Adam Konstas: Edinburgh Parliamentary Internship!

Imagine the thrill of studying abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland with IFSA-Butler! Then imagine interning with the Scottish Parliament! I don't mean just getting someone coffee, I mean really participating in parliamentary processes and being paired with a Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) for incredible access to Scotland's political world. As a participant of the IFSA-Butler University of Edinburgh Parliamentary Internship program, students take three courses taught intensively during the first five weeks. As part of their pairing with a MSP, students have study space in the MSP’s office and maintain an academic base in the university’s Unit for the Study of Government in Scotland. Students also receive assistance with their research project. At the end of the program, students receive project reports.

Adam Konstas, of Franklin and Marshall College, was one of several IFSA-Butler students interning at parliament—he interned with David Stewart MSP and researched a proposal for a bill to create a Victims Commisioner responsible to the Scottish Parliament.The extensive research that Adam did for the project was highly praised by his MSP and Adam created the Consultation Document for the introduction of the bill! The project is going to be taken forward because of his research! Very impressive!

Adam had this to say about his internship experience:"I had a fantastic internship experience at Parliament in Edinburgh. I felt I played an integral part in developing Labour Party Policy, and I was entrusted with representing my MSP in a variety of meetings with NGO's, political representatives, and in strategy sessions. The responsibility that I was given showed me that my work was valued, and pushed me to work even harder."

Below is Adam's picture of the Scottish Parliament taken from the Crags in front of Arthur's Seat.

Well done Adam, and we are wishing you much success in the future!

To all you readers, keep me posted on the wonderful things you're doing abroad as an IFSA-Butler student!

Take care,
Lisa

lburg@ifsa-butler.org