Since 2019, IOD PARC has partnered with the University of Edinburgh to offer students on their MSc International Development an opportunity to undertake a research project with us as part of their studies. It’s been a successful relationship over the last five years, and we’ve taken a moment to reflect on what the partnership looks like, where some of our students are now and what we have coming up.
Every October, we design the research project for the coming year. The topic is built around current IOD projects or an area of particular interest and is always relevant to significant issues within global development. Previous and current topics have focused on the triple nexus, resilience in conflict-affected areas, localisation, peacekeeping transitions, and Youth, Peace, and Security. Once we’ve finalised the topic, it is shared with the students in December and candidates are interviewed in January. Successful students are with us from May to July for ten weeks and are fully integrated into the Edinburgh office team.
“I was drawn to working with IOD PARC for the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in a leading international development consulting organisation, gaining practical insight into issue areas I had studied throughout my master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh. I was excited about the opportunity to conduct an intensive research project through desk research and qualitative methods focused on the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.”– Briona Collins, student researcher 2024
Whilst we design the research topic, the students themselves take the lead in refining it. They propose a suitable research design, define research questions, identify evidence needs and methods, and specify a geographic focus if necessary, so we’ve ended up with a diverse and interesting series of country and regional case studies. The projects combine academic theories and perspectives with real-world issues and experiences. The students usually interview quite a few different organisations as part of the project, which gives them good insights into the ‘reality’ of the issues.
“Conducting interviews with practitioners and key stakeholders during the primary research phase was super engaging, and it felt great to discuss and learn about the challenges experienced first-hand. My biggest highlight came at the very end, where I was given the opportunity to present and share my findings with the wider team. Their feedback and engagement was fantastic, and it was such a fulfilling way to end the process.” – Eliot Johnson, student researcher 2024
We’re one of a number of organisations who work with the University on this scheme; however, we are the only one that pays the students we take on. We recognise the skills they’re bringing and their contribution to our work, and so it is important to compensate them for their time. Since we started the programme, we’ve taken on three of our students as full-time employees once they’ve finished their masters and work with another as an associate based in Bangladesh.
“The team at IOD PARC, especially staff based in the Edinburgh office, were incredibly welcoming and willing to provide guidance throughout my placement. The relationships I developed with colleagues in a relatively short span of time demonstrated the ethos of IOD PARC – and made it an easy decision to pursue a full-time role when the opportunity presented itself.” – Madeleine Oldow, IOD Consultant and student researcher 2023
Work will start soon on developing our topic for next year, which will likely focus on Women, Peace, and Security in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of UNSCR1325.
Questions about the programme? Get in touch!
“Engaging in a student research placement with IOD PARC was the best decision I made during the course of my Masters.” – Josh Fuchs, former IOD Consultant and student researcher 2020
