Background | Aims | Process | Evaluation | Contact

Background

In this Scheme students don't just write essays that are read, marked, given back and then deposited in the bottom of a drawer, but write reports that may be used to shape the policy of Government Departments or other organisations. Hence, students write longer and more focussed pieces than they would for an undergraduate essay.

The Internship Scheme provides students with the opportunity to leave the immediate university environment and work in a place where they can pursue applied research. The Internship may take place in a Government Department, with a member of Parliament, or in non-government organisations, such as political parties, lobby groups, and community organisations. Students learn how to define an issue, research the issue and write a polished report.

It also facilitates the building and maintaining of strong links between the University and both Government and non-government organisations, and enables students to build networks which may lead to better employment prospects.

Aims

• To enable students to develop applied research and writing skills
• To help students define and develop some expertise in a practical research problem in the policy area
• To integrate the university more closely with external agencies
  
  
  

Process

The Internship Scheme is an upper level undergraduate subject, with no disciplinary pre-requisites and is open to anyone across the university. The underlying principle of the Internship Scheme is that it should further the interests of both the intern and the Parliamentary supervisor. The final 5,000 - 7,000 word report needs to satisfy all the usual academic conventions and also be of some use to the participating organisation.

Students can choose between the Parliamentary and General Stream. The Parliamentary Stream is shared with the other two South Australian universities, the General Stream is for Adelaide students, and places them with Government Departments, lobby groups, political parties and other non-government organisations.

After enrolment, students choose from the topics and internships available, depending on their interests. An attempt is made to match the students' preferences with their placement as much as possible. Final selection and placement is determined by quota based on academic merit.

At the beginning of the year there are a small number of academic seminars that orient the students to the issues and ideas that they will be confronting (how to write in the format required, formation of public policy, and so on). Students then meet their Parliamentary or organisational supervisor and negotiate a topic. A contract; that stipulates the aims, methodology and time of all parties, as well as the obligation to submit a report by a given date is drafted and signed by both supervisors (academic and organisational) and the student.

The students then undertake independent research at their own pace, and may utilise law, parliamentary, university or other libraries, interviews, surveys and whatever other information-gathering strategies and resources relevant to their topic. During this time they regularly meet their academic supervisor, who acts as a facilitator, providing guidance on how to put the report together and work through any problems. They also meet their organisational supervisor on an agreed schedule to make sure the report is meeting the organisation's needs.

At the end of the academic semester all students attend an 'Internship Conference' at which they present a summary of their findings and to which all participating supervisors are invited.

Assessment is either 100% research report or 80% research report and 20% which can be either an essay based on the initial seminars or a reflective essay in which the students write about their experiences as an intern.

Evaluation

A specialisedStudent Evaluation of Teaching (SET)was developed for the course by the lecturer and theAdvisory Centre for University Education. Evaluations so far have been generally positive, but many of the issues, such as the students' reactions to their organisational supervisor, are out of the lecturer's direct control. Some students felt there was a lack of support and would prefer more structure, and as a consequence the lecturer has made himself more available.

Formal evaluations of organisational supervisors have also been positive. Nearly all those parliamentarians and organisations that take on students do so again, a strong indication of their satisfaction with the value of the initiative.

The program has also had some noteworthy accomplishments. Consideration has been given by one MP to the introduction of a Private Members Bill based on the findings of the report prepared for him (he has since moved to the Ministry) and a report prepared in 1997 played a significant part in the redrafting of legislation relating to the privileging of counselling records connected to sexual assault.

Contact
Clem Macintyre can be contacted on:

Tel: +61 8 8303 5601,
Fax: +61 8 8303 3443
E-mail: clement.macintyre@adelaide.edu.au

Adelaide University, Australia 5005