BSc Government
The Undergraduate Work Placement Programme
A fourteen-week* work placement is an integral part of the BSc Government . Students undertake work placement in the third year of their degree. Government students undertake work placements at home and abroad. Recent student placements have included the civil service, government agencies, New York State Assembly, Scottish Parliament, the European Parliament, banks, insurance companies, media organisations, PR companies, humanitarian groups, health boards and local government.
BSc Government Students on Work Placement in the Department of An Taoiseach. (L-R, Emma Gough, Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Marianne O'Sullivan and Niamh Goulding)
A Three-Way Partnership
Work Placement is a three-way partnership between the Student, the Employer and the University. It provides students with the opportunity to further their learning in practice-based settings. The work experience on offer should allow students to demonstrate their ability to take part in the everyday work of the placement organisation and to put into practice the theories and methodologies studied in the BSc Government.
· Students will complete their third year examinations in March and will be available for employment from April to September inclusive.
· Employers will be asked to appoint a supervisor, who will monitor the student's work and complete an appraisal form on the student's performance in the work place. The form must be completed in consultation with the student.
· An academic supervisor will also be assigned to evaluate the student's performance and will make on site visits at the convenience of the employer.
· The student will maintain a daily learning journal, which can be viewed by the supervisor at any time. The student will also write an end of placement self-assessment report.
· On their return to college, each student will give a short presentation to fellow students and academics on their experience while on placement.
About the BSc Government Degree Programme
This four-year programme is one of an exciting new generation of degrees emerging from the Irish university system. It combines political science with opportunities to pursue a range of topics in business, law, modern languages, the social sciences and information technology. The degree is both intellectually stimulating and practically oriented. Strong emphasis is placed on practice as well as theory throughout the degree. Students undertake a considerable amount of project work that requires them to use their initiative in searching for data and information and in conducting research and analysis. Consequently, students are equipped to contribute in a real work environment.
Confidentiality
At the beginning of the work placement, it is essential that the organisation makes clear to the student the areas of work regarded as confidential and any other specific requirements it may wish to be respected. Usually, a confidentiality clause is incorporated into the student's contract.
BSc Government Work Placement Partners (Past and Present)
1. Albany Law School
2. Allen, Bernard TD
3. Arklife Head Office
4. Association of Former Members of Congress
5. Australian House of Representatives - Farmer, Pat MP
6. Australian House of Representatives - Nelson, Brendan MP
7. Bank of Ireland
8. Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Ltd.
9. Barry's of Mallow
10. Boston Scientific
11. Brassil, John Cllr.
12. British American Security Information Council
13. Canada Ireland
14. Canterbury Development
15. Central Elections
16. Central Statistics Office
17. Chief State Solicitor’s Office – Cork
18. Chief State Solicitor's Office
19. Clare FM
20. CNN
21. Commission for Taxi Regulation
22. Consulate General of Ireland, San Francisco
23. Cork City Council
24. Cork County Council
25. Courts Service - Cork
26. Courts Service - Dublin
27. Deaprtment of Foreign Affairs - Ireland Aid
28. Department of Agriculture and Food - Food Division
29. Department of An Taoiseach - eCabinet; Public Service Modernisation Division; Social Inclusion Unit; Social Policy.
30. Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism - Cultural Institutions Unit
31. Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources - Sea Licensing
32. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment - Company Law Review
33. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
34. Department of Finance - Civil Service Equality Unit
35. Department of Foreign Affairs - North South Ministerial Council
36. Department of Health and Children
37. DEX
38. Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Enterprise Board
39. Dungarven Observer
40. Edmond Brown Solicitors
41. Erinville Hospital
42. European Parliament - Crowley, Brian MEP; Cushnahan, John MEP; Sinnott, Kathy MEP.
43. Fine Gael Party Headquarters
44. Garvey O'Doherty, Colette
45. General Council of County Councillors
46. General Manager's Office, Cork University Hospital
47. Gernika GoGoratuz Peace Research Centre
48. Health Executive South West</SPAN< /> 54. Health Service Executive National Executive
49. Heineken Ireland
50. Hogan, Phil TD
51. Irish Business Bureau
52. Irish Embassy, London
53. Irish Embassy, Poland
54. Irish Prison Service
55. Irish Water Safety
56. Kerry County Council - Planning Department
57. Kerry County Development Board
58. KSR Administration Services
59. Land Registry
60. Land Registry
61. Leitrim County Council
62. Limelight Communications
63. Local Government Management Services Board
64. Logainmneacha Chorcai
65. Lyric FM
66. Marloboro Trust Ltd.
67. Martin, Micheal TD
68. Massachusetts Office of the Governor
69. Massachussetts State Legislature - Brown, Scott State Senator; Costello, Michael State; Falzone Mark; Grant, Mary; Jehlen, Patricia; Kennedy, Thomas; Leary, James; Murphy, James; O'Flaherty, Eugene; Perry, Jeffrey; Sanchez, Jeffrey; Teahan, Kathleen; Timilty, Walter; Walsh, Steven. (All State Representatives)
70. Members Research Service, National Assembly of Wales
71. National Suicide Research Foundation
72. New York State Assembly - Fitzpatrick, Michael; Higgins, Brian; Markey, Margaret; McEnemy, John J.; McLoughlin, Brian; Nolan, Catherine; Ortiz, Felix; Quinn, Jack; Tedisco, James; Weprin, Mark. (All Assemblypersons) Glick, Deborah State Representative.
73. Nuclear Policy Research Institute
74. Office of the Ombudsman
75. Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
76. Office of the Revenue Commissioners
77. O'Flynn, Noel TD
78. Pensions Board
79. Public Appointments Commission
80. Rhode Island State Legislature
81. Safefood
82. Scottish Conservative Party
83. Scottish Parliament - Alexander, Wendy MSP; Baillie, Jackie MSP; Cunninghan, Roseanna MSP; Eadie, Helen MSP; Ewing, Fergus MSP; Gillion, Karen MSP; Godman, Trish MSP; Lyons, George MSP; Macintosh, Kenneth MSP; Matheson, Michael MSP; Muldoon, Bristow MSP; Mulligan, Mary MSP; Murray, Elaine Dr. MSP; Tosh, Murray MSP; Welsh, Andrew MSP; White, Sandra MSP.
84. Special Residential Services Board
85. Teagasc
86. UCC Campus Radio
87. Ulster Unionist Party
88. United States Congress – Kaptur, Mary Representative
89. United States Congress - Kennedy, Edward Senator
90. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
91. University College Cork - Department of Government; Finance Office; Human Resources.
92. University of Barcelona (Manresa)
93. University of Mondragon
94. University of San Diego - Institute of Peace and Justice
95. Virgin Radio London
96. Waterford City Development Board
97. Wexford County Council - Community and Enterprise Department
98. Wicklow County Enterprise Board
