

The program gives university students first-hand experience of the relationship between political practice and theory, an in-depth understanding of the political processes and the role of parliament, and the opportunity to obtain relevant research experience in a new environment.

 

 

What is an internship?

The internship has two components.

The first is designed for students learn how parliamentary functions contribute to Queensland’s democracy in preparation for the research project.

It consists of a series of 4 modules, 3 of which are delivered online and one which is delivered at Parliament House. These modules are delivered in July and August. One of the online modules is self-paced and the other two are delivered in real-time with each module lasting approximately 2 hours. Regionally based interns will have all of their modules delivered online.

The second component of the internship is a major research project undertaken by the student for their parliamentary supervisor. The topic and format of the research paper is determined at the commencement of the internship by all parties concerned.

The partnership operates under a set of conditions agreed to and ratified by the relevant university and the parliament. Each intern has an academic supervisor appointed by the university at which they are enrolled.

The intern agrees to carry out a research project on an agreed topic/issue. The parliamentary supervisor agrees to provide the support necessary for the project to be completed within a set timeframe.

The program is suitable for regional students as well as those based in Brisbane as the majority of the program is designed for online delivery and includes a self-paced module.

 

Duration

The internship program is usually offered by the universities in second semester.

 

Selection of students

Each participating university is responsible for its own process for selecting students to recommend for participation in the program. Students complete an application form indicating the research areas they wish to pursue.

The program caters for third-year or fourth-year undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of high 5 or postgraduate students studying in areas such as politics, public policy, law, economics, commerce, urban development, journalism or communications. However, other areas of tertiary study are considered for the program.

Each university program coordinator submits to the Internship Program Manager a list of recommended student candidates together with each student’s preferred research area/topic.

 

Initial topic selection

Each potential candidate advises the academic supervisors at their university of their areas of interest. In liaison with the academic supervisors, the Internship Program Manager matches candidates with individual parliamentary supervisors according to research topics.

 

Initial meeting to agree on research topic

An initial meeting is arranged between each student candidate, the parliamentary supervisor and academic supervisor to discuss suggestions for a research topic in the area of interest of the parliamentary supervisor. The final topic/issue for the research project may evolve from these discussions.

 

Internship agreement

If agreement is reached on a research project, then an agreement is drawn up outlining the aim of the project, the methodology of research, a timeline for the project and the reporting process. The agreement will also outline the undertakings made by the student candidate, the parliamentary supervisor and the academic supervisor. The agreement is signed by the parties.

 

Assessment

There are two aspects to assessment - the introductory program and the research project.

 

Introductory program assessment

As part of the program, each intern is required to participate in a group presentation and to individually write a briefing paper. Depending on the requirements of each university, these assessment items represent 20% of the final mark. The assessments items are marked by the Internship Program Manager and moderated by a senior parliamentary officer.

 

Research project assessment

The research project is formally assessed with the evaluation forming part of the student’s academic achievements for the semester. As the project is assessed for academic accreditation, responsibility for assessment procedures and outcomes lie with the relevant university. The research project is equal to 80% of the final mark.

 

Contact details

Internship Program Manager: Annemarie Groth
Email: internship@parliament.qld.gov.au

Telephone: (07) 3553 6656