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Reflections on the IfG work experience programme

Four A-Level Politics students from Pimlico Academy spent the week with us, gaining experience of working at a think tank

Last week the Institute for Government ran its first ever work experience programme. Four A-Level Politics students from Pimlico Academy spent the week with us, gaining experience of working at a think tank and supporting our work on Brexit, parliament and devolution. In this blog, Beverley Agyekum, Sophie Winter, Chloe Hook, and Nazmin Hussain share their reflections on their week with us.

From left to right: Nazmin Hussain, Chloe Hook, Sophie Winter, Beverley Agyekum. Beverley Agyekum My week at the Institute for Government was extremely enlightening. I learned so much about the different parts of the organisation and how they work together as a whole to complete their main function, which is to focus on the machinery of government and come up with ways to improve it. Members of the research team told me not only about their individual roles, but also about how they came to join the Institute. This taught me to enjoy my journey along whichever career path that I end up on, and also to make sure that I study a degree that I am passionate about to maximise my chances of getting a good grade. The highlight of my experience was sitting in on a meeting to discuss how the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Institute could collaborate on a project regarding Brexit. Having learned about the CBI as part of my A-Level in Politics, it was very interesting to get a real-life insight into one of their projects. I also enjoyed researching the effects of Brexit on various sectors such as energy and education. This helped me develop my organisational skills, as I had to manage various activities and tasks during the week. Sophie Winter My week at the Institute for Government changed my political overview massively. I realised that there is much more to government and politics than what the eye sees or what the ear hears in the media. The IfG sparked interest and fascination the moment I walked in. The aspect of this work experience opportunity that intrigued me the most was learning about the philosophy and psychology behind government decision making, which is what this non-profit charity specialises in. We always see the final result of political decisions when they have been announced or introduced as legislation in the House of Commons and House of Lords, but it is rare to get the opportunity to look extensively at the factors that contribute to those decisions. My tasks for the week were a combination of different research methods, including constructing charts from opinion polls and surveys to find out about the different voting patterns across the nation on Brexit, and looking at how the different leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have reacted to the EU referendum result. I also was able to attend meetings, including one with civil servants in the Department for Work and Pensions. This work experience helped me to gain insight into the complex relationships between think tanks and government departments, and how these relationships can help improve the quality of government. Chloe Hook I found work experience at the Institute really beneficial, as it gave me an opportunity to see what it is like within a functioning workplace. It showed me the sense of community within this workplace and what it would be like to work here. Rather than feeling completely dependent, like in school, I felt more independent, which I liked. During my time here, I completed a selection of tasks given to me by my mentor. This consisted of researching particular select committees such as the Communities & Local Government and Justice committees, and looking into their activity over the past year. This was challenging at first, as some of the information given was quite new to me, however, after some research and help from my mentor, I now understand the issues more fully. One thing I would have liked to change was to gain experience of a wider variety of tasks, and to have more interaction with my peers to learn from what they were doing too. Overall, my week at the Institute was a delightful experience, and it has motivated me further to pursue a career in politics. However, discussions with the team also reminded me that I should pursue what I like most and that I should keep my options open. Nazmin Hussain Last week I had the pleasure of working at the Institute for Government. It was really interesting to understand how a think tank actually works. I enjoyed working there as I was given the chance to work on stimulating and very relevant topics, such as the implications of Brexit for different sectors of the economy. I also had the chance to attend a meeting with someone from the CBI which was a new and different experience. Alongside the work part of this week, we were lucky enough to visit the Behavioral Insights Team, which is an organisation that helps make public services more cost-effective and easier for citizens to use. We learnt about how psychology can be used to make policies more effective, which was really intriguing. In addition, my work experience classmates and I had the chance to speak to many of the Institute’s researchers. We spoke to people from different walks of life and they gave us excellent advice for the future. My week at the Institute gave me a better understanding that politics is so much more than government; there are other organisations and institutions that make it possible for government to function in the best way possible.
Keywords
Education
Publisher
Institute for Government

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